Darryl Newby, Author at Welcome to Travel

6 Melbourne Instagram Accounts You Need To Follow

Darryl Newby — Fri, 27 Aug 2021 05:05:00 +0000

We All Know Instagram Is The Best For Travel Inspiration....

Instagram and its updates are always changing…and so are the creatives on the platform. Whether you’re searching for the best reels, posts, stories or even IGTV’s to consume these are the best accounts to follow for Melbourne in 2021.

Aside from being an incredibly Instagrammable city in it’s own right, there’s a big chance that Melbourne is the city you’ve been dreaming of. Whether you’re in the planning stages of your Australian adventure or you just have Melbourne on your mind, these Melbourne Instagram accounts will give you all the travel inspo you need.

1) @melbourneiloveyou

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A post shared by Melbourne - Chris Cincotta (@melbourneiloveyou)

@melbourneiloveyou is ran by Chris Cincotta. Not only is he a Melbourne legend, but a talented photographer that captures the true essence of Melbourne and its people. He is also the founder of @humansinmelbourne.

@melbourneiloveyou now shares other peoples stunning photos of Melbourne when you #melbourneiloveyou, so if you manage to get a beautiful snap of the city when you’re here, feel free to hashtag your life away!

Chris still gets behind the camera and captures Melbourne through a lens, often using his girlfriend @milymiss as his focus to compliment the city.

You can buy his prints, books and jigsaws at his website – melbourneiloveyou.com

2) @whereiskapa

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A post shared by KapaMelbourne (@whereiskapa)

@whereiskapa I’ll tell you where she is on Instagram bloody killing the reels game.

With 2.2 million views on her Sounds of Melbourne reel, along with millions of other views on her reels Kapa seriously gets Melbourne and it’s not just reels she offers.

A talented photographer with care factor for her audience giving more info in her guides around Victoria.

You want to make the most of this amazing city…follow her account.

3) @lushsux

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A post shared by lushsux (@lushsux)

If you have ever been to Melbourne you have seen @lushsux‘s work…and to be honest he will probably hate being on a blog like this.

His satirical, pop culture graffiti is always a talking point. From online beef with 50 Cent to poking fun at CEO’s such as Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos, no celebrity is safe when @lushsux has a spray can in his hand.

It’s always a favourite on our Welcome to Melbourne tours to find his 15 foot Kim Kardashian and Em Ratajowski mural…good looking finding it

4) @oldvintagemelbourne

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A post shared by Old Vintage Melbourne (@oldvintagemelbourne)

There is something so wholesome about this account which made me put it in.

Seeing Melbourne through the ages just warms my heart, but also seeing it with worldwide icons like Arnold Schwareznegger and Dolly Parton make it mind blowing , it’s like two worlds have collided.

Curated by @chrismacheras he has found images which will take you back in time and @oldvintagemelbourne has been so popular that Chris is publishing a book with his favourite images captured over the years. A perfect gift for any Melbourne lover.

5) @welcometo.travel

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A post shared by Welcome to Travel | Australia (@welcometo.travel)

Hang on a minute…is this not a Welcome to Travel blog…well yes it is but there is a good reason why we’re putting ourselves down here.

Our Insta account is more for travellers looking to coming over to Australia maybe on a gap year or working holiday so they can be informed and see the places they want to explore. Whether you want to join us on one of tours in Melbourne or Sydney we hope our account inspires future travellers.

Also our improved Instagram game may also be due to the help and advice we received from the talented @benn_tk. The only reason he didn’t make the list is because he’s too busy travelling all over the world, but we know Melbourne’s still his favourite.

We may not have the biggest audience, but a little follow from you would be nice.

6) @jjzandt

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A post shared by Jeff van de Zandt (@jjzandt)

No creator has quite captured the lockdown mood of Melbourne better than Jeff.

It feels like when Dan Andrews changes from a North Face coat to a blazer and we’re due some bad news, we turn to @jjzandt to get us through those neggy times.

So on behalf of all of Victoria, thank you Jeff.

What now? Go follow these accounts, get inspired and come and experience one of the best cities in the world.

The post 6 Melbourne Instagram Accounts You Need To Follow appeared first on Welcome to Travel.

Working Holiday Visa Update: No More Farm Work, Free Visas and More

Darryl Newby — Fri, 02 Jul 2021 02:39:44 +0000

Finally the news is here regarding the UK and Australia Free Trade Agreement for Working holiday makers.

Now before I get into all the points, I just want to let you know that we’re a travel company and not visa experts. But because we work with working holiday makers all the time on our tours, we want to be as helpful as possible and give you the main points of information with a few examples.

via GIPHY

Update 18 July 2023

Point 1

From 1 July 2023 you can apply for a working holiday visa even if you’re over the age of 30.

Point 2

And this is a BIG one…but not the biggest.

“From 1 July 2024, UK passport holders can be granted up to three separate Working Holiday visas without having to meet any specified work requirements.”

Point 3 (The Big One)

If you have ever had a working holiday or you’re on one right now this is the point you have been waiting for.

“If a UK passport holder has already spent one or two years in Australia on a Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa before the new arrangements commence, they can apply for the remaining visa(s) under the new arrangements from 1 July 2024. This will enable access to the maximum of three years in Australia.”

What does this mean?

Point 1 - From 1 July 2023 you can apply for a working holiday visa even if you’re over the age of 30.

Previously you could only get the working holiday visa between the age of 18-30 but now it has been extended to the age of 35.

When we say the age 35 – that means you can apply up until the day before you turn 36.

Example

Sally from Scunthorpe has never been to Australia on a working holiday.
She is currently 35 years old.
On 1 July 2023 she can apply for a working holiday visa.
From approval she has 1 year to enter the country.
She enters the country on 1 January 2024 and can stay one year maximum as when she applies for her 2nd working holiday she will be 36 years old.

Which leads onto my next point.

Point 2 - Removal of Farm Work

“From 1 July 2024, UK passport holders can be granted up to three separate Working Holiday visas without having to meet any specified work requirements.”

This means Brits will no longer have to do farm work.

MIND BLOWN

Previously it was a requirement to do 88 days of specified work to be able to apply for a second year visa , then 6 months of specified work for a third year visa. From July 2024 you will be able to get three separate visas with no specified work.

Example

Callum from Carlisle is 22 years old.
He applies for his working holiday visa 1 July 2024.
He lands in Australia in September 2024 and does one of our award-winning tours.
He travels around Australia, lives and works in different places and wants to stay for a second year without going home.
He will then just need to apply for a second year working holiday before September 2025.

Callum bloody loves it here in Australia and wants to stay longer, but he also wants to go home for a while, he misses the cold weather and gravy.

At the end of his second year working holiday Callum doesn’t apply for his third year visa, he goes home for an indefinite amount of time.

Then, when he’s 35, in 2037, he decides he’d like to do his third and final year in Australia. He can then apply for his third working holiday visa, with no special requirements.

This means:

You don’t need to take your working holiday visas consecutively
You won’t need to do the farm work.

Which leads onto what I think is the biggest point.

Point 3 - (The Big One)

If you have ever had a working holiday or you’re on one right now this is the point you have been waiting for.

THIS IS MASSIVE.

However, there are three parts to this:

From July 2024, you’re allowed back to Australia if you have previously had a working holiday visa and you:
- Are still under the age of 36 years old by 1 July 2024
- Didn’t do your regional work
- Haven’t already done 3 years of a working holiday visa
If you’re currently on a working holiday and want to stay in Australia consecutively you may want to consider doing regional work… or leaving and then come back 1 July 2024. Depending on your situation.
If you’re arriving after 1 July 2023 and before 1 July 2024 it pretty much means you have a clean run without doing regional work as you will be able to apply for your 2nd year when your first one runs out.

If you arrive in June 2023 – you may want a month long holiday outside of Australia for June 2024 – waiting for the second year visa to come in without doing regional work.

This is all we know so far, and the source for this info is here. Finally, you can now start planning your future Down Under!

And hopefully we will see you soon.

Is this good or bad news for you personally? Let us know in the comments!

As with all things, you wait around ages for some good news and then it all comes at once. Two weeks ago we had news on working holiday changes for just Brits, now there is news for all Working Holiday Makers.

Update 5 May 2023

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the Free Trade Deal will come into effect on 31 May 2023.

The agreement, projected to boost trade by $11.8 billion over the long run, opens up sectors such as agriculture and allows for freer movement for service-sector professionals.

However, there has been no clear indication on when the 417 visa (working holiday) element of the agreement will come into play.

It has been stated that within two years of entry into force, Brits will be able to apply for working holidays in the UK to the age of 35, up from 30, and stay for a maximum of three years instead of two.

We believe more info on this will come out on 31 May 2023.

No More Farm Work

Up until now, people on a 417 visa (Working Holiday Visa) have needed to complete 3 months of specified work in a rural area (often known as farm work) to extend their visa for a 2nd year. Doing this work will still get you a visa extension, but as you can see from below, other types of work will be able to be carried out too.

From 8 May 2021, WHMs working in the tourism and hospitality sectors anywhere in Australia may now work for up to 12 months with the same employer or organisation without requesting permission.
From 22 June 2021, work undertaken in the tourism and hospitality sectors in northern, remote or very remote Australia can also be counted as specified work towards eligibility for a second or third WHM visa.
This option will be available for WHM applications lodged from March 2022.

Taken from official government statement here.

That means if you’re in Australia you will be able to swap your farm work for tourism or hospitality, to get your third year visa.

We’re still unsure if they’ll keep this for future travellers, but it is a really positive sign.

FREE VISAS FOR COVID AFFECTED TRAVELLERS

You may remember that last year the Australian government announced that people who didn’t use their visa, or people that had to fly home because of COVID would be eligible to a free visa in the future. I’m excited to let you know that the exact process for that has FINALLY been confirmed and announced this week.

Who Can Apply?
You must be outside Australia to apply for a nil VAC WHM visa.

You may apply if you hold or held a ‘COVID-19 affected WHM visa’. To hold a COVID-19 affected visa, you must meet all of the below requirements:

you were granted a WHM (subclass 417 or 462) visa before 20 March 2020
your WHM visa expired on or after 20 March 2020 while you were outside Australia or will expire before 31 December 2021 while you are outside Australia
you did not travel to Australia on your WHM visa or departed Australia before your visa expired.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a nil VAC WHM visa, you must:

be outside Australia and apply by 31 December 2022
hold a WHM eligible passport (subclass 417 or subclass 462)
be 18 to 30 years old (inclusive) at time of application, except for Canadian, French and Irish citizens who can be 18 to 35 years old (inclusive)
meet health and character requirements
not be accompanied by dependent children.

Visa Period

A nil VAC WHM visa, like all WHM visas granted to applicants who are outside Australia, is in effect for 12 months from the date you enter Australia.

You will have 12 months to enter Australia from the date your visa is granted.

How to Apply

All applicants must apply for this visa online and must be outside Australia at time of application.

Processing Times

Visa applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis, and processing times can vary due to individual circumstances.

Processing times have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and visa applications may take longer to finalise.

The Department is currently prioritising processing of visa applications for travellers who are exempt from travel restrictions and have an urgent need to travel.

For more information on travel restrictions, see COVID-19 and the border.

Applying for Subsequent WHM Visas

If you hold or have held a COVID-19 affected WHM visa, that visa will not count towards the total number of three WHM visas you may hold.

If You Are Not Eligible for a VAC WHM Visa

If you are not eligible to apply for a nil VAC WHM visa, you may be eligible to request a VAC refund or apply for a standard (full VAC) WHM visa.

For further information, see Refunds and waivers of Visa Application Charges.

WHM Holders in Australia
From March 2022, eligible current and former WHMs in Australia will be able to apply for a WHM visa with a nil VAC. This will provide them with another opportunity to meet the specified work requirements for a subsequent WHM visa.

Former WHM visa holders who have transitioned to another visa, such as the 408 COVID-19 Pandemic Event visa, may also be eligible to apply for an onshore nil VAC WHM visa.

More information on the onshore nil VAC WHM visa will be available on the Department’s website once arrangements are finalised.

Information taken from the government website.

Need help for your working holiday visa?

We have been in your position trying to work out how all the details of a working holiday visa, so we have made it easy for you.

Check out our Australia Working Holiday Visa page as this will answer a lot of the unanswered questions you may have.

UPDATE: 4 April 2022 | UK – Australia Free Trade Agreement

Maximum stay of three years on a working holiday

British Working Holiday Makers visa holders can soon stay three years in Australia without doing regional work and this excludes any ‘COVID -19 affected visa’.

Three Separate Visas

The years will be on separate visas – meaning you apply for the first year, then second and then third. There is no need for you to stay in Australia three years consecutively.

E.g. Harry from Hull comes applies for his visa in 2023 when he is 20 years old.
He comes to Australia in 2024 when he is 21 for a year – then returns to England in 2025.
2027 Harry realises he misses Australia when he is 24 and applies for the second year visa – which he uses in 2028 when he is 25.
He travels and then falls in love with someone from New Zealand and goes to live there after his second year visa has finished.
2034 – things didn’t go well for Harry and his partner in New Zealand so he wants to give Australia one more go. He applies for his third year visa in 2034 when he is 31 and goes on his last work ing holiday in 2035 when he is 32.

You Can Come Back

If you were in Australia on a working holiday and didn’t do your regional work but are still under the age of 35 you ARE able to come back to Australia, when the free trade agreement kicks in.
Even if you have used your second year visa – you will be able to apply for a third year visa once the free trade agreement is finalised.

Stay Up To Date On Visa Information

The post Working Holiday Visa Update: No More Farm Work, Free Visas and More appeared first on Welcome to Travel.

Visa Changes for Brits: Age Limit Changed From 30 to 35, No More Farm Work and 3 Year Visa

Darryl Newby — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 10:29:30 +0000

News about working holidaymakers travelling to Australia has been hard to come by recently. However, that changed today, with huge developments for people from Britain looking in to the possibility of a working holiday in Australia.

No More Farm Work

In the trade agreement between the UK and Australia, Boris Johnson pushed for the removal of the mandatory regional work if a Brit on a working holiday visa wanted to extend for another 12 months, which has been in place since 2005.

The work includes:

plant and animal cultivation in regional Australia
fishing and pearling in regional Australia
tree farming and felling in regional Australia
mining in regional Australia
construction in regional Australia

This work previously allowed a traveller to extend their stay for a 2nd, and then 3rd year (if more work was completed). The new deal will see Brits get a total of three years on a working holiday, a program that encourages young travellers to experience the best of Australia.

Age Limit Increased To 35

Another major change is the announcement that the working holiday visa age limit will change to 35 years old, following in the footsteps of other countries such as Canada, France and Ireland.

Previously you could only arrive in Australia on a working holiday visa before you turned 31. This will now permit that you can arrive in Australia on a working holiday visa before you turn 36. This is a huge change and an incredible opportunity for people that thought they had missed out, to give Australia a go.

What To Do Now?

This has just been announced and is an agreement and has not been made policy. So don’t go quitting your farm job if you’re in Australia and don’t go applying for a visa if you’re in the UK.

The finer details of how and when this, and a special agricultural visa will work are yet to be released.

If you’re wanting to be kept updated on any visa announcements then sign up for our newsletter below. Here at Welcome to Travel we make it easier for you to start your working holiday with tours in both Melbourne and Sydney.

We also help our travellers with employment with our expansive database of employers and recruiters. We have a dedicated community team that are your constant network of support whilst you’re travelling here.

If you have any questions at all about travelling Australia, contact us here and we’ll help you with anything and everything.

Keep Up To Date

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Getting A Marketing or Project Manager Job in Australia

Darryl Newby — Sun, 27 Sep 2020 23:44:42 +0000

When travellers come over to Australia on a Working Holiday, the main areas they try to find a job in are hospitality, retail or a trade.

This is because generally speaking, these roles can be easier to find and secure with less formal qualifications and are more available to those on working visas.

Because of this, professionals on a Working Holiday Visa can sometimes be put off pursuing a role in their field of experience because they think they need to jump through hoops to get a job that’s not a typical “backpacker job” (but who even knows what that means).

With that being said, we’re all about giving you guys information that’s useful and relatable. So read on for two first-hand accounts from Nicole and Vicki on what their experiences were like trying to find a job in their field and how they went about it.

Nicole Sleaford - Marketing

What is your profession? Marketing

What is your home country? England

How long have you worked in this profession? 5 years!

Did you need to get any qualifications updated or translated or changed to Australian qualifications standard?

Nope! Although I imagine some companies will have specific requirements in terms of degree(s) and qualifications. The organisation I worked for just wanted me to show I had good relevant experience. The good thing about marketing is generally, all skills and qualifications are transferable in different countries!

Did you have to pass any new tests/exams? Nope!

How easy did you find getting work in your profession, in Australia? I was pretty dedicated to asking around and seeing where job vacancies were open. For example, I collated a list of possible employers and sent my CV across with a bit about my areas of specialism (social media). It’s much easier to focus your attention on temporary roles or short-term contracts (the type of role I found) as they won’t be looking for anything long term and therefore it doesn’t make things complicated with your visa which only allows you to work 6 months for one company!

Who was it that you worked for? I was the Social Media Coordinator for the Alcohol and Drug Foundation in Melbourne!

How does the standard wage compare from your profession in your home country? There was a huge difference in wage! Considering I was from a town in Lincolnshire, the wage was £10k+ more than what I was getting at home! Still over £5k more than jobs I’ve found relevant for me in cities in the UK.

What advice would you give to someone looking to work in your profession, in Australia? Definitely invest your energy into looking for short term roles and temporary contracts. I would imagine there’s a lot of marketing agencies and companies that are looking to hire locals who are able to stay with them for a long time etc, which means your application will be a no go once they realise you’re there on a holiday working visa. By applying for the short term roles, those companies are more likely to consider someone from a different country – they see it as an opportunity to bring in new ideas and see your point of view within your role. Even if it’s a 2 or 3 month contract, you are likely to earn a little more this way too, while having a chance to apply for more roles before it ends or see if the company is interested in extending your contract to the full 6 months you can work.

Profession Checklist: Are you able to give us a step-by-step checklist for finding work?
– Update CV so that is shows your latest experience (maybe even have a portfolio ready) and relevant contact details now you’re in Australia.
– Have documents ready such as a passport photo and driving licence photo. They may need this sending over to do some checks.
– Reach out to some Recruitment Agencies in the location you are looking to apply in. Some examples of these include Sharp and Carter and Hays. You may need to chase these emails up or phone the agents back!
– Use the likes of Indeed or LinkedIn to find marketing roles available within your location.
– Apply apply apply!

Vicki Renwick - Project Manager/Event Specialist

What is your profession? Project Manager / Event Specialist.

What is your home country? Scotland

How long have you worked in this profession? 5-6 years in events, overall 8 years in project & client management.

Did you need to get any qualifications updated or translated or changed to Australian qualifications standard? No, however if you are looking to work in event specifics like bump in projects then you may need to get your forklift driver certifications authenticated and whitecard in Victoria.

Did you have to pass any new tests/exams?
I would 100% ensure you have a RSA working in events in Victoria, even if not handling alcohol its something organisations check for. A lot of staff after planning has been completed on an event will be put into positions on the event itself so having this allows you the opportunity to be put forward to other areas.

How easy did you find getting work in your profession, in Australia?
Melbourne is the sport event capital of Australia so you will definitely find work if sports are your interest; but overall it just depends on the type of events you are looking for.
Short term roles = delivery of the event itself. So this could be in the form of marshalling, bar/hospitality on events, ticket sales or assisting.
*Some people don’t think this is worth doing but it will get your foot in the door if you make a good impression.
On a WHV the maximum is 6 months with a company so securing long term work really depends on you and your attitude, make a good impression in month 3 and you may be set for a sponsorship, company depending.

Who was it that you worked for? Moonee Valley Racing Club, Tennis Australia, Hotelstaff, Presidents Cup

How does the standard wage compare from your profession in your home country? You do average out to earn more in Australia than you do in the UK however you do need to work hard for it. A lot of people say they want to get into events but don’t want to work long hours or weekends but that’s really when events take place.

What advice would you give to someone looking to work in your profession, in Australia? I would say know what you want to do. I knew my passion is sport so I chased those types of contracts. If you are looking to do short term contracts then be prepared to work some unsociable hours – but if it’s your passion you’ll love it. The term ‘casual workers’ is frequently used in Australia so it could be hospitality roles or operation roles. They pay well but the work is normally over a weekend.
A lot of organisations over in Australia look for experience so if you are chasing your dream role, get some experience in Aus first. That could be volunteering or doing some short term event work. It will look good on your CV.

Profession Checklist: Are you able to give us a step-by-step checklist for finding work?
– Have your CV up-to-date with your Australian number & address.
– Register with the likes of: Event Workforce Group (https://www.eventworkforcegroup.com/) and Miles per Hour (https://www.milesperhour.com.au/)
SEEK is also decent at advertising short term admin related roles in events.
– Get your RSA or/and whitecard completed (whitecard applies for if you are working on an event on bump in stage)
– Have your personal documents scanned into your email (passport, visa confirmation, TFN, bank details) all for ease when sending onto new employer
– Keep an eye out on SEEK for recruitment days at the major racecourses and stadiums in Melbourne, come September they advertise ahead of spring carnival (that’s potential work for the month of October/November)
– Do your research of each state and what events they host so you can plan your travels around potential short term casual work, it keeps the money coming in but allows you the freedom of seeing what Australia has to offer, although Melbourne is where it’s at!

The post Getting A Marketing or Project Manager Job in Australia appeared first on Welcome to Travel.

How To Get A Job As A Nurse in Australia

Darryl Newby — Sun, 27 Sep 2020 23:40:55 +0000

Confused about how to get a job as a nurse in Australia? Read on!

Moving abroad is always going to be challenging, especially when you plan to go on a Working Holiday type adventure. The Holiday part is arguably the more appealing part of such a visa, with the Working part being a major point of stress for most travellers. Finding a job in a completely new country can be a daunting task. Especially if you do not have the resources or knowledge to point you in the right direction when you find yourself looking for a job abroad. With that said, we thought it would be helpful to our wonderful nurses out there to share some tips from our travellers on how to get a nursing job while travelling in Australia.

In Australia, most working holiday visa holders are finding it relatively easy to obtain a job within the hospitality/retail sectors or trade services. Despite these being the most common roles you should not be deterred from applying for a more specialized role/industry if you feel you have the skills or qualifications needed to fulfil such a job. Many WHV holders are mid-late 20s and early 30s who already have a degree/qualifications and a few years minimum experience in a specific field.

Here at Welcome to Travel we offer each of our travellers the support, resources and contacts they need to begin their job hunt in Australia. We’ve seen our travel community obtaining jobs in a range of industries all over the country and a few have agreed to share their experiences with us. So without further ado, here are the steps you need to take to find a nursing job while travelling in Australia.

The following tips were shared with us from two wonderful ex-travellers, Gemma Thompson and Ruth Dickinson.

Gemma Thompson

What is your profession? Registered nurse

What is your home country? Northern Ireland

How long have you worked in this profession? I have been nursing for 4 years

Did you need to get any qualifications updated or translated or changed to Australian qualifications standard?

The most difficult part of getting set up to nurse in Australia was getting my AHPRA registration. Which is the regulatory body for registered nurses in Australia (equivalent to the NMC in the UK). It is a long a costly process and took me nearly 8 months in total from applying for AHPRA to getting on the register. For anyone that is planning to come out to Australia to nurse I would recommend applying for AHPRA around 6 months before flying out. Another thing to note is a full medical is required when applying for your visa if you state on your application you are planning to work in a health care setting. There are a small amount of approved visa medical testing centres in the UK and Ireland and it costs approx. £350.

Did you have to pass any new tests/exams?
No exams thankfully

How easy did you find getting work in your profession, in Australia? I wanted to work casual agency shifts to give me the freedom to travel and have time off when i wanted. So I’m not really able to give much advice on finding permanent jobs. I did find it difficult getting nursing work initially. If you are working for a nursing agency sometimes there are not many shifts going in the cities, particularly in the inner suburbs as there is high demand for these shifts. A lot of nurses I met in Melbourne found the same problem. However, there are still loads of job opportunities available. The best thing I did was join the casual pool at one of the private hospitals. They are also always looking for rural and remote nurses.

Who was it that you worked for? I signed up for a few nursing agencies when I arrived to Australia and applied to the casual pool/bank in a few of the private hospitals giving me access to work shifts where and when suited me which was great. When lockdown hit, I managed to get regular agency work COVID-19 screening.

How does the standard wage compare from your profession in your home country? The wage is definitely better than in the UK. You can expect to earn around 40-55 AUD per hour depending on how long you’ve been qualified, where and what shift you are working. There are also enhanced rates for nurses in specialised areas such as ICU, CCU and emergency nursing.

What advice would you give to someone looking to work in your profession, in Australia? Like I said previously, getting set up to nurse is a very long and expensive process and I would highly recommend applying for AHPRA around 6 months before flying out. Be prepared for a lot of hidden costs that I know I wasn’t expecting including solicitors fees for certifying documents, the medical and applying for a working with children’s check when I arrived in Melbourne. I would also recommend getting in contact and signing up with few nursing agencies prior to flying out. A few agencies are I signed up with are Healthcare Australia, Swing Shift Nurses and YNA. It’s really easy to sign up and all these agencies will help you with the AHPRA process before you arrive in Australia. It’s been a great experience and once you get working will easily earn the money back.

Before we jump onto Ruth’s insight we just want to say thank you to medical professionals have unselfishly given so much in this global pandemic.

Whether you’re coming over to work or need a getaway, we have had nurses at all stages of their careers on our award winning tours.

If you’re thinking of coming over to Australia, we’ll send you a discount code and some more helpful tips.

Now back onto some more helpful nursing tips…

Ruth Dickinson

What is your profession? Nursing

What is your Home Country? UK

How long have you worked in this profession? Worked for 11 years in adult nursing in total but worked in Australia for about 6 months.

Did you need to get any qualifications updated or translated or changed to Australian qualifications standard? For myself, I didn’t need to get any qualifications updated or translated but depending on which country you are from or level of qualification you hold from your home country, this may need translating or converting (Australia has a degree type system for nursing qualification, so if you hold a diploma, as an example, you may need to top up with an extra course to make it an equivalent to the Australian qualification).

Did you have to pass any new tests/exams? For myself I didn’t need to pass any extra tests or exams, but this may be required depending on the qualification you hold and how this translates to the Australian qualification.

How easy did you find getting work in your profession in Australia? Fairly easy as I had to have a letter of an offer of employment as a minimum, or a definite job to arrive to in order to complete my Australian Nursing registration with the Australian Nursing Registration board. I unfortunately arrived at a time when there was a lull in agency work (I arrived in late October) so ease in. Getting agency shifts or contracted work may depend on the time of year that you arrive.

Who was it that you worked for? I worked for an agency called Swing Shift Nurses which is an agency that is based in Melbourne only.

How does the standard wage compare from your profession in your home country? Australia wins certainly in terms of agency.

What advice would you give to someone looking to work in your profession in Australia?
1) Be prepared to move around for work as there may not always be work in one particular area, whether that is geographical area or area of expertise.

2) Be mindful of the time of year that you arrive in Australia, as there are peak seasons for agency and contracted work which may impact on your plans for work and travel. This may be hard to accomplish depending on how quick you get your registration in principle, how much longer you have left to physically land in Australia before your visa runs out etc so be aware that your plans may change due to these factors.

3) Embrace opportunities that are given to you whilst ensuring that you are safe to practice. It’s an interesting place to work and found that there times where people were happy to support, encourage and give advice.

Profession Checklist: are you able to give us a step by step checklist for finding work?

Apply for your Nursing Registration via the AHPRA website. This is where you will find all the information for applying for your registration and what requirements you need.

Ensure all documents are in place (qualifications/translations if appropriate, proof of identification etc)

Have an address that post can be forwarded to (this can be a hostel that you have stayed/staying at or friends house) so that your registration card and details can be posted to you.

Once your application is processed, ensure you have got your registration in principal prior to arriving.

Once you have arrived, ensure you retain documentation of proof of arrival to Australia as you will be given a period of up to about 6 weeks to physically go to the AHPRA offices to present remaining documentation (such as proof of arrival) to complete your registration. Proof of arrival can either be in the form of a stamped passport (which will be needed anyway for identification) or in the form of plane tickets. The documents that you require will be outlined prior to arrival and you must present yourself to the offices of the state that you applied to. As an example, I knew that wanted to start in Melbourne, so my AHPRA application went to the offices for the state of Victoria (in Melbourne city centre) and therefore I had to go to these offices once I landed to finalise my application.

In relation to finding work I searched on google for nursing agencies (although agencies such as Swing Shift Nurses, Geneva or HCA are just a few to look at) and then applied/contacted Swing Shift Nurses through their website in order to gain information and had a phone interview once committed to working for them. If there is a specific Hospital/Hospital group that you know you want to work for, then it would be worth looking online for contact information for their HR to then sort out application processes and gather information in regards to the sort of work they may be able to offer you.

Thank you to both Ruth and Gemma for helping future travelling nurses making it easier to come to Australia. You still may have some questions about visas or how to get set up in Australia, just go to our contact page and we will be more than happy to help.

The post How To Get A Job As A Nurse in Australia appeared first on Welcome to Travel.

The Value Of Travelling – A Parents Perspective

Darryl Newby — Thu, 10 Sep 2020 05:23:21 +0000

A Parent's Tale of Travelling

As the Welcome to Travel community continues to rapidly grow, we often get carried away with immersing ourselves in the adventures and stories of our travellers. We are lucky to be a part of everyone’s journey as they join us on tour with many only having just arrived in Australia. Each traveller has a unique story, with individual aspirations and goals they wish to achieve during their time abroad. We’ve come to realise however, that we’ve been overlooking some of the most important stories this whole time. These are also the ones we tend to take for granted – our parents.

Us youngins will never truly understand what our parents go through as we head to the other side of the world for the trip of a lifetime. Perhaps we will never fully appreciate the trust they put in us until we become parents ourselves or take the time to ask.

It might even be because of our parents, that we have the courage to get on that flight. We may have grown up listening to their own backpacker stories and the amazing things they’ve seen before we came along. We subconsciously absorb this thirst for adventure and before we know it, we’re out there replicating their journeys to see what all the fuss is about.

We decided to get into contact with Fiona & John Devlin from Ireland;

parents of Ruairi (21), who arrived in Australia on a Working Holiday Visa in January 2020 and joined us on tour.

Our guide Clauds vaguely remembered him mentioning that his parents were avid travellers and had fallen in love with Australia on one of their trips. We sent some simple questions for them to answer thinking it would be valuable information for a future blog. Little did we know that we would receive the story of a lifetime in response.

The team unanimously agreed it had to be made into its own blog, so do yourself a favour and sit down with a cup of tea and enjoy.

This is their story.

Travel abroad was something which started as a small seed with us at a time when we were supposed to be planning our wedding in 1990 but spent more time fantasizing about where we would travel instead. And so our honeymoon was not the traditional one. Two days after the wedding we donned our rucksacks and headed for Europe.

Two months later travelling in the direction of North Africa to backpack our way through it.

Five months later we came home and started planning a trip to Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe where we’d be backpacking as well as overland safari trips.

What we saw and experienced at a time when travel to such places was unheard of in the small rural country area in Ireland we came from and people thought we were insane giving up employment to travel. For us, they were the insane ones not having the taste for travel and adventure and that’s what it was. Great countries, people, cultures, food, everything! Thirty years later we are still great friends with an Australian couple we met in Egypt who have stayed many times with us and now our son has stayed with them in NSW!

We eventually settled into home life and work but got the travel bug again in 1996.

This time we headed for India, Nepal, Singapore, New Zealand and Australia which took us over a year. We stood at an airport waving farewell to our parents eager to get on that plane, oblivious to their tears and worrying. Fast forward to January 2020 we both stood in an airport waving goodbye to our 20-year old son eager to get on a plane to Australia and oblivious to our tears!

How history can repeat itself. And it was only at that point when we watched our son disappear into the crowd, that we realised how much our travels and reminiscing had created the same sense of curiosity and eagerness with him. It was as they say a Deja-vu moment!

It was at that point we reconciled ourselves that he was doing what all young adults should do – experience the world, experience what life has to offer you, get adventure and find yourself. Life’s too short to sit in the comfort of your small space. We realised that for years when the children would look at our travel slides and listen to our stories that we were actually planting the seeds of travel in them and the belief that there was more to see.

Why did you travel to Australia and where did you go?

We both had relatives in Australia and heard about the vastness of the country, how much there was to see, the weather, and that Australians were similar to the Irish – very relaxed and family orientated. We saved hard and planned a year away starting in India and ending up in Australia.

We had spent 6 weeks touring in a hired van with a mattress and some cooking utensils around the North and South islands of New Zealand and in Dec 1996 we flew into Sydney to be met by our long-time friends and their new baby son. Despite years and distance separating us, our meeting was like yesterday and so we stayed with them for Christmas to experience how it’s done in Aus and were welcomed into their families. We recall Boxing Day in the heat and heading with our friends to learn to dive as they both were instructors. What better way to spend Boxing Day than exploring the ocean and its marine life – spectacular!

We bought a second hand Holden Shuttle which had been converted into a campervan,

made some finer adjustments and were off on the adventure of a lifetime. We even took our friend’s son’s little reindeer toy with us to send back pictures of him at every spot we visited in Australia, which he still has today! We started in the Blue Mountains in NSW before heading to Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide, Port Augusta, Coober Pedy, across the Nullarbor, over to Perth, then up the West Coast to Broome.

From there we went to Darwin before taking a jump into Thailand for a month and back to Alice Springs in the centre of Australia. From there we travelled east over to Cairns, down to Brisbane and back to Sydney . We even spent time in remote Kalgoorlie where John spent 3 days working in the gold mines – what an experience!

Equipped with the Explore Australia 15th Edition book which was given to us as a present,

we started our travels right across the country to the sound of a Pulp Fiction tape, which to this day reminds us of Australia when we hear it.

We were excited at the vastness of the countryside, the rainforests, the beaches, the cities, the outback, the national parks, the wildlife, the infamous Kookaburra, hot weather, the remoteness of places like the Nullarbor where you might not see another vehicle on the 17hr drive. The road trains, bush fires that could be seen for miles, your first wild kangaroo, your first snake, the fear when you drive into a mass of locusts.

Only Australia‘s skies can take on a different look by day and night – many times they looked like they were on fire. The colours and shadows on the land were magnificent. We challenged ourselves with bungy jumping, flying over the Bungle Bungles (Purnululu National Park). Only those who have done it and looked at them and flown between the rocks will appreciate the magnificence of the experience.

Swimming with whale sharks, Monkey Mia and the list of our adventures goes on! It was the best experience ever. It’s a country with many covers, each one better than the last.

Have you always encouraged Ruairi to travel or was it something he naturally wanted to do himself?

When travelling Australia, we planned that if we had children we would give them adventure holidays and not conform to the fortnight hotel / beach holiday.

In 2005 we bought a new 6-berth Autotrail campervan and with a 4-year-old and an 18-month-old child we started the first of many trips to France and Italy for over 10 years touring around these countries. Each holiday action packed with surfing, bodyboarding, biking, climbing, kayaking, from the beaches and woods to the snowy mountains and passes – they loved it.

We decided to go to America for 3 weeks but again this was not your normal holiday and we road tripped from San Francisco to Vegas and Los Angeles and stopped at all the national parks along the way. Afterwards we headed to Cuba for more action packed adventures. Ruairi was blown away with the country, lifestyle and people and we think that it was here that he started to think about travel and something different. He always said Australia would be our next holiday.

Ruairi finished schooling and undecided on a career pathway went to College for a 2 year Diploma. Like all young teenagers he lived the college lifestyle and enjoyed the new venture of living away from home and meeting new friends. He became your typical “ teenager” interested in cars and parties. However, shortly after finishing college and doing temporary work we started to see a restlessness in him and at this point we realised he had been researching Australia.

For months Ruairi had been checking out travel to Australia and different options with the intent on going on the Working Holiday Visa.

Part of me as his mother was inwardly screaming we don’t want you to go – what if something happens to you so far away! However the calm response given was that it was his decision and we would support him. Right up to the last minute when he pushed the send button on his application and purchased flights we didn’t think it was real.

Once the decision was made he quickly started organising and researching the trip. We realised he had everything prepared and organised. This is where the teenager becomes the mature adult and his eagerness to get away increased and losing interest in the teenage college things were clear.

He wanted to do something different realising there was more “out there”. When he was leaving Ireland on a January morning to board for Australia not really knowing what was ahead of him or if he would stick it – as parents we were so incredibly proud of him going on an adventure of a lifetime and being confident to do it by himself. We didn’t see it coming!

Were you nervous about him travelling to Australia on a working holiday visa at such a young age?

YES, YES and YES!

Like every parent we were worried; we thought back to our own days of travel with the highs and lows, the lack of IT accessibility… But there was something different now.

Ruairi had changed in his whole concept towards life. Not sure what the trigger was but we knew he had the determination to see it through, we could see he was nervous, who wouldn’t be! We knew he would miss the home comforts but also reassured him of his ability to adapt and had seen over the years how he managed and navigated himself in other countries.

Ruairi is also a person who sees his commitments through. We were glad he had enrolled with a reputable travel company for a week’s induction of Australia and be supported by them. We actually commended him on the maturity of the decision to do this. He was young but who is to say what age is the right age to travel and we knew from our own travels that he would be safe. We knew from when we were in Australia that it was a country that appeals to young people and has so much to offer to them so what better place to start!

Do you think Australia is a suitable country for young backpackers to travel? If so why?

Travelling is an art, you have to enjoy it but no matter where you are you cannot be complacent!

Even at home you cannot be complacent, we always have to have a sense of maturity and responsibility about us when going through life. At no point did we feel unsafe or worried on our trip 30 years ago – we actually thought about living there. We were welcomed no matter where we went.

Young people travelling learn so much from other cultures and nationalities – we do not give enough credit to their versatility and to the sense of responsibility when travelling. Of course as parents we will worry but to be honest every day Ruairi stepped into his car at home to go to college or work we worried – that’s what parents do – it’s inherent in our DNA!

So do we think Australia is suitable for young backpackers? Three different things to date have happened while Ruairi has been in Australia which has had the potential of being negative but such a different experience for us and so reassuring.

1. Ruairi was involved in a car accident a few weeks into Australia.

Thankfully it was not serious but still cause for worry when you are thousands of miles away!

We were extremely anxious and trying to trace his whereabouts in a hospital knowing he had just passed through the Twelve Apostles area. The Irish / Australian Embassy located him in 6 mins, phoned the hospital, spoke with consultants and nurses and updated us – unbelievable. All we had to give was his name and date of birth and meanwhile the backpackers with him looked after his gear, passport etc and got a car to travel miles to the hospital to collect him when he was discharged while one stayed with him! That’s what teenagers do – they look out for each other when travelling and as parents it was so reassuring.

2. A pandemic occured

What are the chances of that happening when starting out to travel?!

COVID-19 and lock down happened and we panicked as parents to get him out of the country. In the end we had to let him stay as borders were closing and no flights were coming home. We wanted to get him to our friends house but lockdown and travel restrictions made it difficult. A work colleague posted onto an Australian Facebook page seeking help for travel and got over 1.8K views and shares, with 885 responses offering help of lodgings and work and travel to the border!

As parents we were overwhelmed by the response from Australians who did not know our son but were going out of their way to help. We even had some Australians private message and ring us and even as I write this I am tearful at the total selflessness of the Australian people at such a difficult time towards our son.

3. Ruairi's 21st birthday

We were not with Ruairi to celebrate his big birthday and worried he would have no special day – believe me it’s a mother thing!

So on his birthday we rang to wish him a happy birthday having sent him cards from all the family and hoping he would at least have something to open on the day.

We were surprised as Ruairi said all the friends he had met at the surfers campsite had thrown him a surprise party with a magnificent cake, neon flashing lights, music, balloons and to top it all a half pack of Guinness!!! This was young backpackers who had worked together to throw a party of a lifetime for a 21 year old miles away from home ….. I cried when I saw the video as he was so happy and we knew he was experiencing far more there than we could ever have given him back home!

So YES – Australia is a great country to travel and technology is brilliant compared to the days we travelled when it was a letter to a PO Box! The pictures and videos he sends are fantastic and we are once again experiencing Australia but through a new lens.

When Ruairi phones we can hear in his voice that he has not regretted his decision and for us as much as we miss him, this has been the best experience and opportunity for him.

In your opinion, what are the benefits of travel to you, if any?

Travel is about living, it’s about learning. That adrenalin rush, the unknown and living on the edge. Being different and not doing the norm.

It’s about growing up, taking responsibility, developing, being mature, being inquisitive. It’s a curiosity that once you get the bug you will want more.

It provides fulfilment, it’s about having fun and there is so much to be explored and so little time to do it. So plant the seed early, never hold back and live the dream. Believe us you will never look back and regret it – it will shape you for the future that no text book can teach you!

What advice would you give to parents who are nervous about their young adult “children” travelling to Australia on a Working Holiday Visa?

The best advice we can give to parents from our experience is to allow them to travel. Encourage that inquisitiveness, give them the reassurance and let them know it’s OKAY to go. Never hold them back.

As someone once said to us – it’s the greatest compliment as parents, on how you have raised your child if they want to experience what you have done. You have helped developed and shape them into the young confident adults they have become and you now have to allow them to spread their wings while always reassuring them home will be there for them no matter what.

They will go through highs and lows but they will be able to work through it and you will see them develop into a very confident and mature young adult.

They will meet similar minded young people on their travels and each encounter helps develop them while they form lifelong friendships. As parents it is our responsibility to advise and support them but never hold them back and we very quickly will learn they are more responsible and mature than we give them credit for.

For us Australia was the best country for our son to go to – it has so much to offer him and 6 months into his experience it has not let us down!

A big Thank You to Fiona & John Devlin for sharing their amazing travel story and for the insight they provided as parents.

The post The Value Of Travelling – A Parents Perspective appeared first on Welcome to Travel.

Travelling In Your 30s

Darryl Newby — Wed, 26 Aug 2020 07:53:33 +0000

Most of us still associate a “gap year” as being only for the youngins

Aged between 18-21, who need to venture out of their safety net and see the world before settling into a career or further education. We’re here to tell you it’s not only for the young ones. In fact, we have seen how perfect the gap year has been for individuals in between the ages of 18-35 and how beneficial travelling in your 30s can be.

We interviewed Welcome To Travel legends Charlotte & Ghillie who decided to leave their well established professional lives behind in the UK and head abroad as solo travellers in their 30s. They explain what the experience has been like from their perspective and prove why the “gap year” has no age limit.

Charlotte Whelan came to Australia on a Working Holiday Visa when she was 31

When did you decide to travel to Australia?

“It’s something I had wanted to do from the age of 18 but always thought I’d meet a guy that shares the same passion that would want to come do it with me! I just never had the lady balls to do it myself! So when I turned 29, I thought to myself ‘it’s something you’ve always wanted to do and this is your last chance saloon now’ so I left it as near to the deadline as I possibly could – still hanging on to the thought that I might meet someone to come with me.

I fell in love with Australia on day one and even kicked myself that I hadn’t done this sooner, it really wasn’t as scary as I’d made it out to be in my head and was meeting people from the very first day I arrived!”

Why did you decide to travel to Aus?

“Funnily enough I had never been overly fussed about going to Australia – it wasn’t at the top of my bucket list. The only reason I went to Australia was because I have always wanted to go to NZ.

Now that’s always been at the top of my bucket list and it just made sense to check out Australia and see what all the fuss was about! Would be rude not to with me being so close and boy am I glad I did! I loved it so much that I even wanted to live there permanently; if only! I was lucky to get a few months there because of Covid! And the funniest thing is, I didn’t even get to do The East Coast which was the whole point of me going.

I was in love with Oz; head over heals, upside down, back to front, crazy, stupid love and I only ever saw Melbourne and Sydney! Can you imagine if I’d have actually seen the East Coast!? I don’t think my heart would have been able to cope!!”

What advice would you give to those who want to travel in their early 30s but are hesitant/worried they've 'missed the boat' on being a backpacker?

“Oh my god DO IT!!! It’s never too late!

I put it off for years and then finally just went for it and on day one, I wondered what all the fuss was about! I had the most amazing time and met the most incredible people and if anything being a bit older had it’s advantages because I was a bit more worldly and wise and had my wits about me.

I have a mantra and it’s like a little devil on my shoulder that says ‘Do one thing every day that scares you!’ The anxiety this little devil causes me but you know what, there is an old saying ‘We only live to regret the things in life we HAVEN’T done’. If it’s even a little seed in your head then you should just do it instead of getting to your death bed thinking, should’ve, would’ve, could’ve.

Many people often say to me (who are now settled down, married/divorced/with kids) ‘I wish I’d have done that!’ And more than not that phrase often starts with ‘That’s my only regret in life’… Please don’t be that person! You owe it to yourself to live your best life and nothing less!!”

Ghillie travelled Australia and other countries at age 30

What made you decide to head abroad on this trip of a lifetime?

“I was two months away from turning 30 when my long term boyfriend broke up with me, pretty out the blue. I was absolutely gutted and had never felt this lost in my life. I had no idea what to do.

I’ve always absolutely loved holidays and experiencing different cultures. I got the travel bug from my parents and have been lucky enough to visit lots of amazing, far flung places. I go on holiday as much as I can. I had never done the whole backpacking thing and decided to just go for it a couple months before I turned 30.

My long term relationship had broken down and I didn’t know what to do with myself, knowing I had to have my Australian visa granted before I turned 30 I immediately applied for it and once it was granted I started planning.”

Where did your journey start?

“I had never travelled solo before. So in January 2019, I boarded a flight to the Philippines, travelled with a friend for 5 weeks and then landed in Melbourne. I chose Australia because it was on my bucket list, it felt like a safe option because my friends- Darryl and Adam- had started WTT and they had given me reassurance that I would be ok. At that point I was suffering from really crippling anxiety. Travelling solo was the best thing I have ever done.”

How was the experience overall?

“I felt like I was more sensible and street wise to do it at 30 and I met amazing like minded people everywhere I went. My favourite experience was the outback trip WTT planned for me. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and was the most amazing experience ever. I loved every second.

I get on with everyone so my age didn’t affect my experience at all and I met quite a few other 30 year olds and older. I would tell them to go for it, age is nothing but a number in the world of travel and it honestly is the best thing I have ever done.

Travel as far and much as you can, see everywhere you can. There’s absolutely no need to be scared or hesitant. I wish I could relive my travels all over again. It’s literally made me fearless and totally changed me. Travel is life.”

The post Travelling In Your 30s appeared first on Welcome to Travel.

Travelling As A Couple

Darryl Newby — Tue, 25 Aug 2020 06:08:24 +0000

Travelling as a couple is arguably one of the biggest challenges any relationship can face. It will show you a side of your partner that perhaps you’ve never seen before. You’ll be tested in a way that only travelling and living abroad can test you.

We spoke to a few couples who have joined us on our Welcome to Melbourne tour and, in our opinion, are the definition of couple goals. It comes as no surprise that the remedy for success is clear communication and compromise. Although there have been some tough times, they all agree travelling as a couple has been an incredibly rewarding experience.

Chloe & Tom

Chloe & Tom joined us on tour back in November 2018 and have been together since 2015.

Throughout their time in Australia on a Working Holiday Visa, they have been doing a mix of work and travel all over the country. They’ve worked casual jobs at the same time as working for accommodation in hostels and with their savings, went on an unreal adventure covering the majority of Australia before continuing on to New Zealand and South East Asia!

The first major challenges that couples tend to face when backpacking are hostels and the lack of privacy. Chloe and Tom had some useful tips on how to approach and benefit from staying in hostels.

“Be prepared to have single beds but save money for private rooms along the way. It’s a nice treat.”

“Work for accommodation when you can for cheaper accommodation. We worked together during the day but had different evening jobs. It’s nice to have some time apart to do your own thing.”

“Have dates nights! Make plans together if you do end up working different jobs.”

What is your opinion on independence when travelling as a couple?

“It can be hard being together 24/7, it’s not always fun fun fun! Make friends with fellow travellers, it makes it easier being together all the time. Compromise – do things you both want to do but also what your other half wants to do as well. You don’t always have to do the same thing. Tom went skydiving and bungy jumping. I stayed at the hostel and chilled….. Nice to have that time!”

It’s clear you still learn new things about your other half even if you’ve been in a long term relationship.

Travelling teaches things about yourself and helps you to grow as a person, so it only makes sense it should have the same effect on a relationship. As long as you’re both on the same page and have an equal amount of motivation to work hard, save and make the dream happen, then you’re in for an adventure of a lifetime alongside your favourite person.

“Work as much as you can when you’re not traveling around and have a plan on where you’re going to go next…. Darryl planned our New Zealand trip! Be prepared to get to know each other’s every move! Be comfortable with each other before you go travelling… You still get to know things when travelling.”

Kathy & Jordan

Kathy & Jordan from Canada joined us on tour back in October 2019 and have been together for 7 years.

It seemed even from the start of their relationship they had the dream of someday moving abroad together.

“We started dating 7 years ago now, one of the first things she told me was like I just wanna go live in Australia.”

“I laid it down flat and said my dream is to move to Australia at one point so it’s happening. It’s been a dream of mine since I got Tumblr. Just think about how old that is.”

Kathy & Jordan are the definition of couple goals. They are both very relaxed and down to earth and it’s clear they have utmost trust and respect for one another. It was already clear in their first week on tour with us, they find it very easy to give each other space and independence while still showing constant support.

Their time in Australia has not been without its challenges. After working and saving money in Melbourne for 8 months, they became stuck in lockdown during the pandemic only weeks before they planned to head up the East Coast on the road trip of their dreams.

Despite the hurdles, they’ve stuck it out and during temporary easing of restrictions they were able to head up north and are now travelling through beautiful Queensland in a camper van.

“You’re together but you still have your own lives apart from each other. I feel like if you’re just wrapped up around your partner all the time it’s just like why are you out in another country, you can do that at home.”

“Travel has made our communication better, our communication is amazing. Take advantage of where you are and who you have around you, make the most of those experiences.”

Terri & Jamie

Terri (24) and Jamie (31) from Scotland have been together for over 4 years and joined us on our tour in August 2019.

Terri first had the idea in 2018 of heading to Australia on a Working Holiday Visa despite the couple not having travelled further than Tenerife, Spain before and Jamie was on board with the idea from the start. They both worked their butts off to save and watched plenty of Youtube videos for inspiration – especially Backpacking Bananas which is how they also found out about Welcome To Travel.

The couple lived in Phillip Island for months after falling in love with the place on our 8-Day tour and spent their time living the Australian dream and working in hospitality. Afterwards they headed up the East Coast in a camper van on an epic road trip and have only decided to head back to Scotland because of the pandemic.

“WE WISH WE STARTED EARLIER. We both regret not starting our working holiday visa YEARS ago as we would have accomplished a lot more. Jamie is now too old for a working holiday visa in most places and because of COVID19 we didn’t get to finish the last 5 months of our first year to do our second. Our main piece of advice is if you have the scratch to travel then do it while you are young and make the most of all the experiences you can with your partner!”

What is your advice for couples thinking of travelling together?

“We advise hiring a camper van for your travels. We did this for the Great Ocean Road, Grampians and the East Coast and LOVED it. We had our own personal private space away from sharing 10-person hostel dorms to catch up with sleep as well as it being your own little piece of normality like back home – bonus, you already know each other’s living habits (good and bad) unlike sharing a camper van with new people.

We also really advise planning all attractions you definitely want to see and agreeing together before travelling incase you wing it and end up having totally different ideas/ plans and have to compromise on the day because it’s last minute and missing things you really wanted to do.”

Advantages & disadvantages of travelling as a couple?

“We merged our money together to better manage our money and split everything down the middle which is a great advantage to travelling with your partner.

You are not on the other side of the world alone and have someone you have known for years by your side.

If one of you is shy then your partner can break the ice in conversations that you might not have done alone and you get to make amazing memories for life with your other half!”

The disadvantages are “just because you are in paradise doesn’t mean you don’t bicker. There’s not a lot of alone time while in hostels and it’s an odd experience while with your long term partner sleeping in bunk beds to say the least.
Because of our age once we return- WHICH WE WILL – it will have to be for the non working holiday visa so will have to save a lot of money to do all the things we want without running out of money so START WHEN YOU ARE YOUNG!”

Have you seen a change in your relationship since travelling?

“We both feel this experience has strengthened our relationship. If we can camp and share a small van for three weeks in 37 degree weather and make it out the other side or share a dorm with 10 complete strangers while in bunk beds for months at a time I think we can make it through anything.

We learned to budget every dollar together and compromise on every detail to make the experience the best it could be. It has made us want to travel so much more which at the beginning we didn’t know but now COVID19 has other plans.”

The post Travelling As A Couple appeared first on Welcome to Travel.

88 Days Of Regional Work In Australia

Darryl Newby — Fri, 30 Aug 2019 08:30:11 +0000

Farmwork.

Let’s just be honest from the outset here, we want the visa but we don’t really want to do the work do we? Well, the specified work required for the 2^nd year anyway.

So many of us get to Australia thinking that a year will be enough but the more you stay the more you love it and the more you love it the more you realise you don’t want to leave which leaves the only logical answer-get a 2^nd year!

For those of you on a working holiday visa (sub-class 417) or work and holiday visa (462), you’re able to secure a 2^nd year through carrying out specified work, usually rural work.

You are also now able to apply for a 3rd year work visa- for this the requirement is 6 months work under the same specifications as the 2nd year visa rural work.

Here at Welcome to Travel not only have we done our farm-work but we’ve also found work for so many people too.

With that in mind we’d like to pass on some free advice.

Let’s start with the logistics…

88 Days may sound a little daunting, but luckily there are a few little loopholes that help you along the way.

If you work 5x days a week on full-time hours then that will count towards 7x days of your 88. Unfortunately it does also mean if you lose a day’s work that week due to rain or illness, only the amount of days you worked can count (fun fun).

With this in mind it is good to give yourself plenty of time to complete your farm work- as in DO NOT leave it till your final 3 months of your 1st year visa- it’ll be super stressful for you trying to jam in the days.

WTT Tip: We recommend doing your farm work in the first 6 months of your 1st year of your WHV.

What’s the difference in rural work if you are on a 417 visa or a 462 visa?

A 417 visa holder will need to complete horticulture or agriculture work in specific rural locations throughout the whole of Australia. It is imperative you check that where you are working will count towards your 2nd year before beginning or you may find yourself needing to head somewhere else to complete the days.

A 462 visa holder will need to work within the tourism or hospitality sector in Northern Australia (Above the Tropic of Capricorn line) for their 88 days.

So what are our top tips?

Research the towns and seasons

Australia’s a very big place, I mean very big. Within this big place there’s a lot of rural work opportunities but where do you go and when?

Farm-work is seasonal and dependent on weather conditions so some fruit grows in more tropical conditions and some in cooler temperatures. You need to know this so you know which places to target.

I’d massively recommend checking out this website and looking at what is in season at the time of year for you. From there you need to….

Call the working hostels in the town

If I am a farmer, the first place I’m going to go to get some workers is the working hostel. There’s no point me creating a job advert and then advertising a job online when I can go to the hostel that I know is full of people ready to work.

This means the working hostels usually have an excellent working relationship with the farmers and they exist purely because of the farm-work visa. They should be helpful to you as to be honest, you’re 3 months rent to them.

When calling the working hostels ask them the following things:

When are the picking seasons?

If now, how’s the season going?
How long should the season last?
Do you help find jobs for people?
How much is the hostel accommodation a week?

If speaking direct to a farmer you can also enquire:

Is it paid hourly or piece rate? What is the rate? (What’s Piece Rate? – I’ll go through it below)
How many days work on average are people getting a week?
Do I need any certain clothing before arrival?

Get to the town

This is the absolute key bit of advice. I cannot stress this any more.

I know it can feel strange to be moving hours away to work in a town without actually having a job yet. While it may feel the opposite to anything you’ve ever normally done/felt, it’s something you should do.

The reason for this is linked to the previous tip, the working hostels.

The farmers are going to the working hostels for workers and if you’re not in one, you’ll find it hard to get selected. You need to get yourself to the area where the jobs are and be in the thick of it and give yourself the best possible chance of landing work.

There’s also the flipside that the farmers don’t want to be let down. Imagine a scenario where you’re in Melbourne and you speak to a farmer on a Wednesday for a job starting the next Monday. The pay is $25 an hour and you’ve promised you’ll get to Mildura and be there for a 9am Saturday.

On the Friday, farmer near Perth calls you back from an inquiry you sent a month ago, he offers you $35 an hour for an incredible opportunity. 9 times out of 10 you will drop the original farmer and head to Perth leaving the first farmer in Mildura in a terrible position. From then on that farmer will decide to never hire people that are not yet in Mildura, it’s of no advantage to him.

So you’ve reached the hostel, you’ve paid your rent, you’re looking around at this country town and wondering what on earth you’ve decided to do…. And your job offer comes in but how do you decide if it’s a good one?

There are two ways the farmer can pay you. Hourly, which means they pay you by the hour, the same as in a cafe or bar.

The other option is piece rate, what this means is you are paid by how much you pick. This way of payment can be a huge moneymaker once you have had a couple weeks to get good at the job. Don’t fool yourself though the first week will likely be tough with low rewards but you can definitely build it up and actually be earning higher than you would have done per hour. There are still requirements for how much ‘piece rate’ pay must be which you can find HERE.

There’s no doubt it will be nerve-wracking heading to that town with no guarantee of a job, no knowledge of the town and no experience in this kind of job but remember that you’re not alone in this, everyone else is in the same boat, counting down the days so they get the reward of that 2^nd year.

Sometimes your farm work will be tough and the days long but keep that reward in your mind and it will be easier.

Also, your farm work will give you some of your friends for life. When you go through harder times with people, it brings you together. Plus, at the end of working 8 hours a day 5 days a week in the sun, you’ll need a beer together!

The post 88 Days Of Regional Work In Australia appeared first on Welcome to Travel.

Why Are North Americans Travelling To Australia?

Darryl Newby — Tue, 25 Jun 2019 01:40:18 +0000

Why are young Canadians and Americans now travelling to Australia?

The things you know about Australia; it’s a long way, it’s hot and it has a few dangerous animals but you needn’t worry, Crocodile Dundee will look after that.

A question you may have is… Why are so many North Americans going there?

The chance to take a working holiday in a new land of opportunity.

Firstly let’s talk about the visa…

Canadians:

If you are a citizen and aged between 18-35, you’re eligible to a 12-month working holiday visa (417 visa) in Australia.

On this visa you can work for up to 6 months for one employer.

If you complete 88 days of rural work, you can actually extend that visa by another 12 months.See our 88 Days of Farmwork blog for extra info on this.

Americans:

If you’re a citizen and aged between 18-30, you’re eligible for a 12-month Work and Holiday visa (462) in Australia.

On this visa you can work for up to 6 months or one employer. If you complete 88 days of specified work you can actually extend that visa by another 12 months.

The best bit? While many have to complete rural work to do this, American citizens can work in hospitality or tourism to extend!

Secondly, lets talk about what a working holiday is

Just like starting school, your first job or university, a working holiday is an incredible opportunity to be thrown out of your comfort zone and into a journey where you will inevitably make friends, learn valuable lessons about yourself and create memories for a lifetime.

When you go on holiday or travelling, you often think ‘it would be great if I could stay a bit longer’ and that’s the opportunity a working holiday gives you.

A working holiday in Australia allows you to snorkel, swim and catch sunset after sunrise after sunset before settling down to work for a few months in the town you loved most.

Why are you working?

To replenish that travel fund before going off on your next adventure-the dream.

You can travel for a month, work for 3 months and repeat two more times if you please. The black and white surface material is basically a bit of work and a bit of travel but it’s so much more than that.

The best bit is, the work part doesn’t feel like the normal 9-5 slog of a job in a place you’re so familiar with. You’re in a new town with new people and there’s that constant buzz of discovering new things. Every weekend can be spent exploring a new suburb, national park, watering hole or if you’re feeling fancy, vineyard?!

You know that beautiful balmy evening feel that you encounter when you go on holiday? Well that’s every single night of the week when you finish work. It really is a working holiday in every sense!

The Experiences

Then there’s what you encounter on a working holiday. Firstly there’s the experiences during the travels. You could be watching the sunset at Uluru, checking out 500 penguins come in at Phillip Island or Scuba Diving the Great Barrier Reef.

Those are some of the countless things you could experience but there’s also something to be said about new and sometimes whacky experiences in the workplace too.

You could go from bartending at the local pub to serving drinks at the Opera House?

Or you could even be doing something way out of left field like driving a tractor, pruning a vineyard or working at a camel farm, who knows? These are all character building experiences that you’ll recount the stories of forever.

The world is a completely different landscape for our generation and the ones to come. Our professional lives and the way we live them has diversified and this change is a fantastic recognition of that.

So many of us have careers and life plans and paths that change, and 28 really isn’t that old anymore. This visa is a genuine opportunity and one that may not be there forever. Don’t take it for granted, there’s a door ajar to try something new.

One that you should kick open and walk straight through.

The post Why Are North Americans Travelling To Australia? appeared first on Welcome to Travel.

Darryl Newby, Author at Welcome to Travel

6 Melbourne Instagram Accounts You Need To Follow

We All Know Instagram Is The Best For Travel Inspiration....

1) @melbourneiloveyou

2) @whereiskapa

3) @lushsux

4) @oldvintagemelbourne

5) @welcometo.travel

6) @jjzandt

Working Holiday Visa Update: No More Farm Work, Free Visas and More

Update 18 July 2023

Point 1

Point 2

Point 3 (The Big One)

What does this mean?

Point 1 - From 1 July 2023 you can apply for a working holiday visa even if you’re over the age of 30.

Example

Point 2 - Removal of Farm Work

Example

Point 3 - (The Big One)

However, there are three parts to this:

Update 5 May 2023

No More Farm Work

FREE VISAS FOR COVID AFFECTED TRAVELLERS

Need help for your working holiday visa?

UPDATE: 4 April 2022 | UK – Australia Free Trade Agreement

Maximum stay of three years on a working holiday

Three Separate Visas

You Can Come Back

Stay Up To Date On Visa Information

Visa Changes for Brits: Age Limit Changed From 30 to 35, No More Farm Work and 3 Year Visa

No More Farm Work

Age Limit Increased To 35

What To Do Now?

Keep Up To Date

Getting A Marketing or Project Manager Job in Australia

Nicole Sleaford - Marketing

Vicki Renwick - Project Manager/Event Specialist

How To Get A Job As A Nurse in Australia

Confused about how to get a job as a nurse in Australia? Read on!

Gemma Thompson

Ruth Dickinson

The Value Of Travelling – A Parents Perspective

A Parent's Tale of Travelling

We decided to get into contact with Fiona & John Devlin from Ireland;

This is their story.

We eventually settled into home life and work but got the travel bug again in 1996.

Why did you travel to Australia and where did you go?

We bought a second hand Holden Shuttle which had been converted into a campervan,

Equipped with the Explore Australia 15th Edition book which was given to us as a present,

Have you always encouraged Ruairi to travel or was it something he naturally wanted to do himself?

For months Ruairi had been checking out travel to Australia and different options with the intent on going on the Working Holiday Visa.

Were you nervous about him travelling to Australia on a working holiday visa at such a young age?

YES, YES and YES!

Do you think Australia is a suitable country for young backpackers to travel? If so why?

Travelling is an art, you have to enjoy it but no matter where you are you cannot be complacent!

1. Ruairi was involved in a car accident a few weeks into Australia.

2. A pandemic occured

3. Ruairi's 21st birthday

In your opinion, what are the benefits of travel to you, if any?

What advice would you give to parents who are nervous about their young adult “children” travelling to Australia on a Working Holiday Visa?

Travelling In Your 30s

Most of us still associate a “gap year” as being only for the youngins

Charlotte Whelan came to Australia on a Working Holiday Visa when she was 31

When did you decide to travel to Australia?

Why did you decide to travel to Aus?

What advice would you give to those who want to travel in their early 30s but are hesitant/worried they've 'missed the boat' on being a backpacker?

Ghillie travelled Australia and other countries at age 30

What made you decide to head abroad on this trip of a lifetime?

Where did your journey start?

How was the experience overall?

Travelling As A Couple

Chloe & Tom

Kathy & Jordan

Terri & Jamie

88 Days Of Regional Work In Australia

Farmwork.

Let’s just be honest from the outset here, we want the visa but we don’t really want to do the work do we? Well, the specified work required for the 2nd year anyway.

Let’s start with the logistics…

So what are our top tips?

Let’s just be honest from the outset here, we want the visa but we don’t really want to do the work do we? Well, the specified work required for the 2^nd year anyway.