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pvtistes
Please introduce yourself.
My name is Charlie, I’m 24 years old and I work as a sales associate in a store. I live in the west of France and, as I write this, it’s been about 15 days since I returned from my working holiday in Australia. An experience that I’d say was rather mixed…
pvtistes
What motivated you to go on a WHV to Australia?
I had always dreamed of going abroad and was desperately looking for a way to do it. Then one day, I heard about the WHV. I thought, “This is exactly what I’ve been looking for.” I hesitated between Australia and Taiwan. But I figured I should improve my English before tackling Mandarin. I also chose Australia for a couple other reasons: easy visa process, I already had a friend living there, and another one who had spent six months there and gave me some advice.
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Also, I was tired of living in a small village in the countryside. I wanted to be closer to cities (and Australia is famous for its big cities). I was also looking for the sea, and Australia offered both. I had a whole plan: visit big cities and build a life there. I thought it could be a great opportunity, maybe even extend my visa or go to other countries afterward, like Japan or South Korea, for example.
pvtistes
What was your initial budget when you left?
I’m a pretty organized person, so I already had the required amount saved when I applied for the visa. I booked the visa and plane ticket six months in advance so I could keep saving and have more than the minimum. Before leaving, I had around AU$8,600.
pvtistes
Can you tell us about your arrival in Brisbane? What were your first impressions?
I was surprised by the number of cars and the traffic. When people ask me “What was Brisbane like?”, I often say, “It’s like Paris but without the metro.” It made getting around on foot quite unpleasant (between the noise pollution from cars and the beeping crosswalks, it’s easy to end up with a headache).
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The first week was tough—I kept getting lost in that huge city. But after a week or a week and a half, something incredible happened: I felt like I was home. I thought, “I could live here my whole life!” That feeling had only happened to me once or twice before.
pvtistes
Looking back, do you think you were mentally and financially prepared?
Financially, yes, I was very well prepared. But mentally, I think there was room for improvement. I probably read too many positive stories, which gave me a distorted image of the country. I also had very little experience abroad, and I think that makes a big difference when settling in a new country.
pvtistes
When did you start job hunting, and in what fields?
Right on the first day. I had prepared an Australian-style resume and applied for my TFN. I also checked out Seek and asked around to find out which industries had the most job opportunities.
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When I didn’t have any luck in the city, I tried small towns north of Brisbane (which was ironic since I was trying to escape the small town that I came from). That’s when I realized how tough it really was.
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Big cities are super competitive. And conversely in small towns, since no one goes there, there are no job openings nor many options for housing. I tried working on farms, but none of them offered on-site accommodation. The few that did were already fully staffed. After about 20 tries, I decided to head back to the city.
pvtistes
Did you get any interviews or serious leads? If not, why do you think that was?
I had a few interviews with restaurants but nothing came of them, probably because of high competition or my lack of experience. After talking to others around me, I realized everyone was struggling to find work, even those with experience.
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One day, a friend told me he was going to work on a farm and asked if I wanted to come along. I said yes right away. By the time he called the farm to tell them about me, the position had already been filled. The same thing happened with cafés and restaurants.
pvtistes
How long did your budget last once you were there? What were the biggest expenses?
Two months in, I still had savings left. I’d say the biggest expense was my hostel. For everything else, I managed to save while still enjoying myself. But even though I still had money, I decided to leave because I realized it was the best thing to do.
pvtistes
At what point did you start thinking about going home? What triggered that decision?
I remember it very clearly. It was the day I went to a supermarket far from downtown. They were looking for an employee (they even had a “We’re hiring” sign in the window). Since it was my field, I thought, “I’ve got to try.”
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The manager looked at my resume and said, “We don’t hire people on a Working Holiday Visa.” That’s when I realized that it wasn’t the first time I’d been turned down for that reason.
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I talked to other people at my hostel and they all said that employers are hesitant to hire WHVers, especially men under 30. Probably because too many of them showed up to work tired from partying the night before. So no surprise that employers are wary…
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I decided to leave when I realized some locals also saw WHV travelers as job-stealers.
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I thought about switching cities—maybe Perth or Sydney. But people said the situation was the same everywhere.
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For a few days, I even considered getting another visa and going to New Zealand. But I realized I didn’t want to start all over again with false hopes. I looked for Workaways (volunteer gigs) too, but didn’t get any responses.
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I booked the first plane ticket I could find and spent the last week enjoying the “holiday” part of the WHV.
pvtistes
Was it a hard decision to accept for yourself or to explain to others?
It was by far the hardest decision to make. I didn’t want to leave, but there was no other choice.
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My family and friends were very understanding. When I told the people at my hostel, they said, “We’re sorry, but we understand.” Some even said, “Maybe you’re right—maybe I should leave too.”
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Apparently, early departures happen more often than people think…
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What I’m left feeling is disappointment, and even today, I think to myself: “Was it the right time to go? The right city, the right state?” Even, “Was it the right country?”
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There’s no doubt that everyday life and the people are very different between Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
pvtistes
What do you think is often missing from typical Australian WHV stories?
I think it’s a shame that so many newspapers, blogs, and influencers praise the WHV program in Australia, but so few (if any) talk about how it can go badly. Some young people end up doing exhausting and sometimes dangerous work. And in big cities, only two job options seem to exist: construction or food delivery.
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These are totally respectable jobs, of course, but we’re kind of stripped of choice.
pvtistes
What concrete advice would you give to people who, like you, are eager to go but can’t afford much margin for error?
Pick your city wisely, research the high and low seasons. Set a daily budget. Surround yourself with people; being alone is a surefire way to lose hope.
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And go knowing that things might not work out. And if they don’t, at least you’ll have had a nice vacation.
pvtistes
If you could redo your working holiday, what would you change in your preparation?
Maybe I wouldn’t focus so much on the “work” part, and instead embrace the “holiday” side more. Change cities more often. Really live the experience to the fullest.
pvtistes
What would you say to a WHVer who feels frustrated about not finding work after a few weeks?
The same thing others told me: “I’m sorry. I hope you find something soon.”
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I got another piece of advice right before I left: “If after two weeks you haven’t found anything, switch cities.” “Think about being a delivery rider if you’re comfortable on a bike. Only go home if you’re sure it’s the best thing to do.”
pvtistes
Do you want to try again—with another visa, destination, or approach?
Even now, I’m thinking about going back—after all, my visa is still valid.
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If I switch destinations, maybe Latin America or Brazil could be an option. Or New Zealand, to stay in the English-speaking world.
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But right now, I’m mostly reflecting on the experience and trying to learn from it. Maybe if I’d been five years older, it would’ve gone better.
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Despite everything, I’m still very attached to Australia and would like to go back. Maybe for an internship or a vacation.
pvtistes
Do you regret the experience? Or do you still recommend it (if cautiously)?
Even though it was a mixed experience, I try to focus on the positives rather than the negatives. It helped me to grow. My English comprehension improved, and my Spanish too (thanks to all the South Americans living there).
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Now I have friends all over France and all over Europe. I never would’ve met these people if I hadn’t gone.
That said, I wouldn’t recommend the Australia WHV, especially if you’re young and it’s your first working holiday. The country is too popular. Too many people have the same idea, so there’s too much competition.
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Wait a little, travel more, gain work experience, and try to visit the country before committing to a long stay. That way, you’ll know what to expect.
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Last thing: don’t be too hard on yourself if you go home early after a few months or even weeks; you’re not the first and won’t be the last. Focus on the good memories.
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It certainly takes courage to go, but maybe even more to come home early.
Morgane
Je suis partie en PVT Australie en avril 2022. Je suis restée 1 année sur place entre road trip à bord de mon van aménagé et travail (dans la restauration, en ferme, en cleaning en vente, en Freelance, etc). Aujourd'hui, j'ai retrouvé ma vie en France, mais je continue d'animer des ateliers pour parler de mon aventure et pour aider ceux qui souhaitent partir en Australie. Et peut-être un prochain PVT, qui sait ?
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I went on a Working Holiday Visa to Australia in April 2022. I stayed for one year, combining road trips in my beautiful van and various jobs in areas like hospitality, farming, cleaning, sales, and freelancing. Today, I've returned to my life in France, but I still conduct workshops to share my adventure and assist those who wish to go to Australia. And perhaps another Working Holiday Visa, who knows ?
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