Hi!
Not really sure this is right as not sure if the visa you get as an American is the same as British, but.....we are also on a 6 month tourist visa, the visa is valid for use within one year from date of issue, maximum stay in any one go is 6months but it is multiple entry within that year, we are here for 6 months then flying to New Zealand for a couple of weeks and then back in for 5 months. Likewise we could enter Australia for 2 weeks at a time as many times as we liked within that year.
I think the only time you have to prove funds is if you apply for a year visa and then you can only enter and leave once.
Not sure about dual citizenship, i think that you have to have some connection in Oz, ie a parent born here, as a UK resident if we apply and get Citizenship for Australia we can still keep UK Citizenship. I've heard that the US won't allow that you have to give up US one. Not sure on that, just heard it somewhere.
Depending on your age (if you are under 31) you can apply for a work visa, again i think only from your home country, you can't exchange a tourist visa for a work visa.
http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/working-holiday/417/how-to-apply.htm
Otherwise i think your only way in would be to get sponsered by an employer, i think you have to do that from the US tho', something about if the employer is unable to fill a post with an Australian citizen they can recruit from abroad.
We've found the Australian visa system fairly complicated, there are so many types of visas
Check on you actual visa expirey date and read the small print i guess it might be the same as ours. Oh and just a thought, if you have to talk to the visa people and you are on a tourist visa definatly don't say you are working here, i think they can deport you with a big fat fine!
As i say, i'm not sure how much of all this is right, hopefully someone with more knowledge will be along soon!
Australian High Commsion is at http://www.australia.org.uk/lhlh/Visas_and_Migration.html
Hope it all works out for you
Claire & Tel
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