Overview
Australia has long been the perfect pilgrimage for young Brits looking to travel and backpack in another part of the world. But what makes Melbourne even more appealing is the chance to have a working holiday while living in one of the coolest cities in the world.
Every year thousands of Brits leave their respective nests and take up the opportunity to live and work in Australia's most liveable city.
A year (or three) on the road
There's no better way to experience the best that Melbourne and the state of Victoria have to offer than spending a working holiday immersed in the region's culture, food, events and great outdoors.
With the easing of working holiday visa restrictions in July 2023, the Australian Working Holiday Visa now allows travellers, aged 18 to 35, to stay in Australia for up to three years and take on a range of short-term employment.
Spend your first year working in Melbourne, a city famous for street art, sport, live music, great food and coffee. It's the perfect playground for adventurers and wildlife lovers, foodies and road trippers. Enjoy your days off exploring legendary regions such as the Great Ocean Road, The Grampians or Wilsons Promontory in Gippsland. Discover kangaroos, koalas, wombats, seals and dolphins in the wild or embrace your daring side by surfing, rock climbing, kayaking or hiking.
If a year just isn't enough, you can qualify for a second year and third year visa respectively. You can now choose to stay in Melbourne to work or head out to the beautiful regions of Victoria for short-term employment, as well as seasonal and volunteer work.
Be sure to arrange your visa several months before travelling from the UK.
Work opportunities
Melbourne is home to numerous world-famous international sports and cultural events. This means there are plenty of short-term employment opportunities, especially during summer.
Melbourne's buzzing hospitality scene means you could find yourself mixing cocktails at one of the city's countless rooftop bars, perfecting the art of coffee as a barista, or working at a live-music venue (Melbourne has more per capita than New York or London).
There are also opportunities for short-term employment across regional Victoria. A good source to find out about harvest work is the federal government's Harvest Trail website.
Longer term, there are often positions available in the banking, finance, nursing, hospitality and teaching sectors, as well as opportunities for call centre and nanny work. Key employment websites include Adzuna and Seek.
Many Melbourne hostels have in-house staff and services to assist with finding work.
Check out Welcome To Travel for an awesome way to start out your working holiday in Melbourne and for employment assistance.
Training courses
The majority of hospitality and construction jobs in Australia require the completion of a course prior to commencing work; however, most courses are relatively short and inexpensive. Be sure to check with your employer before you start a course; always make sure it's valid for the Australian state in which you want to work.
For more information on training courses, visit Edway Training. Welcome To Travel can help organise barista and cocktail-making courses.
How to go about it
Terms and conditions often change. Visit the Australian Government's Department of Home Affairs website for up-to-date information and directions for applicants.
