Are you thinking of making the move to Australia for any length of time but unsure of where to begin? We’re here to help.
Australia is an enticing destination, whether you’re seeking a new adventure, connection, lifestyle or more. With our stunning coastline, amazing weather, high standard of living, relaxed culture and many well-paid jobs, Australia offers you a new lease on life.
Understand the key factors to consider before starting your adventure
Once your visa is secured choose your travel date and book your flight to kickstart your adventure. Booking early may save you money and it will also commit you to a timeframe to plan against.
Make sure your passport is valid for at least 6-12 months before you travel. Some countries won't let you enter unless your passport is valid for 6 months after you plan to leave that country. Airlines can also impose this rule, so check your passport's expiry date sooner rather than later.
Stay up to date with Australia's Covid rules and regulations as these can change frequently. Visit the Australian Government's Department of Health website to find all you need to know. Guidelines may vary depending on the State you are travelling to. You can also check out our FAQs from international travellers.
Even though easily overlooked, travel insurance is an incredibly important aspect of any move. The right insurance policy can cover unwelcome expenses associated with missed or delayed flights, lost or delayed luggage and medical emergencies.
Some insurers offer specific backpackers travel insurance providing more cost-effective basic cover.
The Australian Government offers a nationwide healthcare system called Medicare. It covers treatments by healthcare professionals as well as some medicines but it does not cover ambulance transportation, private hospital treatments, dental or cosmetic procedures. Access to Medicare is available to certain passport holders only. If you want full insurance coverage you can also take out an overseas visitor health cover (OVHC) private health insurance policy.
Here are some other cities to choose from but another major factor in choosing where to live is where your friends are based already. Maybe they had traveled to Australia before you, and you are coming out to meet them. Just remember though that just because you start in a certain location does not mean you have to stay in the one place, get out there and explore all Australia has to offer.
Once you decide on your destination, arranging some temporary accommodation for your arrival can be a good idea. A week or two in a hostel or Airbnb can help you find your feet before you arrange more permanent accommodation. Domain and Real Estate can be a great place to begin your search or Facebook groups such an Irish around Sydney / Melbourne / Brisbane / Perth, Poms in OZ / Perth / Sydney and local loop Facebook groups. If you'd prefer to just rent a room Flatmate Finders and roomates.com are a great way to find roomies.
Let us at WorkinAUS help you find work before you leave home. All you have to do is upload your most recent resume and we will help you find a job suitable for you. You can search jobs by your career or location and fill out applications in just a few minutes. There are 100s of new jobs across every industry in Australia added to WorkinAUS everyday. Some of the jobs may even offer sponsorship or permanent residency giving you a chance to stay in Australia long term.
Upload or drop your resume to find jobs
If you are working in Australia, you will need to pay tax. The amount of the tax you pay will depend on how much you earn. You can set up your tax file number before you travel to Australia and be ready to start employment. You can apply for this through the Australian Taxation Office . You only apply for a TFN once and it is yours for life. You will need to provide your TFN to every employer prior to commencing work.
Superannuation, or 'super', is money put aside by your employer over your working life for you to live on when you retire from work. Employers are required by law to pay contributions to a superannuation fund during the course of your employment. Your employer usually recommends a superannuation fund they use upon the start of your employment, although you can choose and nominate your own superannuation fund also.
It is important to start growing and actively managing your super as early as possible for your retirement. Super funds invest your money in many things such as shares, property and managed funds and may also offer different types of insurance, such as income protection so it is important to choose the right super for you.
All people working in Australia have the same basic workplace rights and protections , regardless of citizenship or visa status. Contracts or agreements cannot take away your rights. Under Australian workplace laws, the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) protects and enforces the rights of visa holders.
Prior to commencing work, you should also ensure that you have received a Fair Work Information Statement from your employer. This will make it easier for you to understand minimum workplace entitlements. A copy may also be found through the link below.
Fair Work Information Statement - Fair Work Ombudsman
Once employed, it is important to prevent and address labour exploitation. Labour exploitation is when another person mistreats you at work. The Work Right Hub website provides information, tools and services aimed at supporting migrants if they, or someone they know, is experiencing labour exploitation in Australia.
Find services that can help you here.
Don't forget in Australia you work to live so traveling and seeing all the amazing things Australia has to offer is such an important part of your experience. Make a bucket list of things you want to do before you get here and no doubt that list will be endless but it’s good to have goals to work towards. Travel the East Coast, drive the Great Ocean Road, visit Uluru the red centre of Australia and explore all the West Coast has to offer. Travel Playground will organise and create personal trip itineraries just for you to destinations all over Australia, New Zealand, Asia and Fiji.
Australia is one of the most LGBTIQ+ friendly countries in the world. There are many support networks and community groups to join when you make your move. Reach out and get in touch. Australia is a country that celebrates lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer residents because of the unique lived experiences they bring. There are many LGBTIQ+ community activities you could get involved in including Pride Network community, participation in the Mardi Gras Parade and Fair Day as well as the celebration of important dates in the LGBTIQ+ calendar such as International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia, Wear It Purple Day, Transgender Day of Remembrance and World AIDS Day.
Playing sports is a great way to make friends abroad and a great way to get involved in the community. There are many Gaelic (GAA), soccer and rugby teams across Australia if this is something you would like to get involved in. You may not be into sports but you could always become a social member.
There are many online communities to join and get involved with in Australia. As mentioned above there are Facebook groups called Irish Around Sydney/Melbourne/ Brisbane/ Perth. These are great places to start as they have posts about upcoming events, rooms for rent, furniture for sale etc. There is also a sunrise social group run by County Down Under, an online influencer. Caroline has sunrise groups across Australia every week and they are a great place to meet some friends and enjoy the stunning scenery Australia has to offer.
This is one of the most popular ways people become connected with their local communities. You can check with your local council what volunteering opportunities are available as this is a great way to get involved in the community and meet new people. If you want to volunteer, find a place that interests you. You could help out at a soup kitchen or the animal shelter to walk dogs. Or you could read stories at the library for kids. There are lots of different opportunities!
Another great way to get involved in your community is to join or attend community events and meetings. This is a great way to meet new people and learn about what’s going on in your community. You can also connect with neighbors and form friendships with people who share your interests. You can find community events and meetings online or in your local newspaper.
You can join a class or group to connect with people in your community. This is a great way to make friends and learn about what is happening around you. You can find groups for just about anything, so take a look and see what interests you! Some examples include book clubs, running groups, gym classes, and more.
Got more questions? Check out our list of frequently asked questions.