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<< Back to Australia Jobs Living and working in Sydney Train to work in Australia |
Living and working in Sydney Emma Kasprzak writes... "For many people, Sydney is their first stop in Australia. Whether you're there for a few weeks or on a more long-term basis you'll soon see why Sydney is the most popular destination for people emigrating downunder. There are a lot of myths about Sydney, and even though so many people visit and so much is written about the place it can be hard to find out the facts. For example, Sydney was my last stop in Oz and everything I read before I got here warned me that it would be expensive compared to the rest of the country. Whilst hostels might be an average of $5-10 more per night than they are elsewhere in Oz, Sydney is so popular with backpackers that there's a lot of stuff aimed at us with competitive prices. For example in Perth, which is much less touristy, eating out can cost $10-20. Sydney is full of pubs offering $6 meal deals with cheap drink offers to tempt us in. There are markets such as Paddy's in Chinatown and Bondi's in the Junction where you can pick up cheap fruit and veg. And there are hundreds of souvenir and surf shops that always have sales and special offers on. There are also free concerts and festivals around Circular Quay and Darling Harbour and live music in pubs in the Rocks area. Of course the beaches and scenic walks are free and public transport is also reasonable with weekly and multi-ride tickets offering discounts of up to 20%. So apart from accommodation, you can live pretty cheaply in Sydney if you shop around and get the lowdown from locals and fellow travellers. When you want a break from city life take the ferry to Manly or a bus to the Northern beaches; you can even get a train to the Blue Mountains and hop on the free tourist bus there.  So what about accommodation? Well, for a stay of a few weeks there are plenty of hostels all over the city with many offering a cheaper weekly rate. If you're staying for a month or longer you might consider renting a room in a backpacker house or apartment (like the one pictured left). This will cost $120-200 per week depending on location, apartment condition and facilities. Almost all houses will be fully furnished with a TV in each bedroom, bedding and kitchen utensils. Bills should be included in rent with some landlords asking for a deposit (usually one week's rent). Make sure you get a receipt for this bond and inspect the flat for damage before you move in, telling the landlord of any you find so you don't lose your money by getting the blame. Apartments are usually advertised on hostel noticeboards, in travellers' mags and by word of mouth (a good excuse to get down the pub). Living in a house is a great way to save money, make friends and take a break from hostel living.So you've got somewhere to live and plenty to do; now you need to pay for it! As with all cities there are plenty of jobs aimed at backpackers on a shorter term or part-time basis. For office work your best bet is to register with a temping agency (check them out around Martin Place in the city). Most contracts are six weeks long and you can earn $20-25 per hour. For waitressing and bar work you will need to do a one-day Responsible Service of Alcohol course (and for working in a pub with a betting office or a casino, a one-day Responsible Gambling Course). Courses cost around $80 and are valid for New South Wales.  For bar work and waitressing expect to earn $15-18 per hour plus tips. Check hostel noticeboards and restaurant windows or just stroll in and ask. Shop jobs are found in much the same way and pay about the same: look in the employment section of local newspapers too. Hotels (like the one pictured right) often have high staff turnover and are almost always recruiting.Labouring is another popular backpacker job and experience isn't required for work such as painting and digging. For any construction work you must get a Greencard by doing a one-day course for around $100. For traffic controlling you must do an additional one-day course. It's not all bad news though as construction work is some of the best paid around with wages upwards of $25 per hour - even more if you're prepared to work weekends and public holidays.  Back to the myth-busting! It isn't sunny every day; the winter is definitely not shorts and T-shirt weather so avoid June-August if you hate the cold. Spring ends in November and in my opinion this is the best time to arrive. The shops and cafes start recruiting for summer and there's plenty of accommodation about. In December it can be very hard to find somewhere to live and it gets harder to find work as more travellers arrive for Christmas and New Year. Hostels can get booked out in December so book as soon as you can (September at the latest) to guarantee a bed. Many houses put up their rent for the new arrivals but if you moved in before the price hike you should stay on winter rent rates.When the sun shines you can see why so many people love Sydney. Even when it rains there's plenty to do. It's not hard to see why this is consistently voted the best city in the World in which to live. Check it out for yourself and embrace Aussie urban culture with plenty of barbeques and weekends at the beach!"  Click here >> for more Australia info Click here >> to download our fabulous, FREE Australia Planner Click here >> for more info about overseas jobs Click here >> for our recommended hostel in Sydney Click here >> for work starter packs - these help set you up with work in Oz Click here >> to get an Australian Working Holiday Visa Click here >> to do the Responsible Service of Alcohol and other courses online |
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