Your guide to settling in Australia.
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Start here. These are the 7 things you must do in your first 48 hours in Australia. Tap each one when done.
You need an Australian bank account to receive your salary, pay rent, and avoid international fees.
💡 Open your account before you start looking for work.
A hostel address is OK!
Your Tax File Number is required to work legally in Australia. Without it you pay the highest tax rate (47%).
⚠️ Apply as soon as you arrive. It takes up to 28 days.
An Australian number is essential for job applications, banking, and daily life.
💡 Choose a prepaid, data-focused plan. Best for WHV travellers!
⚠️ Estimate only. Your actual tax depends on full-year income and circumstances. Always verify with the ATO at ato.gov.au.
Want to stay in Australia for a second year? You need to work 88 days on a farm or in a regional area. Use this tracker to count your days. Tap "+ Add" after each work period.
Not all work locations count. The job must be in a regional postcode on the ATO approved list.
Always verify at ato.gov.au/whv — the official and most up-to-date source.
Keep track of all your important documents. Tick each one as you get it. Save digital photos of everything in Google Drive or your phone's photos as backup — if you lose your bag, you'll still have copies.
Australia's public healthcare system. It covers doctor visits (GPs), hospital treatment, and some specialist care — free or heavily subsidised.
Citizens of these countries can enrol in Medicare:
⚠️ Breaking visa rules can result in cancellation. Read these carefully.
🚨 Emergency in Australia — always call 000
Police, Ambulance, Fire. Free from any phone including if out of credit.
Select your nationality in Profile to see your embassy contact.
⚠️ Minimum wage in 2025 is $24.10/hr. If an employer offers less, know your rights — call Fair Work on 13 13 94.
💡 Tipping is NOT expected in Australia. Unlike Europe or the US, most Australians do not tip. You will never be judged for not tipping. In hospitality jobs, your tips are a bonus — never rely on them as part of your income.
🚨 Never pay before an inspection! Always use trusted platforms. If the price seems too good, it's probably a scam.
Choose a city to see cost of living, typical wages, and tips.
📅 Set your visa expiry date to see a countdown on your dashboard.
💡 Handpicked for WHV travellers. Used by thousands of backpackers every year.
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Australia's seasons are opposite to Europe. Summer is December–February, winter is June–August. Climate varies dramatically by region.
☀️ UV warning: Australia has the world's highest UV levels. Even in winter, SPF 50+ is recommended. Farm workers are at particular risk — always wear a hat, sunscreen, and long sleeves outdoors.
Australia is perfectly positioned for short trips to Asia and the Pacific. Most destinations are 3–9 hours away and very affordable from Australian cities.
⚠️ Visa rules change. Always verify requirements at the official embassy or government website before booking. Information below is accurate as of 2025.
🚨 Wage theft targets backpackers
Underpaying foreign workers is illegal in Australia and penalties are severe for employers. Know your rights — you are fully protected by Australian law regardless of your visa status.
💡 You cannot be deported or have your visa cancelled for reporting wage theft or workplace issues. Fair Work complaints are confidential.
Estimate your fuel cost for any Australian road trip. Petrol prices vary significantly by state — regional and remote areas can be 30–60% more expensive than cities.
Renting is ideal for short trips or regional work stints. Several companies specialise in backpacker-friendly vehicles.
Companies need vehicles repositioned between cities. You drive for free (or even get paid fuel). Best deal in Australia.
Transfercar.com.au — free relocations → iMoova.com — relocations →Buying a car is the most economical option for stays over 3 months, especially if you plan farm work circuits. Budget carefully — $5,000–$12,000 gets a reliable vehicle.
💡 Toyota is king in Australia for a reason — parts are everywhere even in remote areas. For outback travel, always choose Toyota or Nissan Patrol.
Also check: backpacker hostels noticeboards in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane — travellers sell cars cheaply when leaving.
The PPSR (Personal Property Securities Register) check costs $2 and tells you if the car is stolen, written off, or has finance owing on it. If you skip this and there's finance on the car, the bank can repossess it — even after you've paid.
ppsr.gov.au — $2 check →Use this checklist at the car yard. A professional pre-purchase inspection ($150–$200) is always worth it for any car over $5,000.
💡 NRMA / RACQ / RAA / RAC offer pre-purchase inspections in every state for $150–$200. Book online. A mechanic finding a $2,000 problem saves you more than the inspection costs.
⚠️ Always check the PDS (Product Disclosure Statement) before buying. Some insurers exclude international licence holders or have conditions for WHV visa holders. Read the fine print.
Blood alcohol limit in Australia
Penalties: licence suspension, heavy fines, possible imprisonment. If you drink, do not drive. Uber and taxis are available in all cities and most towns.
Getting the right certifications before you start job hunting gives you a huge advantage — especially in hospitality and construction where they're legally required.
⚠️ RSA is state-specific. An RSA from Victoria does NOT automatically work in Queensland. Check before accepting a job interstate.
💡 Getting your RSA and White Card before arriving in Australia puts you ahead of most other WHV applicants. Both can be done fully online and recognised on arrival.
⚠️ Backpacker tax rate (15%) applies if you're on subclass 417 or 462 and not a tax resident. If you were taxed at resident rates (19%+), you may still be eligible for a partial refund. The myTax system works this out automatically.
Convert AUD to your home currency. Rates are live when you're connected, or cached when offline.
⚠️ Rates are for reference only. Use Wise or your bank for actual transfers — they show the real rate you'll receive after fees.
Superannuation (super) is Australia's retirement savings system. Your employer must pay 12% of your gross wage into a super fund on top of your salary. As a WHV holder leaving Australia permanently, you can claim this entire amount back.
Rate: 12% of gross wage as of July 2025. Paid by your employer — not deducted from your pay.
WHV holders are taxed at 65% on the super refund claim amount (as of 2024). So if you have $5,000 in super, you'll receive approximately $1,750. It's still free money — don't forget to claim it!
Australian CVs are different from European ones. Follow this template and you'll stand out from other applicants.
2–3 sentences. Who you are, your key skills, what you're looking for. E.g. "Motivated hospitality professional with 3 years experience in fast-paced café environments. Strong customer service skills and RSA certified."
Barista · Customer service · Cash handling · POS systems · RSA certified · Fluent English and French
💡 Tip: Tailor your resume for each job. Change the profile section and highlight the most relevant skills for each application. A generic resume gets ignored.
Your employer must give you a payslip within 1 working day of paying you. Here is what every number means — in plain English.
If something looks wrong, contact Fair Work on 13 13 94 — free, confidential, available in multiple languages.
Getting sick in a foreign country is stressful. Here is exactly what to do, who to call, and what it costs — so you are never stuck wondering.
💡 "Bulk billing" means the GP charges the government directly and you pay nothing. When booking, ask: "Do you bulk bill?"
⚠️ Without Medicare or travel insurance, medical costs in Australia can be extremely high. A single night in hospital can cost $2,000–$10,000. Travel insurance is strongly recommended — see the Shop screen.
You don't have to close it immediately — keep it open to receive your tax refund and super payout. When ready:
Enter the hourly rate from a job offer and see exactly how much money lands in your bank — weekly, monthly, and annually. No surprises on payday.
Your employer also pays 12% of your gross wage into a superannuation account — this is extra money on top of your pay. You can claim all of it back when you leave Australia. See the Super Guide.
⚠️ Estimate only. Your actual tax depends on your full-year income. Always check with the ATO at ato.gov.au.
Reminders to follow up on job applications.
Know another WHV traveller? Share this app with them!
Check the FAQ first — we answer the 20 most common questions about working in Australia.
Found a bug? Have an idea? Something missing? Every message is read — most ideas end up in the app.
Export all your data as a text file — useful as a backup or to share with someone.
The 20 most common questions from WHV travellers in Australia. Tap any question to read the answer.