When I planned to moved abroad to Australia after college, at 21, I remember the responses I kept hearing. I wish I could do that! Or Wow, that’s amazing. I had full grown adults, owners of their own big businesses, look me in the face and tell me that I was brave. Brave! I could barely smell a shot of vodka without gagging, and I still called my mom from college when I got the flu. Real brave.

Moving abroad can feel overwhelming. Where do you go? Where do you start? What do you do when you get there? For Australia, with a bit of research, I set myself up for the best year abroad I could have imagined, and you can too. Here’s the simple steps I followed.

1. Decide where you want to live and when

First thing’s first; Australia is a huge place; it’s almost as big as the U.S. Climate and environment can vary drastically. I knew I wanted sun, beach, and a big enough city to be able to find work, which led me to choose the Gold Coast in Queensland. I googled the touristic season in the Gold Coast and made my plans to arrive 1-2 months prior. Arriving before summer means that more seasonal jobs will be hiring, and more accommodation will be available.

2. What to do for work?

After deciding where, you have to make sure you can stay there. If you’re like most young people when they go abroad, you will need to find a job to support your a) traveling B) partying C) miscellaneous fun vices or D) a roof over your head and some pasta in your stomach.

So, we dig into the work front. Typically, hospitality is the easiest niche to utilize. (If you don’t have experience, my own brother tried the “fake it till you make it” role which landed him a job successfully… do what you gotta do, right?)

Alternatively, if you are looking for a more professional position, I would advise applying and potentially setting up interviews beforehand. Allow more “cushion time” (aka save more money to pay for the waiting game), as professional positions – in almost any land – are a longer process to get set up.

Print out resumes (I brought 30). Find the places you want to apply, and go inquire. On my second day in Australia I put on the only dress I brought, walked into at least 15 restaurants and left my CV. I had 3-5 call backs within a week. Oh, and here’s a plus, I made $23 (TWENTY THREE) Australian dollars per hour at my restaurant jobs… the minimum wage is higher than America’s, and it was *fabulous*.

3. Plane tickets, visas, and how much to save

Continuing on the logistics, the working holiday visa is for people between the ages of 18-31, and is one of the most popular visa options. The cost to apply is $440 Australian dollars (roughly $400 U.S. bucks). You need to have a valid passport at the time of application ($145 for a new passport if you don’t have one yet).

Flights: I booked a round-trip with a flexible return, just because the difference was less than 200$, and I wasn’t 100% confident that I would succeed (how sad. Don’t doubt yourself!). I recommend a one-way. You can do this!!!

Savings: Even if you’re confident you will have a job shortly after arriving, savings are key to get you started. I saved a little over $1,500. I knew this was enough to support me for one month (hostel & food) while I searched for work. Many apartments will also need a deposit up-front before moving in. In the end, I didn’t end up spending everything I saved… I actually returned home with more money than I came with!

4. Hostels and housing

I used flatmates.au to look for room rentals 1-2 weeks before departing. I utilized good ol’ Google Maps and made a couple of appointments to view open rooms the week I arrived. With initiative and a bit of luck I found an apartment with an AMAZING Aussie roommate after 8 days. In the meantime, I was also staying in a hostel (via hostelworld.com) that was looking for employees to work for room & board. This is another option for many young people going abroad.

5. Balls.

Finally, if you could excuse the crudeness, the final step is this: Grow a pair.

This is the most difficult step. It takes a big, internal leap.

I am attracted to adrenaline and I have done some sketchy, daring things… but I would still consider this one of the scariest things I have ever done. It is also one of the best decisions I have ever made.
Take a breath and envision yourself on this adventure. Australia has tons and tons to offer. Friends, culture, outdoor adventure, fun cities, beaches, you name it. Now, close your eyes and picture it, and then take the plunge. The only thing stopping yourself, is you.

Live it up!

If you have any more questions, or want further details on my experience, please feel free to shoot me a message on the contact page. I would love to hear from you!