FAQs Australia Sydney

Where will I be working?
You will be working in the city of Sydney which is in the state of New South Wales. You could be living any where in the city dependent on where your job is offered to you. In the first week you will be staying in a hostel that is very close to Darling Harbour and one of the main train stations of the city. top

When I can go?
Oyster send participants to be met at Sydney airport on the first Sunday of every month. top

What age do you have to be?
To be eligible you need to be between 18 and 30 when you apply for your visa. Most participants Oyster sends are aged 18-24. top

What happens on the introduction week?
Along with the rep, Alex, you will open bank accounts, sort out your tax file number, get your medicare cover, phone SIM cards and phone cards organised. We will help you to find a job and an apartment and you will do a Responsible Service of Alcohol course which is vital if you are to work somewhere that is licensed to serve alcohol. You also have a BBQ and beer on the beach and not forgetting doing some vital sightseeing if you have time between your apartment viewings and job interviews. top

Will I be alone on the placement?
No, in fact this is one of our most social placements, you will be joining a group for your introduction week (usually around 4-5 others), you will make good friends at your new job, in your flat and you can come along to the regular BBQ’s on the beach when new groups arrive. top

Can I apply with a friend?
Yes, you and a friend can do the introduction week together, however we cannot guarantee that you will be working together but you could organise to live in the same apartment. Don’t worry if you aren’t applying with a friend around three quarters of people travel alone. top

What will the weather be like?
Sydney enjoys a temperate climate with a mild winter, and has more than 340 sunny days a year. Average minimum temperatures in the winter months of June through to August is around 9 degrees Celsius. The summer season is from December through to February. top

What work can I do?
The work that you will be doing is always dependent on what is available at the time of your visit but the work that is abundant is retail, office and hospitality work. top

What are the steps to getting a job?
Firstly you should apply to us by filling out our application form and pay the £50 interview deposit, this forms the first part of the program cost once you have accepted a place. We will then call you to talk about the work and arrange an informal phone interview. We will then email or post you a detailed pack with forms that you must return to us to formally accept your place. top

Why do I have to pay a £50.00 non refundable deposit?
For two reasons, to ensure we get serious applicants, and to cover the administrative cost of recruiting, interviewing and support you receive from us while you are making your decision to go to Australia.
The £50 can either be paid on our website with a credit or debit card by clicking on the PayPal link or by sending a cheque to our office or by bank transfer. To pay the balance of £745 you can pay by Paypal but we will have to pass on Paypal’s 3.4% charge. Alternatively you can pay by cheque, or by bank transfer. top

Am I guaranteed a job?
Although we don’t guarantee you a job, we do make sure that you get lined up with a job interview. Nobody on this programme has failed to get a job if they have wanted one. We do not guarantee you a job because much like in the UK, a job is dependent on an interview and were to not present yourself in the best light you may not be offered a job. top

Who is eligible?
You should be between 18 and 30 years old and be from the list of eligible countries given by the Australian Embassy for the Working Holiday visa: UK, USA, Canada, Ireland, France, Finland, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Taiwan. You need skill in the English language to a good conversational level or better! top

Do I need qualifications?
You don’t need any qualifications just a “can do” attitude, bags of enthusiasm and willingness to have a go. Any relevant experience that you have may mean that you may earn more in your wages. top

What is included in the price of £995?
Included in the price, is the cost of your first week’s accommodation, 7 breakfasts, one evening meal and a BBQ and Beer on Bondi beach. Your Responsible Service of Alcohol course, assistance in finding a job and accommodation, the organisation of your tax file number, bank account, medicare, SIM cards and phone cards. Alex will warmly greet you at the airport and give you an orientation around the city as well as ongoing support both in the UK and Sydney. Before you travel you will be given full details and advice with regards to your preparation for the trip. top

What is not included?
The price of your visa (set at Au$230 until July 2010), your flights (from around £500 to £1200), insurance and the cost of transport around the city. You will also need to pay for your own food, rent and utilities when you are in Sydney. We are however, able to offer you a reduced rate at the hostel if you would like to remain staying there after the first week. This is $230 inclusive of 7 night’s accommodation, 7 breakfasts and 1 evening meal. top

Can you change the job if you don’t like it?
Yes, if you don’t like the job after giving it your best shot then you are able to find another job in the city. You will be able to do this on your own after we help you to find your first job. top

How long are the jobs for?
The maximum length of the job is 6 months due to visa restrictions, however you are able to find another for the remainder of you visa if this is what you would like to do. After we have found your first job with you, you will have the skills to find other jobs on your own after this in either in Sydney or in other cities around the country. You should also be better paid after 3 or 6 months of experience. top

How long can I stay in Australia for?
On your first Working Holiday Visa you can stay for a year working in Australia. If you have done 3 months of farm work or more then you are eligible to apply for a second working holiday visa which will allow you to extend your trip for another year. This cannot be done if you are a citizen of Chile, Thailand, Turkey or USA. top

What are the working hours like?
The hours will be similar to those in the UK.  5-6 days a week with hours dependent on your job offer and type of work.
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What do I pack?
You will need to take working clothes for whatever type of job you would like to do; you should have something nice to wear to an interview. You will also want to take holiday clothes for your travelling time. Do remember that Sydney has good shops and you will be able to buy anything you need there. top

How do I get a visa?
You apply online once you have had your phone interview. Once you have accepted a place we will email or post you an information pack with all the links you need. It normally takes around 48 hours to get a visa but do allow longer. top

I have a criminal record. Is that a problem?
Not necessarily, you would need to tell us more before we could take your application further. top

Will I have access to the internet and telephone?
Yes. There are plenty of payphones and internet cafes around the city. Your new apartment could also have internet if this is something you would like in your flat. Alex, our rep will help you to get an Australian SIM card for your mobile phone but do ensure that your phone is unlocked to take another SIM. top

Can you tell me more about flights?
You need to arrive at Sydney international airport on the Thursday that your program begins.  Book a direct flight into Sydney so that you will be in the correct terminal. We recommend you go direct to Australian Specialists  - Hallmark Travel on 01342 312305 ask for Charmaine Hallmark.  They have a reputation for excellent service as well as the lowest fares. STA also do very good student and Youth rates on flights. top

When do I need to apply?
As soon as you can, we have a limited number of places for each program.  You need to apply at least 2 months before you go.  In certain circumstances, we might be able to accept late applications but not less than 6 weeks. In the time running up to Christmas and New Year please give us as much warning as possible as there may not be enough space in the hostel. top

What will insurance cost?
Our recommended policy costs £206 for 6 months and insures you for working rather than just backpacking.  There are cheaper policies but generally you get what you pay for top

How much will I be paid?
This does depend on what level of skills and experience you have.  Wages range from around Au$15 per hour, up to Au$25 per hour for someone with a lot of experience in their field. top

What level of support can I expect?
You will be able to get in touch with a rep or Oyster Worldwide member of staff at any time by phone call in an emergency, but you should first consider whether the problem is something that you can deal with yourself. Alex will be picking you up from the airport, she will do the orientation on the Monday and help you to find jobs and apartments on Tuesday. On Wednesday you will go to the RSA course with your group. For the rest of the week Alex takes more of a backseat role, while you go to interviews and do viewings of potential apartments. She will find out how you have been getting on at the BBQ on Thursday night. By the second half of the week, you will know your way around the city and feel confident to go to interviews and apartments on your own or with the other people in your group. top

What's special about Oyster?
Our team in the UK and overseas have considerable experience in arranging gap year placements abroad. Our UK staff have all undertaken Oyster projects and others and know what makes a great gap year. We offer carefully chosen placements in different parts of the world to deliver this. top

How long have you been going?
Most of our placements have been running since 2000 and we have been operating under the name of Oyster since 2006. We will be happy to put you in touch with those who have travelled to our placements in the past. They will be able to tell you directly about the service and expertise offered by the UK team and our representatives abroad.  Australia is our newest destination launched in 2008  -  our partners have been running this program since 1992. top

Is Oyster a member of the Year Out Group?
Yes, we are a full member of the Year Out Group. Our procedures have been assessed and the Year Out Group has taken into account that our placements and staff are well established. top

“Having an absolute ball over here! What an experience it's been already! Thank you soooo much, you've given me a really wonderful opportunity!” Megan Murray 2009

Find out more

Contact Roger (01892 770771; roger@oysterworldwide.com).