Working Holiday in Australia. Step by step.

It's one of the best decision that I've ever made. Might be a great idea to record it a bit.

In 2015, I took my courage to Australia for a working holiday experience.

“Action may not always bring happiness; but there is no happiness without action.”

First : Get your visa

Go to website of Australia Government and Department of Immigration and Border Protection to apply for visa permission.

I applied VISA 417 (Working Holiday) at 16 Nov. 2015 and got granted at 24 Nov. 2015

That's efficient!

Health Examination

After your visa granted, health examination is required. I went to the indicated hospital for the examination. It was easy and quick. Didn't include urine routine or blood test. Only did the chest x-ray examination. Cost me NT$1000 equivalent to AU$ 42.

Get your flight ticket

Then you can arrange your journey. Noted: there will be a last entry date to AU.

Therefore; I bought my ticket to Launceston and my flight took off at 14 Dec.

It cost me NT$19577 which is equivalent to AU$ 816.

I took the Hong Kong Airlines, from Taoyuan to Hong Kong. Then, Hong Kong to Melbourne and finally from Melbourne to Launceston.

The third flight jointed to Qantas Airlines. It totally took me 20 hrs including transfer time to arrive. That was a long drive.

Budget

Before I hit the road, I went to the bank and exchanged $AU 2,500 with me. I also brought all my credit cards just in case.

Destination

Tasmania-Launceston

Place to stay

I found a hostel: Art House

20 Lindsay Street, Launceston, Australia

Tue.15th- Sat.19th/ Basic 5 Bed Female Dorm

Mobile, bank, TFN No.

The first thing you got to do when you arrive is to get you a contact number and most importantly, the internet! OPTUS was the mobile company I chose.

A contact number is needed when you register your bank account. NAB is the biggest bank in Australia which I chose, plus, a monthly account fee waiver will apply if you are under 25. By the time I was 22. Gosh, that was youth who is gone and never return. So sad.

To work legally in AU, TFN known as tax file number is necessary, this number is for life and will help you to manage your Australian tax and superannuation also establish your identity with government organisations. It is like our ID number in Taiwan.

Job

If you got all that, means you are ready to go on a job hunting. This was my simple version of resume at the time. After all, you wouldn't need a CV to apply for a waiter or farm fruit picker, right? Keep it as simple and neat.

Superannuation

Superannuation in Australia remains the most tax effective way of saving for retirement and providing retirement incomes. Super has been specially designed as a tool to help people to save the retirement. Employers should be paying an amount equal to 9.25% of employees pre-tax earning into their super fund each quarter. So I opened an super account in Bank ANZ .

Live

Then you have a job, you have money. Just enjoy the life in AU. We will talk about it in another article.

Second Year Visa

It gives backpackers an opportunity to enjoy another year in Australia on a working holiday. One of the basic requirements is to have completed 3 months, or 88 days of specific work in regional Australia. I got my second year visa til 15 Dec. 2017

you can apply the second visa on or offshore. Health requirement are needed for both. Mine was made onshore, so did the health examination. It cost me AU$300. That's a big amount compare to Taiwan's.

Home

I flew back to Taiwan at 12 Mar. 2017. Because of some bizarre toothache reason, got to fly back immediately.

Funny fact that I missed a flight from Melbourne to Hong Kong. Therefore; I bought another ticket! How dumb was I!

Tax refund

After coming back to Taiwan and wait until my visa 417 expired! I finally applied for my super. That's was a complicated procedure but I got the fund anyway. It was my sweat money, couldn't just leave it there.

It was a wonderful adventure !

Thank you for reading. See ya mate!