As an American, am I eligible to work in Australia?

Question

I am an American planning a RTW trip (one year at least), and I'm looking to spend 2-4 months in Australia. I'd like to work while I'm there and am wondering if anyone else has done this and can walk me through the process. Any additional details/tips are welcome. Thanks!

Answer 1

You'll probably need a work visa.

Answer 2

being american means nothing as far as working in Australia, you will need a work visa............or apply for a working holiday visa as this may be easier to get then a work visa

http://www.immi.gov.au/immigration.htm

Answer 3

About the best you can hope for is to get temporary work as a student. There is an age limit to this. 26 I think but you will be tossing burghers for minimum wage.

Ian M

Answer 4

No. Our health system can't cope with americans.

Answer 5

It's very difficult to work there unless you have a profession, and are not taking jobs away from other Austrailians.  You also need a sponsor - someone who will hire you on a work visa basis.  You also must only be able to spent 3 months there without a profession.  Sorry, but it is really difficult.  They have strict immigration rules, unlike the U.S. who will take in anyone, regardless of profession, or work ability.  As you can see from the news, our system is not working.  Check with the Embassy, and get all your ducks in a row, and you should  be able to know better.  Best of luck.  Australia is worth the hassle!

Answer 6

You may get a job unloading trucks or some other day work but no real job because you won't have a WORK VISA.

I don't know why, when people ask these questions.. they never say WHAT THEY CAN DO... sometimes it's a help to know what SKILLS someone has when the ask about working in a foreign country.

Answer 7

Why would the rules be any different because you are an American?  The answer is"maybe" depending on a whole raft of factors that you seem to think your nationality might override.

http://www.immi.gov.au

Answer 8

Well have not done it myself but recently Australia and the US entered reciprocal agreement to allow young tertiary educated people 12 month holiday working visa.

http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/working-...

For information I would steer you toward backpacker forums as European travellers have been doing this trip for years.

Often they travel the roads along the east coast doing agricultural work as these jobs do not pay enough for locals. However it pays enough to subsidise travel expenses and gives travellers an experience of living on the land. Many backpacker hostels have job boards. In the cities perhaps you can work in your normal profession on a temp basis.

So even if you are not backpacking those that have will be a source of great information.

try lonely planet thorntree forum, there are more but not sure myself as not a backpacker.

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/in...

The government website for the harvest trail work

http://jobsearch.gov.au/harvesttrail/

If you do not qualify for working visa you could research volunteer work. These jobs do not pay cash but often provide meals, hostel level accommodation in exchange for work.

For farm work volunteering in exchange for room and board

http://www.wwoof.com.au/

For conversation volunteers you may actually have to pay but much cheaper than not working at all. Conservation Australia website indicate about $220 a week for basic accommodation, food and the travel to conservation site. Difficult to follow how to book for international visitors but if interested contact them

http://www.conservationvolunteers.com.au...