Australia

General info

Working in Australia

There are many ways of looking for work. However if you cannot use the phone, there are many agencies. Backpacker agencies are Backpackers World and Travellers Contact Point to name a few. When looking for work, bear in mind that it may be hard to find work so be flexible. Go for any job. Hostels also employ backpackers, mostly in return for free accommodation. Ask at hostels before you arrive or when you arrive.

Backpackers World is also WorldWideWorkers which comprises of 25 agencies in one. The price is now $99 as it now has WorldWidePickers. What happens is after payment, you look at the notice board for any jobs you are interested in, take down the numbers, and get a ticket from reception. You then wait to be called. When you are called, the person calls up the companies of the jobs you are interested in. You may get jobs straightaway without interviews or may be referred to agencies. Jobs are listed on their website as well. To find a job, do not be fussy - go for whatever you can do and you may get the job straightaway. It is more convenient as you need not make a phone call.

You may check out newspapers for jobs such as Sydney Morning Herald or The Age. There are backpacker magazines and TNT magazine has plenty of advertisements for agencies.
Web
Sydney Morning Herald www.sydneymorningherald.com.au
The Age www.theage.com.au
TNT Magazine www.tnt.com.au

While in Sydney, I went into Backpackers World. There is no guarantee you may get jobs, but I was lucky, especially as you have to pay to become a member. After I signed up, I was referred to another place. Thinking it was a company, after arriving there, I was disappointed to find it was another agency, where I had to fill out massive paperwork and watch a badly produced video on safety. If you are told to go to Labour Linq, watch a video where you can laugh at a woman with her hand being chopped off! If you are referred to them, don't bother as it's for factory work which is not guaranteed. You are expected to be on call and to phone or email them every day. It is a waste of time so only look for work rather than be referred to agencies

I went back to Backpackers World the next week and looked up the notice board. I found a job there and started work within two hours. The service is not great as you may wait as long as an hour before you are called. When I went there again after returning from Melbourne, I got another job straightaway. For me, it was a good way of getting work straightaway.
Web www.backpackersworld.com.au
WorldWideWorkers www.worldwideworkers.com
WorldWidePickers

My first job was for Lettuce Deliver Organics in Flemington, which delivers organic fruit and vegetables to its customers. Each customer sends an order by fax or email, and the orders are processed on Monday and Tuesdays. Each order varies by weight and quantity of each fruit and vegetables. It was hard work, and was only two days a week, starting at 7:30am to as early as 2pm or as late as 7pm, depending on work - up to twenty hours a week. It was quite hard work for a measly $12 per hour, but the taxes paid were less than the 29% rate. I could not stay there for long and left seven weeks later.

In the second job, I worked for Masterbind in St Leonards. Masterbind is involved with document presentation services, supplies and equipment. I was working with a machine that cut spiral binders. I was to put them into trays and when the spool was finished, make up the boxes and mark the sizes, quantities and colour onto the boxes before putting the trays in them, in quantities of 50s or 100s. What I did not like while working there was the greed of the managers or bosses. The machine I worked with was working at the slowest speed and I was capable of keeping up with it. A few men came down on different days to put the machine at the fastest speed. Consequently, the machine jammed up frequently and I had to stand up and show them I was quicker at low speed. Fortunately, they backed out. I am appalled at their behaviour of expecting someone to work fast on their first few days - it takes time. The job is so repetitive that I could not stay long enough. Besides there wasn't enough work and I also wanted to leave for Tasmania that I only worked there for three weeks. The pay was $14 an hour, with low tax.

When I was in Melbourne after Tasmania, I went to Dorothy Farmer Personnel, where Cathy got her jobs. I did not get the job straightaway. I was offered the job of stuffing envelopes but I missed out as they emailed me late in the evening. A week later, I got a job in Government Superannuation Office. GSO is a company that looks after funds and benefits for its members. I was dealing with data entry - adding details, amending and updating, and also checking for errors. Unlike the first two jobs, the tax paid was very high - over 29%, with 8% going into a superannuation fund.

DFP is a very good agency - they are lucky to have a client that is GSO who always wanted staff. Hence work may always be available through DFP, depending on the time. When you go there, ask for Naomi Dwyer and mention this site or Stephen Gilligan. You will be asked to do a few tests on the computer: Word and Excel and also your typing. Don't be afraid if you are really bad: this is their normal procedure. Keep checking your email, fax or phone (if you can use it) them often in order to let them know you are still in search of work and they will look for you provided you keep in touch with them daily.
Web www.dfp.com.au Email dfp@dfp.com.au

In Alice Springs, while staying at Annie's Backpackers, I worked for 2½ hours. I cleaned the jeep inside and outside - it was very hot at 35 degrees Celsius. I cleared the leaves out from the swimming pool and swept leaves from the paths inside the hostel.

When I was back in Sydney, I found it hard to find work. Backpackers World seemed to have poor service as the waiting times were hours. The number of jobs was very low. I was being fussy at that time - there was work for charity but I ignored them. Two weeks later, I still had no work and had to go for anything, even charity. Fortunately, I got a job and it paid off well. You can read about my pay in the itineraries. I worked for Mongoose Marketing, selling pens for a charity called The Microsearch Foundation of Australia which is involved with microsurgery: helping babies with their damaged body parts among one of its functions. The pay was tax free.

After working in Australia, you may claim your tax back by clicking on the banner below