Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
are concerned to some extent with alternative lifestyles. Most places have a minimum stay of two nights. You can join
online or through various WWOOF agents for a fee of $65. You'll get a membership number and a booklet that lists par-
ticipating enterprises. Add $5 for overseas postage.
Women Travellers
Queensland is generally a safe place for women travellers, although the usual sensible precautions apply. Sexual harass-
ment is rare, although the Aussie male culture does have its sexist elements. Avoid hitch-hiking and walking alone late
at night - and if you are out on the town, always keep enough money aside for a taxi back to your accommodation. Solo
women should be wary of staying in basic pub accommodation unless it looks safe and well managed.
Work
Finding Work
»
If you're in Brisbane and happy with bar work or waiting on tables, the best advice is to go knocking on doors in
Fortitude Valley or New Farm. Many places want staff for longer than three months, though, so it may take a bit of foot-
work to find a willing employer. The
Courier-Mail
newspaper has daily employment listings - Wednesday and Saturday
are the best days to look.
»
Backpacker magazines and hostel noticeboards are good options for sourcing local work. Casual work can often be
found during peak season in tourist hubs such as Cairns, the Gold Coast and the resort towns along the Queensland
coast.
»
Harvest work is popular elsewhere in Queensland. The main spots are Bundaberg, Childers, Stanthorpe, Bowen, Tully
and Innisfail, where everything from avocados to zucchinis are harvested throughout the year, and hostels specialise in
finding travellers work.
»
People with computer, secretarial, nursing and teaching skills can often find work temping in the cities (via employ-
ment agencies).
Working Visas
If you come to Australia on a tourist visa you are not allowed to work for pay. To work, you'll need one of the following
visas:
Work and Holiday Visa (462)
- for citizens of Argentina, Bangladesh, Chile, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Thailand, Tur-
key, the USA and Uruguay.
Working Holiday Visa (417)
- for citizens of Belgium, Canada, Republic of Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland,
France, Germany, Hong Kong, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Sweden, Taiwan and the UK.
Both visas cost $365; visit
www.immi.gov.au
for more info (including your options if you're not from one of the coun-
tries listed here).
