Flying to Melbourne at the end of March 2012 from Northern Ireland - looking for advice/ reassurance if possible!
Hi everyone,
I'm flying to Melbourne in a few months (at the end of March) and am starting to get pre-trip nerves! I've never travelled alone before and am pretty anxious about meeting people/ finding somewhere to live/ finding a job etc. So far I have my flight booked and insurance, and am organising my visa early in the new year. I have two friends out there, so will be staying with one the first weekend I arrive and the other on the second weekend hopefully. I was wondering if anyone would help with a few questions I have:
1) Is it as easy to find a job as everyone says? I have cafe experience and have had an office job for the past 18 months. Can anyone recommend the best place to look for a job?
2) Is it better to travel at the beginning, or wait til the end? Is it feasible to find a flat and a job in Melbourne when I go out, I've heard it's quite expensive?
3) Can anyone recommend any good backpackers hostels? I'm quite shy (but aware I'll have to force myself to be outgoing!) so was hoping I would maybe fall in with a group of people that would either want to flat share or travel for a bit. Does this usually happen? The thought of getting out there and making no friends and having to blow all my money on a flat/ travelling on my own is scaring me the most!
Any advice is welcome and thanks in advance! 😊
Reply to this If you’re looking for work, your best option is to speak to Centrelink in the first instance to find out about the kind of support you’re eligible for to help you find a job. They can then help to get you in touch with your local Job Services Australia provider.
Reply to this Hello Sarah and welcome to the Forum!
Sorry for the delay in my response but I've only just returned to Australia from travelling through Asia.
If you are looking for jobs, try both the CareerOne and Seek websites - these are the two most popular in Australia in terms of finding employment. This will give you an idea of what is available at present.
As for travelling at the beginning or end, it is a personal preference. The advantage of doing so at the end as you will by then have the experience of already living in Australia and will find it easier to move around. The advantage of doing so early is that you may find a place you would prefer to live that you may not otherwise previously thought of.
Cannot give you hostel advice in Australia, as I've never stayed at one here.
Reply to this Hi, i live in Perth in Western Australia so similar to Shane i've never stayed in a bakcpackers in Oz, but i have stayed in heaps all over Europe. They are generally a fantastic place to meet people, find out new and cool things to do that no one else has written about or discussed and i would imagine how to find jobs! There would be bulletin boards etc in them for you to look at and as long as you hangout in the common area for a bit every day or meet at the closest pub you'll make heaps of friends and find otu what is going on.
Melbourne is a fantastic city and i have had no issues going there by myself even when 20 years old or now as 35 years old. The CBD area is packed at all hours so you can feel quite safe walking around near the casinos or cafes at most times of night...just dont do any of the silly things you wouldnt do at home - walk down a dark alley, get into a strangers car, let a stranger hand you a drink in a pub etc etc.
From when i've worked abroad i think i'd travel first when you know youve got the money and to maybe findsomewhere you want to stop at, otherwise you migth get stuck in one place and not find the time to do anything else!
good luck and have a fantastic time!
tam
Reply to this Hi Sarah...
How exciting... a solo trip to OZ...
You will absolutely love Melbourne and there is no need to feel any fear... People everywhere will help you out if they can...
As far as backpackers... I personally always seek out a YHA where available and I know there are several in Melbourne.
For work... if you are looking for cafe/bar work... I would suggest getting dressed up and hitting the streets... door knocking is the best option for this type of work...
If you are wanting office/administration work, then I would suggest.. yes... getting dressed up again... and meeting with some recruitment agencies... ie... Julia Ross, Kelly Services etc... you will need to make an appointment prior... and undertake typing, excel, word testing etc...
Rest assured though... there is plenty of temp/casual work in OZ... Melbourne in particular is exceptionally multicultural and backpackers are everywhere in the workforce...
One area you may not have been informed of is following the HARVEST TRAIL... yep... you can fruit and vegetable pick all across Australia..
check out:
http://www.harvesttrail.org.au/
and more specifically:
http://jobsearch.gov.au/harvesttrail/default.aspx
Good Luck Sarah and have a fab time in OZ...
I trust that you will be made to feel most welcome... Nic
Reply to this Hey Sarah,
Wow it seems so many people are going to Oz! I have booked my flights and am going a week today to Melbourne!! I am travelling alone too and starting to get pre-trip nerves. I have booked myself on a fruit picking job 3 hours north of Melbourne which I will be doing 6 days after I arrive.
I am just wondering what to pack because I only have 20kg in my suitcase nad i need stuff for fruit picking and for office work too!
Good luck
Jo xx
Reply to this Hello Jo and welcome to Travelblog!
Pre-trip nerves are usually a part of travel, even for seasoned travellers. But as usually happens once you arrive in your destination, you wonder what you were worried about!
If you are heading to rural Victoria at this time of year, you need to be aware that the first couple of months can be very hot. I just checked the temperature for the area you are travelling and the weather for the next week is (in Celsius) 36, 35, 33, 30, 26, 28, and 30. But remember that you need clothes to protect yourself from the sun too. Many people from Europe/UK don't appreciate how fierce the sun is here. So light clothes that can still protect you from the sun.
Now if you are heading to Melbourne afterwards, you need to be aware that its weather is infamous for having "four seasons in one day" - even though other places have it too, Melbourne is best known for it. Thus you will need clothes to protect you from the rain (when it occurs, and it will occur). Overall, you'll find Melbourne weather very pleasant when compared to the UK.
As for what else you need, well apart from your passport, remember to grab your usual camera, MP3, computer - and all the charging cords that go with it. You'll need a couple of adapters to change your UK plugs to Australian plugs. I always take a travel pillow, a silk liner to sleep in when the bedding looks a bit dubious, and a range of basic medications - so not only those you are given by your doctors but things such as bandages and the like. If you do take medications, its a good idea to get a certificate from your doctor saying what you take - it makes things easier if you need to visit a doctor here.
Okay, that's all I can think of for now. If you have further questions, please ask.
[Edited: 2012 Feb 27 21:56 - The Travel Camel:11053 ]
Reply to this Wow, thanks everyone for the fantastic advice. Heading in just less than 5 weeks now, will most likely sign up with a recruitment agency as soon as I arrive. Have sourced a hostel, Habitat HQ in St. Kilda which I think I'll book this week, if anyone has ever stayed, or heard of it and has any thoughts give me a shout!
Thanks again and wish me luck 😊
Reply to this Are you now here in Melbourne? Hope you are doing great and finding it nice.
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[Edited: 2012 Mar 13 05:23 - The Travel Camel:11053 - No dropping commercial links in this forum, thanks.]
Reply to this The whole time we were in Oz we kept looking at each other and wondering if it was real, it was so great.
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