Since I’ve been back in the States from Australia I have had many people who are amazed with my story. My past 9 months consisted of moving to a country where I knew no one- to live, travel, and work while having the time of my life. Everyone has loved hearing my story and wishing they could do something similar. I’ve explained to numerous people how simple and easy it can be with the right background information and a little bit of money in the bank. Oh and let’s not forget to mention- balls. Moving to the other side of the world is kind of a big step, but trust me it’s worth it and the experience will be amazing. With this blog I hope to help those of you out there that are interested in moving to Australia for an amazing adventure. Also refer to my previous blog Working in Australia: An Americans Experiences and Tips.
Doing the tourist thing in beautiful Port Douglas
First Things First – The Legal Stuff
The first thing you need to assess before embarking on this journey is getting the proper visa, which can be done online. As an American citizen you can be granted a year Working Holiday Visa Subclass 462 if you’re between the ages of 18-30. It is a one year visa and you can work anywhere for up to six months but your visa can not be extended. Commonwealth countries such as Canada, England, and most countries in Europe are able to get a similar visa, Working Holiday Visa Subclass 417 and a Second Working Holiday Visa can be granted if certain circumstances are met. You can also get an Australian ETA Short Stay Visa for 3 months and work under the table, technically illegally but there are plenty of places- especially around touristy areas- that will do this.
Also to work for a legit company you will need to apply for a Tax ID number which can be done online or by phone and is usually processed within a week.
Finding Work & Where to Work
I’ve found that most people that are interested in this visa are looking to go to Australia to party and have a “BS” job and I definitely encourage that. I know that if I had to be in an office during the weekdays and working 9-5, my trip would have been a lot less exciting and consisted of many days at the office hungover. On that note I would recommend a job in hospitality. I worked at a pub called The Grand and you can read about my experiences in my blog Australian Pub Culture: A Bartender’s Tales and Tips. I worked for a great company called Merivale, which owns numerous bars, restaurants, and clubs in Syndey. Generally big companies will have higher wages and great benefits- such as 50% off bar tabs. 
I made $19 an hour and usually walked with around $50 in tips after a solid 10ish hour shift, but keep in mind that is with me giving spectacular service and being a lady. Some sites to help you look for jobs are : Seek, Career One, Gumtree, & My Career.
If you do happen to be looking for more of a “real” job I would recommend checking out recruiting agencies such as Hays Recruitment.
Living- Costs and Areas
Finding a good place to live is key while living abroad to enhance your experience and also to help you feel settled. Knowledge about different suburbs, cost, and standard renting procedures are all important aspects of finding the right place. Doing research before the big move is a great idea and will only help the ‘flat’ hunting process when you arrive in Australia. I definitely wouldn’t recommend signing a lease or agreeing to anything until you have physically seen the place and are aware of all the terms. Some sites to check out regarding renting are: Gumtree- a free classafied ad site- similar to Craig’s List and Domain.com.au- Just a warning Sydney is a verrrry expensive city regarding everything- and that includes rent. For a decent furnished place in a good location expect to spend around $200-$250 a WEEK. Yes a week. I lived a furnished two bedroom and one bath apartment in Bondi about 5 minutes walking to beach and paid $250 a week. Most other large cities like Melbourne are also expensive, but you can find some good deals farther north- like up in Cairns.
Bondi Beach- My home for 5 months in Sydney
Communication- Phones & Internet
With regards to having a cell phone abroad the advice I have to give is keep it simple. Bring any unlocked cell phone or buy a cheap one for like $30 and purchase a sim card when you arrive- they even have kiosks in the airport. I found that Vodafone has the best plans regarding “Prepaid,” which doesn’t involve a contract and is cheap and simple. Vodofone’s numerous “Flexicap” plans are valid for a month and map out charges for calls within Australia and also internationally. I generally purchased the $29 Flexicap and most of the time it didn’t quite last me the month, but it’s easy to recharge at convenience stores, online, or through your phone with a credit card. Vodofone is great while in big cities but I found that when traveling down the coast I was left without service a lot. I simply just bought an Optus Pre-Paid Sim, and was good to go while I was in between the larger cities down the coast.
Similar to everything in Australia being expensive- internet is not an exception. Unlike the wireless plans we’re used to in the States, the ones in Australia are generally not unlimited. This is key because once you go over your download limits, your internet is practically useless. For those of you that are just looking for internet cafes or hot spots all around Australia, Global Gossip has reasonable rates for internet and can be used on site or with your laptop using wifi.
One of the gorgeous places to visit while in Australia- The Whitsundays
I hope this blog was helpful to those considering taking this big step and move abroad. I can honestly say it was one of the best experiences of my life and would do it again in a minute if I legally could. Please feel free to contact me with any specific questions or advice about your situation! Happy travels!