When travelling ...
The best things will often happen when you least expect
them!
If
you really really want a job, be prepared to knock knock knock on doors!
When travelling to Western Australia ...
Do not bring fruit or vegatables... do not bring honey ...
do not bring seeds or plants ... Western Australia is free of many plant
and animal pest's and diseases and has strict border controls.
When
travelling in Western Australia, or in fact any Australian State
Beware of
any service run by bureaucracy, both government or private. Government
run services are probably the worst but the rule of thumb when dealing
with any business run by functionaries i.e. not owner operated, is,
it's generally going to be a "fuck up", (scuse my french).
Click here
for an example of what we are alerting you to.
DO NOT TRUST BUREAUCRACY TO KNOW WHAT IT'S DOING. IT WILL ALMOST ALWAY'S
GIVE YOU WRONG INFORMATION, NOT ENOUGH INFORMATION, OUT-OF-DATE INFORMATION
or NO INFORMATION.
Because Australia is primarily a giant bureaucracy i.e more public servants
and taxpayer funded and subsidised people than any other country in
the world, you as a visitor will have to come to terms with the fact
that in Australia
YOU CAN'T COMPLAIN ABOUT THE SERVICE, BECAUSE, THERE ISN'T ANY!
Beware of “loser jobs”
Such as 100% sales commission
door to door / tele-marketing / charity collecting.
These 'so called' jobs rely on a huge turnover of new chums and desperadoes
to work for 2 weeks before realizing that the company is making money
but they're not.
Charity collecting is also a form of begging and may not be good for
the soul.
Beware
dodgey employers, worker hostels and bogus employment agents
... but don't let yourself become too paranoid
either
dodgey backpacker hostel?
Bogus
Employment Agents
Employment Agencies are not only required
to be licenced but also to follow strict procedures including disclosure
of all details of the employment being offered including employers
name, job description, relevant award, start & finish dates/times,
length of job, transport, salary/wages, payday, how you will be paid
i.e. cash, cheque, electronic transfer, and so on. All these details
should be presented to you in written form a copy of which you should
keep. If the employer/client is offering accommodation then details
of that should also be given. Employment Agents also have a part to
play with regards the bona fides of their clients especially relating
to issues of Occupational Health and Safety i.e. ensuring the employer
has Workers Injury Insurance - you can ask to see a Certificate of Currency
and ask about Awards, Tax rates and the like. These are all issues that
may be doubly important for Non Residents.
All of these things are requirements of a bona fide Employment Agent.
Employment Agents are also not allowed to charge jobseekers a membership
fee. Advertisements of Free Membership may be misleading and deceptive.
Beware
of misleading or outdated work information
The
biggest source of misinformation concerning Working Holiday Jobs often
comes from other travellers, but some traveller web sites offering work
information can also be woefully out of date.
Fellow backpackers often pass on info which they heard from someone
else who heard it from someone else and so on. The classic job situation
expert (every backpacker hostel has them) is usually not out of bed
until late, then seems to just hang around the hostel all day, reclining
in front of the T. V. or at the bar and then tells new chums that "there
are absolutely No Jobs in this town".
Most travellers keen to find work - do.
One of the best way to find work, in any town, is to knock knock knock
on doors!
Don't get 'sucked in' to buy things you
don't need ...
Beware advertising
selling guides to mining jobs. Most available mining jobs are for skilled
trades or professionals who have all the necessary accreditations, licences,
certifications, tickets and so forth. Most of these vacancies are not
short term casual positions suitable for your average working holiday
backpacker..
Whilst short term
unskilled jobs in the mining industry suitable for backpackers can be
available from time to time, buying guide books is not going to get
you one.
Visit
Beware...when
driving
Australian roads
are possibly the most dangerous in the world, requiring a very high
level of awareness at all times. Fatigue and speed are probably the
biggest factors that drivers have under their control but are also the
main reasons for a majority of crashes - especially on country and outback
roads. Take great care at all times but especially when you start to
feel complacent. Take regular breaks and don't push yourself that little
bit further - especially when you start to feel drowsy. Avoid driving
if possible around sunset or sunrise as kangaroos (roos)etc are at their
most active. If a roo does jump out in front of you DON'T SWERVE.....brake
and hit it is better. Speed limits don't mean you have to do them....
only drive at the speed you and your passengers feel comfortable with.
Beware
Thieves!
It
is an unfortunate fact of life that thieves are amongst us. You cannot
be overcautious when it comes to protecting your valuable property,
especially your passport, credit cards, cash, bottle opener etc .....
We know a girl who had her purse stolen while trying on a pair of jeans
in a changing room ... her purse was on the floor at her feet when the
thief in the next cubicle reached under .... Dorm rooms and even single
rooms in hostels and hotels are not safe ... Do Not Trust Anyone When
It Comes To Your Valuables ....
*Don't
get involved in scams .... you will almost certainly become the victim*
Letter
from a WWOOFer
...
This is published simply to help travellers understand that if you find
yourself in a situation that doesn't feel right....then it probably
isn't....and that you should not put up with bad conditions......
Here
Beware
when travelling ...
Not to become self-centered and inconsiderate. Be aware and alert to
thieves and have backup contigencies for lost or stolen credit cards,
passports etc.
Be Sun
Wise ...
Australia has the highest incidence of sun caused cancers in the world
The southern hemisphere sun is much more intense than the northern hemisphere
and you can do a lifetime of damage to your skin and eye's if
your not careful. In Australia the term slip, slop, slap has been coined
to remind us about the sun's danger if we don't take precautions when
going out into it. Even overcast day's are dangerous as the damaging
ray's still get through causing painful and damaging sunburn. So, Slip
on protective clothing, Slop on some sunscreen and Slap on a hat.
Be Aware
....
You can often
negotiate substantial savings (10% off lowest advertised price) by booking
directly with tour operators, camper, car hire companies etc...
If you can't avoid the services of a Travel Agent then at least shop
around! ... Remember you can do a lot of shopping around these days
on the Web
YOU CAN OFTEN NEGOTIATE SUBSTANTIAL COST SAVINGS
BY BOOKING DIRECT WITH SERVICE PROVIDERS A ND NOT THROUGH MIDDLEMEN
...HERE
Daily
Health Suggestions
Drink lots of water, eat lots of 'wholefoods' including fresh fruit
& vegetables, meat and fish (or 'high protein substitutes'), wholemeal
breads, nut's and limit the amount of fat's (saturated & trans),
high salt, high chemical and processed (nutrient free) type foods.
Avoid Catching Infections
You can avoid
some contagious type disease infections like tinea (athletes foot) -
by wearing flip flops in public showers etc - avoid sexually transmitted
viruses by wearing protective gear when practicing making babies. The
Australian sun i.e. Southern Hemisphere is much more severe than the
Northern Hemisphere sun and those from the north are prone to do lifetime
damage to not only their skin but also their eyes.
Alcohol
can be great, but ...
Alcohol is a popular ingredient for social interaction but over indulgence
can make us vunerable to injury (accidents) and predators (date rape,
drink spiking, violence, theft). Best advice - drink in moderation with
friends and look after each other.
Being hung-over
after an alcohol binge is not nice
JUMP ON
JUMP OFF
If your planning
to do some travelling in Western Australia and you have plenty of time
and money, you may consider a 'jump on jump off' type of tour e.g Greyhound
but if you are on a budget and have time constraints,
consider a fully catered Safaris type tour where all your food &
accommodation is included and you get to go to the best "off the
beaten track" places, plus, you do it in the company of fellow
travellers. In our opinion this is the absolute best and cheapest way
of travelling in Western Australia .... Also, if you book and pay the
tour operator yourself you should be able to save at least 10% off the
operators 'best advertised price'
...Workstay
Remember, a smile
is an "international language" and will help take you through
the most difficult of terrain and experiences.
Remember also, that everything works out in the end, if you let it!
More Working Holiday Travellers Blogs
click
here
Australian Money
Looks Like This
Australian
Currency Factsl
