How to set up your life in Australia

Adelaide and Perth are excellent locations for people that love the beach and discovering great food and wine. If you’re looking for real adventure or a quintessential outback experience, head to Darwin.  

Australia has so many great cities and regional areas. Be sure to travel around and see as much as possible during your stay. Read about the backpacker precincts in around Australia for a better idea on what you can find in each location.

Having your CV (or resume) ready to go when you arrive will save you time and stress. If you have a PDF version, you can start emailing potential employers right away, or you can make a more lasting impression by hand-delivering your CV to prospective employers. Your hostel will likely have internet and printing services, or you can head to a local library to print a few copies.

Try to keep your CV to one page, and list only relevant experience. Get more tips and tricks to writing an Australian CV here.

You can also upload your CV and create a profile on Australia’s main job search websites; Seek, Indeed, Jora and Backpacker Job Board.

Even if you're a confident person, doing some interview prep can help you to stand out when you meet prospective employers. Look online for sample interview questions with tips on how to answer them. If you can, practice with a friend.

Here are some useful tips and sample questions to get you started.

Remember that interviews go both ways. This is also a chance for you to learn more about the role and the company so you can decide whether it's a job you want to do. You should have a few questions ready to ask your prospective employer to help you decide. Be sure to phrase your questions in a positive way - so rather than asking if you will be required to do overtime, ask what a typical day on the job looks like. 

Here are a few more great questions you may want to ask your interviewer.

First of all, it will allow you to meet other working holiday makers right off the bat. It’s a great opportunity to connect with like-minded people, hear about the experiences they’ve already had in Australia, and get a better understanding of what to expect from your gap year. You may even meet someone who can help secure you a job once your specified work requirements have been completed. Secondly, thanks to its rural nature, most specified work comes with accommodation (whether paid separately or deducted from your wages), so you won’t need to worry about securing a flat - or even deciding which city you want to base yourself in - until your three months are complete. Finally, by doing the specified work early, you won’t have to worry about uprooting yourself later in the year. You can fully settle into your new life Down Under and immerse yourself in the Australian culture and way of life.

Information about harvest work opportunities in regional Australia can be found at the Australian Government’s Harvest Trail website.

Luckily it’s easy and inexpensive to book into one of Australia’s many hostels. You can book directly through YHA or visit Hostelworld to find a huge range of options.

Once you’re on the ground you can start meeting up with your potential flatmates in person. You can tour the flat and get a better idea of whether the neighbourhood (and the company) is a good fit for you. Some useful sites for finding flatmates and rooms to rent are Flatmate Finders and Flatmates.com.au.

Australia has four main banking institutions - ANZ Bank, Commonwealth Bank, NAB (National Australia Bank) and Westpac. In addition to these, you’ll find several smaller banks as well as some online banks. If you plan to travel extensively throughout Australia during your stay, it may be more beneficial to stick to one of the main banks. You’ll find more branches and ATMs around the country, helping to avoid costly fees for using a competing bank’s ATM. Before choosing, be sure to read about the different account options, required balance and any monthly fees that may be applicable. This will help you pick the best account for your needs.

In a few days you will receive a bank card from your institution. Most bank cards come with a PayPass chip. This chip allows you to pay by simply tapping your card on the reader. For most transactions under AUD$100 you don’t need to enter your PIN. Many mobile phones also allow you to “load” these cards to your telephone and pay by tapping your phone on the card reader. It’s a quick and easy way to pay and is a very common method of payment across Australia.

If you have a valid visa already issued, which allows you to work in Australia, you can apply for an Australian Tax File Number online via the Australian Taxation Office. It’s important to note that you cannot apply for a TFN before you arrive in Australia.

Applying for a TFN is done online and should take about 20 minutes. You will be asked to enter personal details, including your passport or travel document number, a postal address in Australia where your TFN can be sent, your legal name and other names you use, or have used, and contact details for yourself or your preferred contact person.

• Telstra - This is Australia's leading provider of mobile devices and services. They also have the largest coverage area;

• Optus - Optus offers the second largest coverage area in Australia;

• Vodafone - the smaller of the major providers (covers mostly metropolitan and larger regional areas).

Most service providers require proof of employment and residential permanence (your name on a utility bill, for example) to enter into a contract with them. As you’ve just arrived, a prepaid plan is probably your best option. If you already have an unlocked phone, you’ll just need to purchase a SIM card and decide what level of talktime and data you think you need each month. You can top up as you go, or stick with a monthly allocation.

The easiest way to do this is to research the different plans and coverage, then head directly into the shop of the provider of your choice. They’ll help you match a SIM card and get set up. Just make sure you bring your passport with you.

If you’re happy to see where the adventure takes you, work in hospitality, office administration, childcare and construction is usually readily available. Browse openings on Australia’s main job boards: Seek, Indeed, Jora and Backpacker Job Board. You can also check the job boards at your hostel or sign up with a recruitment agency.

Get more tips on finding a job here.

If you don’t mind upcycling, Gumtree is a popular Australian website where people sell their used goods. You can find everything from furniture and cars through to clothes and even jobs advertised here. There are also a number of Facebook groups dedicated exclusively to selling, buying and trading used goods. Just search for “buy, swap, sell” in your city. Here’s a popular one for Sydneysiders to get you started.

If you don’t have a car, try negotiating delivery into the price of your item. Alternatively, visit Airtasker, an online services marketplace. Just place an ad (it’s free to place the ad) for the work you need done and what you’re willing to pay. Someone will accept the job and pick up your new furniture for you. Handy tip - if you’re looking for casual work and odd jobs, this is a great place to start.