10 reasons why you shouldn’t go on an Australian Working Holiday Visa
I’m 3 weeks away from my departure date, and I decided to write a quick post outlining, from my experience, the 10 reasons why you shouldn’t go to Australia on a working holiday visa as of august 2009.
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It’s a money eating business. You have to pay 180$ for a visa to start with, just think about that.
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You will pay 29% tax when Australians pay 9%. This enforces point 1
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You won’t be finding your dream job anymore, the crisis is here too. Be ready to wash dishes and run around or break your back in a farm. Unless you have tits, maybe then you can get a bar job.
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You will not practice English, for the most part. You’ll hang out with many people from your own country.
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Having this visa categorizes you as a backpacker. For the average Australian person this term means “trouble on two legs”. Don’t think this is going to help you out, in any circumstance.
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You will live for one year, or thereabouts, in a fake “backpacker” world that is in no way similar to a real independent travel experience. Here you are a backpacker because you sleep in a hostel which is called “backpacker” and therefore you start thinking you belong to a superior race of human beings made to travel the world. Bullshit. This will prevent you from understanding the shallow Australian culture, which might be a good thing as well, though.
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Australia got to a point where there are so many working holiday makers around that is not just very hard to get a job, but even a bloody parking spot, and the police and the rangers have enforced security checks and they DO fine you. It’s an industry, and you might think you are free but you are just part of it. They want your money!!
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However things go, even if you are making some bucks, remember that you are still part of the tourist industry, in an inverted equation.
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This is a good experience if it’s your first big trip abroad, and if you are in the 18/23 year range, in my opinion.
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The good money in the mines etc. is not here anymore, sorry guys, I got screwed as well.
This said, Australia is still a beautiful place to visit, but this visa is to be taken for what it is. So think twice before you think you’ll find fame, success and fortune in kangarooland. This is most likely not going to happen, sorry folks, but have fun!
August 9th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
Well done, I’m totally agree, actually most people enjoy it anyway.
Look at ads in this page: they talk about agencies that provides working holiday visa for australia. There’s something wrong with adsense
August 9th, 2009 at 3:00 pm
I agree, though there is one (potential) plus side- you are able to stay here for a year and not the few months a tourist visa allows… Australia does have things worth seeing, and due to it’s huge size, one year is advantageous. But yeah, you got the right message across and I’m in complete agreement.
August 13th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
Ok, then the Working Holiday so is not very beneficial… but there is another way to stay in Australia for one year?
And what about qualified workers, such IT specialists, Engeneer and all specialized categories? the crisis involve also this categories?
August 14th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
I m a qualified teacher and I did found something, but didn’t get the jobs because it was not so many hours, and low pay. I am not saying it’s impossible to find employment as a qualified worker in Australia, but seen from previous friends’ experiences, it’s gotten to be harder because most of the positions are now offered to residents only, the sponsorship laws changed (example, hospitality doesnt sponsor anymore) etc.
I’d just consider a whv for the sheer fun of it and as Matt said, to have more time to travel in Australia. I know it’s possible to get one year tourist visas as well, tough…
August 15th, 2009 at 2:26 am
Thank you Monkey. I’m a qualified IT network engeneer, and I’m evaluating the possibility to get a working experience out of Italy. Australia is in my option, but maybe is better to wait some time
Sorry…. low pay compared to what other countries?
thks
August 15th, 2009 at 11:02 am
I think you should try to send some resumes around and see what happens. The pay here is ok compared to the lifestyle and costs, but it all depends on areas, cities and your living habits. Good luck!!
August 17th, 2009 at 7:31 pm
I agree 100% That’s what I thought everyday during my 3 months stay. Fuck Australia!
August 26th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
Hi Monkey, I don’t agree with you, I have been in Australia for 15 months so:
1. It’s a money eating business. You have to pay 180$ for a visa to start with, just think about that.
That’s Australia, every visa has a cost, the cheapest vista that allow you to work is WHV.
2.You will pay 29% tax when Australians pay 9%. This enforces point 1
False. The last job I had I paid something about 10% (maybe 9% I’m not sure), there is still a lot of confusion on this, wage taxes depends mostly on what you cross on tfn declaration form.
3. You won’t be finding your dream job anymore, the crisis is here too. Be ready to wash dishes and run around or break your back in a farm. Unless you have tits, maybe then you can get a bar job.
I’ve found my dream-job and I was there working in a Lab as a Lab Technician (casual). Maybe you were thinking about permanent position?If so I agree with you.
4.You will not practice English, for the most part. You’ll hang out with many people from your own country.
It’s like that for most of backpackers, but my english emproved a lot! I was barely able to speek english when I got there.
5. Having this visa categorizes you as a backpacker. For the average Australian person this term means “trouble on two legs”. Don’t think this is going to help you out, in any circumstance.
Totally agree with you.
6.You will live for one year, or thereabouts, in a fake “backpacker” world that is in no way similar to a real independent travel experience. Here you are a backpacker because you sleep in a hostel which is called “backpacker” and therefore you start thinking you belong to a superior race of human beings made to travel the world. Bullshit. This will prevent you from understanding the shallow Australian culture, which might be a good thing as well, though.
I never felt superior, the way of travelling It’s a personal choice.
7. Australia got to a point where there are so many working holiday makers around that is not just very hard to get a job, but even a bloody parking spot, and the police and the rangers have enforced security checks and they DO fine you. It’s an industry, and you might think you are free but you are just part of it. They want your money!!
I Agree with that.
8. However things go, even if you are making some bucks, remember that you are still part of the tourist industry, in an inverted equation.
OK.
9. This is a good experience if it’s your first big trip abroad, and if you are in the 18/23 year range, in my opinion.
I am 26, and except 2 inter-rails and some other travels in europe this was my big trip abroad, and I think it was a great experience!
10.The good money in the mines etc. is not here anymore, sorry guys, I got screwed as well.
I never believed I could work in a mine. I will never want to!
nice blog!
August 29th, 2009 at 5:02 pm
we pay 9% tax?? bhahaha ur an idiot mate, an idiot
I pay 30% on my wage and noone pays 9% tax what the hell are you talking about
ive done working holiday visas to canada, uk and sweden and yes you pay more tax but so you bloody should i put up with it in other countires
September 28th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Hi.
Firstly you obviously are not a happy person. Your 6# comment is total bullshit, if you had half a brain you can find somewhere REAL to live.
Lastly, in Australia we are going through a “skills shortage”. So if you had any qualifications or a trade – you Would find a decent job.
But if all you can do is dig holes or pour beers…
Get a life !
October 9th, 2009 at 9:39 am
Dear Kelly, I got a life many years ago and it’s definitely better than yours. I have a trade, qualifications and everything, and the only things I could do were dig holes and pour beers, my dear aussie girl.
If your “shortage list” would make sense, you would allow foreigners to get those jobs, instead of telling on the phone that you can’t because we are not permanent residents. Full stop, goodbye.
December 12th, 2009 at 5:36 pm
Completamente d’accordo con te ragazzo. It’s a money eating business.
Sembra di essere in un grande tour organizzato per turisti
September 15th, 2010 at 8:32 am
Hi, im according with you with some point, its a money industry. But i think you can easily find a good job in Sydney if you are not too lazy and a little bit smart. I’m french, and i came in Australia with 3 other french friends, we all found a job as waiter quickly in different places (max 1 month because of the weather and you want to stay on bondi beach) and we save more than 5000 $ each in five month by earning an average of 3500 $ per month , and 35 hours max per week. So i know we have been may be lucky but i met so many people who have been lucky as well and im sorry the other that i met who have to come back were lovely persons but fucking lazy also. So if you know that you have motivation and you are not not lazy come and enjoy Australia and make more money than your friends back in your country who are working as It engineer.
September 15th, 2010 at 8:35 am
And by the way 29 % its only if you dont have the TFN (Tax File number) you can apply on internet to have one, you will receive it after one week and after you pay the same tax than an australian and you even get them back when you leave the country.
February 17th, 2011 at 10:36 am
Fucking Work and Holliday Australia, I had to spend my AUS $5.000 in three months while i was trying to find a fucking job here, finally i just got a part time job “washing cars” low paid, and few hours a week… Come on man!, I’m an Industrial Engineer with 4 years of work experience!!!. They just want your money!, This is really a bullshit. it’s better to stay in your own country or get a life experience in Europa but Not in this fucking Island.
February 20th, 2011 at 2:46 pm
Hi, I don’t agree with your post..well, in part! I think that is a business too (especially the way to renew it), but they way you paint it it’s too emphasized. I worked without any problem, even during the crisis, either in a professional field (IT) or in a more ‘backpacker’ job, like frying fish in a Fish and chips restaurant. Maybe it depends on luck, but I have to say that you just stayed in the worst (or less authentic) part of Australia and it is a bit strange for such an experienced traveller like you. East coast is like hell for real travellers and paradise for tourist, even though there nice places over there too. If you really want to enjoy OZ you need to get into his heart, live it and go beyond people. The outback, the real one, not the one makes of sealed road is magical, if you stuck on the main road you can’t see Australia, that’ s why I love Australia but don’t like australians..A last word about jobs: west coast has a lot of opportunities, don’t know why people keep on insisting with the east coast..
All in all, WHV could be a business but it permits to everyone without a big amount oif money, to travel in freedom across this beautiful land.
ps. as Ludovic said, if you get the TFN and work for 3 months in the same place you pay the tax as a resident and at the end of income year you can get about 84% of the taxes paid back..it’s not that bad, is it?
Ciao e buon viaggio!
April 26th, 2012 at 5:21 pm
yea so im ozzy but live in europe with an honnors degree and in france cant even get a dish washing job the girls are cute but dogs look more like rats where i am at the moment..
So in oz you will get finned for sleeping in you car over night 180 bucks i think hay but i was a bit drunk mr police man oh thats no excuse but i think i can fine you more for sleeping in you car if you where drunk, let me see.. so ok pal i going to do you a favor and give you a fine for sleeping in your car and also for thinking about drink driving and after this he will probably call you mate!!!
i left oz because it was starting to go this way oz was oz up to the early 90s now its a new world with big new world order that has no gone through much history its gatta learn the hard way,