The Hong Kong/Australia Working Holiday Scheme was established on 15 September 2001. There is no quota restriction for Hong Kong youths travelling to Australia under the Scheme. For Australian youths visiting Hong Kong, there is a quota of 5,000 places per year. The Australian Consulate General requires applicants to provide financial proof of AUD 5,000 for maintenance during their stay in Australia.
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Successful applicants will be issued a working holiday visa by the Australian Government, allowing them to stay in Australia for up to 12 months. In general, they can take up short-term employment of not more than six months with the same employer and/or enrol in short-term courses for not more than four months during their stay in Australia. Details and application forms are available at the following website: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/work-holiday-417
Learn more about the Working Holiday Visa in Australia from:
http://www.australia.com/en/planning/working-holiday-visa.html

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Participants are strongly advised to take out medical (including repatriation), hospitalisation and/or liability insurance before departure to cover the possible related costs incurred abroad.

Detailed arrangements of the Scheme may vary from time to time. Applicants are advised to check with the Consulate before application.
No matter you want to enjoy sunshine or shopping, you can make your dream come true in Australia. Besides, during weekends, you can find a range of markets where you can pick up bargains on homemade arts and crafts, the freshest seafood, specialty cuisine, flowers, aboriginal artifacts…and much more.
To kick off your travel plan in Australia, visit the official Australian tourism website for an introduction to the popular attractions and things to do in Australia. The website also provides facts on Australia and hands-on trip booking assistance.
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Scenic Highlights
Sydney Opera House is a landmark which you should not miss. Pitt Street Mall, located in the centre of Sydney, is a shopping paradise. The Mid-City Centre and Skygarden are the shopping malls where famous brands of fashions and accessories are available all year.
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Besides, Cairns located in North Queensland is a popular gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. The city is fringed by lush rainforests, with miles of white sandy beaches and turquoise ocean teeming with marine life. Numerous resorts are located on the islands of Great Barrier Reef.

A virtual oasis at the heart of Australia's Red Centre, Alice Springs, encompasses performing and visual arts, the natural history of the region and more.

Dining
Surrounded by ocean, Australia is famous for its seafood. From rock lobsters, abalones, oysters, prawns (shrimps), tuna, salmon, cod, perch etc., the choice is endless. Australia is also blessed with abundant fresh fruits. Besides, you can taste lamb and kangaroo in Australia cuisine.

Folklore
English is a common language in Australia. However, you may find that the accent of Australian English is a bit unusual. Besides, there are over 7000 beaches. Australians are known for their love of outdoor activities. While Australia has a reputation for wine, peoples' love of fine dining goes hand in hand with music.
Australians are always keen to celebrate the nation's festivals. Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Canberra each boast major arts festivals which spotlight the best in dance, jazz, theatre, opera and more. 26 January is national day. The largest single public event in Australia takes place in Sydney. Tall ship and ferry boat races, military flyover and free outdoor concerts bring Sydney Harbour to life, while fireworks dominate the night sky. What's more, there are Festival of Darwin, Fairbridge Festival and Mattara Festival in Newcastle.
Aboriginals of Australia mostly live in Aborginal Land and Bathorst Island. They have different names to cater different identities. However, if their relatives die, aboriginals will not touch any foods for several weeks and need other people to feed them as they are painful.

Map
Check out the map of Australia at http://www.australia.com/en/explore.html, which comes along with city guide and trip ideas.

According to the bilateral working holiday scheme established between HKSAR Government and the Australian Government, working holidaymakers can take up short-term employment of not more than six months with the same employer during their stay in Australia (unless given written permission by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection to work for longer).
Learn more about working in Australia from https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/working-in-australia.
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Looking for a job in Australia? You can visit Jobactive, a job searching website provided by the Australian Government. Seasonal workers are in great demand for the agricultural industry in Australia, while other sectors including tourism and hospitality also offer many opportunities. You can find out more about harvest jobs at Harvest Trail.

Know your work rights
Working holidaymakers are protected by the law of Australia. They should be aware of the relevant labour legislation in Australia and be cautious in dealing with the terms and conditions laid down in the employment contracts.
The national minimum wage in Australia is 24.10 AUD per hour (before tax) with effect from 1 July 2024. An employer must not request or require a full-time employee to work more than 38 hours of work in a week, unless the additional hours are reasonable.
Additional information on relevant labour legislation and protection can be found at the Fair Work Ombudsman's website at https://www.fairwork.gov.au/. The Australian Government also provides information on workplace protections covering all visas with work rights at https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/working-in-australia/work-rights-and-exploitation. Working holidaymakers can seek assistance from the Fair Work Ombudsman for workplace dispute.

Working Holidaymakers are reminded that information about work conditions and labour laws of the respective host economies provided in this webpage are for reference only and subject to change. For comprehensive and updated information, please refer to the relevant government websites of the respective economies.
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According to the bilateral working holiday scheme established between HKSAR Government and the Australian Government, working holidaymakers can enrol in short-term courses for not more than four months during their stay in Australia.
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Learn more about studying in Australia at
https://www.studyaustralia.gov.au/.
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Flat / Room for rent
For a longer stay, you can rent a flat at a reasonable price with basic facilities like television, Hi-Fi and cooking appliances. If you want to pay less, you can share the flat with others.
Youth Hostel
You can find budget accommodation through the Youth Hostels Association. The rooms, which provide cooking appliances for you to prepare your meals, have a warm and cosy atmosphere.

Farmstead
A farm stay offers meals and accommodation with rural smells. You are going to experience as one of the family members of the farm and are accommodated in the homestead or in an adjoining cottage or cabin. This is a chance hard to come by!

Hotel
Why don't you consider enjoying the luxury facilities in a hotel for a few nights? You can find 5-star international hotels in Australia. Besides, you can try the trendy HIP/ Boutique hotels to suit your taste.
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For more information, the official tourism website gives an overview on the accommodation options available in Australia.

Public Transport
It's so convenient to travel around Australia by bus or railway system. For example, you can travel throughout Sydney and its surrounds economically and conveniently by Sydney Trains. Please note that most stations are built underground.
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Rental Cars
If you are an International Driving Permit holder, you can rent a car and drive legally in Australia. Most rental companies provide tourist maps, directories or other recommendations. How about renting a Campus Van to travel around Australia so as to enjoy the freedom of your trip!
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More information about getting around in Australia can be found at http://www.australia.com/en/planning/getting-around.html.
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Climates vary in different areas of Australia. During winter (i.e. between June and September), you can go to snow mountains in New South Wales and eastern-north part in Victoria for skiing.
You can also enjoy year round beach holidays in Queensland. You're sure to find the perfect holidays in Australia.
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Learn more about the weather in Australia at http://www.australia.com/en/facts/weather.html.
The official weather forecast can be found at http://www.bom.gov.au/.
Here we have gathered a number of hands-on tips to facilitate your trip planning and settling in Australia. If you have done a working holiday in Australia and have a tip or two to share, please email your thoughts to whsu@labour.gov.hk!
  • Lots of backpackers choose Australia as destination. It is easy to make friends, but job hunting can be competitive
  • Surfing, scuba diving, skiing, wine tasting, camping...Go beyond the cities to try the outdoor activities!
Mich Wong (2010-2012)
  • Most people stay in a hostel at first. When you know more friends and get more local information, move to a shared house, which is often cheaper
  • Though you can almost buy everything you want in Australia, bring along personal items like contact lenses, skincare and medicine
Wendy (2013-2014)

Australia is located in the Southern Hemisphere, so winter in HK means summer in Australia, and vice versa. The East Coast is generally warmer throughout the year. Look up for weather information of the specific destination before going
Wendy (2013-2014)
Stay in big cities upon arrival to settle all the miscellaneous items first, like opening bank account and applying for tax file number, and then you can consider looking for jobs in resort areas away from cities as it is easy and backpackers are welcomed
Joyce (2015)
  • If you know how to drive, get an international driving license and buy a second hand car
  • Road trip is a must if you go to Australia. Places like Cairns and Alice Spring are very famous for a short trip or road trip
Alison T. (2014-2016)
Visit a clinic if you are sick and the doctor will prescript some medicine for you to buy in a pharmacy. Make sure you know the vocabularies to describe your symptoms, like running nose, sore throat and chest pain. Get an insurance before departure.
Yiu (2013-2015)
Think about the weather and jobs available when deciding which city you want to settle in. For example, Melbourne has lots of jobs but winter is freezing, while Darwin is always warm but is agricultural-based
Yiu (2013-2015)
If you plan to work in the farm, bring cap, scarf, sleeves, gloves, some old T-shirts, trousers and working shoes with you. These can protect you from insect, the sun, the plant itself and the muscle strain resulted from repeated actions
Dick (2016-2017)
  • Equipping yourself well with necessary skills before setting off the journey, especially learning more about your rights in Australia beforehand
  • Australia's most famous sports are football and Australian football , also known as "Footy". It is highly recommended to watch the game in the stadium!
Sana (2015-2017)
  • You have to get a license issued by the City Council for busking in the city. Fees may be charged.
  • You may place a name card with your contact information during busking in order to attract jobs.
Yoyo Wing (2011-2012)

Note: The useful tips provided in this webpage are the authors' own opinions and for reference only. Working holidaymakers are advised to research thoroughly and check up for updated and verified information before departure.

Emergency Hotline in Australia
Police, Fire & Ambulance
Telephone: 000

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China
Global Emergency Call Center for Consular Protection and Services
24-hour Hotline: (8610) 12308

Immigration Department of the HKSAR
Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit
24-hour Hotline: (852) 1868

Labour Department of the HKSAR
General Enquiries - Working Holiday Scheme
Email: whsu@labour.gov.hk