Working Holiday in Australia: A Guide to Finding Construction Work
Australia is a popular destination for those looking to travel the world and make an income to support their adventure. Offering a 12 month working holiday visas (417) to 43 different passport holders between the age 18-32 for a cost of $510AUD (approx $350usd).
The continent is HUGE and has high demands for willing workers in every town and city. The beauty of the changing landscape is most certainly second to no other one nation with a population of only 25million.
On the contrary to popular beliefs the climate changes in different states, it’s not all schooners* and surfing. Did you know that in winter months in The Australian Alps receives heavier snow fall than the entirety of Switzerland?
Most Aussies are humorous and friendly, they welcome those on WHV and are thankful to have an extra pair of hands on site, especially in rural towns where the labour shortages are crippling and building is in high demand.
Be open to a joke here and there, your work day will go along just fine sealed off with a beer on the journey home.
Here’s a guide from someone that has done it. I’ve written a list of basic procedures you will need to follow to gain legitimate employment in the construction industry while on a working holiday visa in Australia.
Step 1: Get Your Bank Account and Tax File Number.
First things first.. In your first week in Australia, it's important to start off with admin tasks;
Opening a bank account and apply for a Tax File Number (TFN).
TFN is required for any legitimate employment much the same as a National Insurance number or Social Security Number its called in other countries.
With the WHV you can open a bank account with most major highstreet banks in Australia. Commonwealth, Westpac, ANZ for certain.
You will apply for a TFN online through the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) website. For Free! There is agencies which charge to help with this but not necessary for you, since your capable enough to be reading this with a computer or phone, you should navigate the ATO website just fine also.
Step 2: Get Your Safety Induction White Card.
Before you can start work on a construction site in Australia, you'll need to complete the basic standard of safety inductions and training courses. The most important is the White Card; it’s a construction induction card that is required for all workers in the industry.
It usually costs around $99 - $149aud and can be done online or at a training centre. You might save a few $ doing it online but waiting for the card to arrive and having to get it verified and signed by a local authority will cost you time. Time = money.
You make that decision.
You Should also note:
In addition to the White Card for some construction jobs you also need to meet certain health requirements to work on site in Australia. Mainly the larger government projects building infrastructure and mining.
Some roles will require you to take a pre-employment medical assessment, for things like blood pressure, hearing & eye sight tests, body movement functions. The employers are trying to identify any pre- existing conditions to be sure you are working in a safe & suitable role on their sites.
It is also true that regular drug and alcohol testing can be carried out, again more often only on larger projects. If you’re mixing sand and cement for old mate Dave the bricklayer out bush**. He’s more likely going to want to test your drugs to rate the quality than to sack you for smoking funny herbs outside of his time.
Don’t be offended if recruiters or employers ask can you pass a drugs and alcohol test. It is standard procedure on some jobs.
Step 3: Buy PPE.
Employers should provide you with Personal Protective Equipment, but it is fairly common that your expected to bring your own for short term roles.
You should have your own Rated Steel Toe Cap Boots as a minimum.
It is also good practice if you buy yourself some florescent work shirts, a hard hat and some sun screen<< most important. ‘tanning while at work’ might sound cool if you are from a council estate in the UK but the sun gets people down under.
Statistics show that more than 2 out of 3 Australians will be diagnosed with a form of skin cancer in their lifetimes. A huge portion of theses are said to be related to working in the construction and agriculture industry.
Step 4: Find a Job.
Once you have your bank account, TFN, White Card, and Confident you will meet health requirements you're ready to start your job search. These days the most popular options for finding construction work in Australia are online job boards, social media groups and the old fashioned way, down the pub.
If you’re on Facebook, use the search bar and type ‘Construction Jobs in... ‘ which ever state/ territory you’re in. There are Pages and Groups you can join that are great networks for current jobs. You will find some of the same major international jobs websites that you use at home here too, ie. Indeed, Seek or Gumtree.
Don't look past the notice board in your backpackers hostel either, still to this day many of jobs are to be found in hostels, particularly in rural areas.
alternatively drop [email protected] an email, let us know what position your hoping to find and where. If we have the job listed we will send your application for you.
Step 5: Start Your Chapter of working in Construction down under.
With all these things set and in place, you're ready to begin a rewarding and exciting chapter working Construction in Australia.
Good luck, stay safe and have fun!
*local lingo for a regular size beer
**The Outback, Rural Australia
[email protected]