First Day(s) in Australia on a Working Holiday Visa: What to Do in Your First Week
Just landed in Australia on a working holiday visa and wondering what to do first? Good. Because your first days in Australia will either set you up for fast success or waste you weeks and hundreds of dollars.
Most blogs overcomplicate this. Endless theory. Random tips. Zero real-world priority. This guide cuts the noise and shows you exactly what to do in your first week in Australia to get job-ready, save money, and avoid beginner mistakes.
No fluff. No irrelevant info. Just a clean action plan based on what actually works on the ground.
If you follow this properly, you’ll have:
All bureaucracy done to start working (TFN, ABN)
Your bank account and tax setup ready
All relevant certificates sorted (RSA, White Card, etc.)
A clear understanding of minimum wage and real pay rates
Your first payday
Your job search is running properly
And if something still isn’t clear, drop a comment or message me. I’ll help you fix it fast.
Minimum Wage in Australia (Updated for 2026)
Minimum wage for contracts and casual jobs
Let’s start with the most exciting one in Down Under: Australia’s minimum wage!
Australia has one of the highest minimum wages in the world. As of 2026, the national minimum wage is:
AUD 24.95 per hour
or
AUD 948.10 per 38-hour week
(before tax)
This applies to adult workers (21+). Younger workers aged 18–20 are legally paid less under junior wage rates, which is why you may see lower offers in hospitality and retail.
Most working holiday makers, though, work casual jobs. Casual workers receive a 25% casual loading instead of paid sick leave or holiday pay.
That means:
AUD 24.95 + 25% = AUD 31.19 per hour (casual minimum wage)
In real life, you can expect:
AUD 31–35/hour for basic casual jobs
AUD 35–50+/hour for licensed or skilled work (construction, forklift, traffic control, etc.)
Casual Jobs in Australia Explained
Almost every backpacker and student in Australia works on a casual contract. That means:
No long-term commitment
No paid sick leave
No paid holidays
You can quit anytime
Your employer can end your shifts anytime
In return, you get higher hourly pay and total flexibility. This is exactly what you want on a working holiday visa.
You will still sign a casual employment contract. That is normal and protects both sides legally.
Bottom line:
Always prefer casual work. It keeps you flexible and better paid.
If anyone offers you less than minimum wage, walk away. No excuses. No loyalty discounts. No “trial shifts.” Australia has strict wage laws, and you should never work below the legal minimum.
Working terms explained: What to do on your first day(s)
Payday – when do you get paid?
Unlike in Europe, in Australia payday is most common on a weekly basis! Some employers pay every two weeks, called “fortnightly,” but it’s communicated before and is more the exception to the rule.
For cash in hand jobs, you will be paid directly after the work, unless something else was previously agreed upon. For safety reasons, you should agree to get paid at least every second day to avoid scammers and people taking advantage of you!
Working Cash in Hand
In Australia, it’s common to work “cash in hand,” meaning you’re paid in cash immediately after completing a job, typically on the same day.
These casual jobs are usually offered by private individuals or from on-demand sectors like hospitality and construction seeking short-term assistance without bureaucratic hurdles.
These jobs are common in:
Hospitality
Construction
Landscaping
Cleaning
General labour
Typical cash-in-hand roles include:
Kitchen hand / dishwasher
Construction labourer
Landscaper
Waiter
Removalist
Event staff
Cash-in-hand pay is negotiable but typically ranges from AUD 25–40/hour.
The best place to find these jobs is gumtree.com.au and local Facebook groups.
Yes, many tourists do this illegally. You should not. On a Working Holiday Visa, you can work legally. Use cash jobs only short-term or as a backup.
TFN: Tax File Number (First Thing You Do)
The first thing you do once you arrive in Australia is obtain your TFN (Tax File Number).
Typically taking up to 28 days to process, though often received within 1–2 weeks. Apply for it here:
https://www.ato.gov.au/Individuals/Tax-file-number/Apply-for-a-TFN/
Simply select “foreign passport holders” and complete the process with your details.
For your address, use the hostel’s address or your current residence. You can pick it up there, even if you don’t stay there anymore.
And don’t worry! You can still work before receiving your TFN, just ensure you never pay more than 15% taxes, as occasionally they mistakenly overcharge.
Always check your payslips! See my payslips here!
ABN: Working as a Contractor or Freelancer
ABN stands for Australian Business Number, allowing you to offer services and issue invoices as a recognized business entity (self employed).
Some skilled working holiday makers and students opt for working on ABN due to its fast and straightforward process.
Some job agencies may even require an ABN to hire you. Essentially, you register as a “sole trader” for a specific sector, such as construction or hospitality.
I highly recommend registering, just in case! Register here:
https://www.business.gov.au/registrations/register-for-an-australian-business-number-abn
You should receive your ABN number within a day, even minutes of completing the process.
Keep in mind, you still need to apply for a TFN beforehand.
Additionally, while working on ABN exempts you from paying taxes. You’re required to set aside 15% of your income for tax purposes and lodge it when you file your tax return. Moreover, you won’t receive superannuation payments (see next) when working on ABN.
There are rumors that when working on ABN, you don’t need to pay taxes until you earn $18,200.
However, this applies only to permanent residents and students, not working holiday makers (anymore).
Backpackers on a working holiday visa always pay a flat 15% tax rate, regardless of earnings.
In this case, as mentioned earlier, you need to reimburse 15% of your total income earned through ABN when filing your tax return.
Super
Superannuation, or “Super” is a retirement savings fund in Australia.
Employers contribute a percentage of your earnings (minimum 12% as of January 2026) into your super fund for every hour worked on a “TFN basis”.
They are obligated to make super contributions once you surpass a certain earnings threshold, which is around $400 a day.
I highly recommend opening a super account as soon as possible.
By the end of your working holiday, you’ll accumulate a significant amount in your super account that you can withdraw and use for your travels!
I had Cbus Super fund. There are many others.
RSA and RSG/RCG
RSA (Responsible Service of Alcohol) and RSG/RCG (Responsible Service of Gambling/Responsible Conduct of Gambling) are required certifications in the hospitality sector.
The purpose is to educate you on responsible alcohol service (RSA) and gambling environments (RSG/RCG). The latter certificate name varies by state.
I recommend obtaining both certifications for maximum flexibility.
You can complete the certificates through a one-day face-to-face course or online, with online options generally being cheaper but taking longer.
Ensure you choose reputable sources for online courses, and consider consulting for guidance.
White Card
A White Card is mandatory for those who want to work in the construction industry.
Similar to RSA, you can complete a one-day course or opt for an online course.
I recommend selecting the online option; it’s just cheaper. As with RSA, ensure you pick official providers for online courses, as there seem to be many scams.
The cheapest White Card online course during my working holiday was in Queensland, as you can see above.
Taxes for working holiday makers and students
In Australia, working holiday backpackers on any subclass pay a flat tax rate of 15% for every dollar earned up to $45000 (updated January 2026). It’s as simple as that.
In your payslips you will find the acronym PAYG (Pay As You Go), which means that the 15% is already included from your employer, and you don’t need to do anything!
Back in the day, Australia had a tax-free threshold for backpackers until $18,200, which doesn’t apply anymore!
So yes, it used to be different in the past, but not anymore, so don’t believe these myths.
If you earn more than $45000, you automatically fall into the following tax brackets from the first dollar you earn above $45,000:
- $0 – $45000: 15% on every dollar
- $45001 – $120,000: A minimum of $5,550 AUD plus 32.5% on every dollar
- $120,001 – $180,000: A minimum of $22,775 AUD plus 37% on every dollar
- $180,001 and above: A minimum of $56,075 AUD plus 45% on every dollar.
Tax return and lodging
The Australian financial year runs from 1st July to 1st June of the following year. I highly recommend always lodging your taxes, as you will definitely get something back!
Tax returns can be lodged at the ATO website any time from 1st July to 31st October, for the previous financial year.
If you leave Australia permanently before 30 June, you can lodge your tax return early by paper. Processing times can take up to 50 business days.
You can lodge the taxes once you are outside Australia, as everything is online through the ATO website! Easy!
Most common casual jobs for backpacker and students
The most common jobs for girls in cities:
- Waiter
- Runner
- Traffic controller
- Admin/Office
- Event helper
- Door-to-door Sales
- UBER Eats driver (by E-bike)
- Receptionist
- Factory worker
- Farm work (any)
The most common jobs for boys (blokes in Australia) in cities:
- All sorts of construction jobs (residential, commercial, scaffolding, demolition, etc.)
- All sorts of mechanics (cars, bikes, etc.)
- Warehouse labourer
- Bartender
- Landscaping
- Event labourer
- UBER Eats driver (by E-bike)
The most common jobs in the outback:
- Any kind of farm work
- Roadhouses and hotels
- Solar Farm
- Mining industry
- Fishing industry
Overview of your working holiday journey
- Part 1 is all about visa requirements and eligibility for your working holiday in Australia (read before coming to Australia)
- >>Part 1.1 I lead you step-by-step with screenshots through the official working holiday visa application!
- Part 2 is all about relevant working terms to get started in your first days in Australia. I show you Australia’s minimum wage, what TFN, ABN, RSA, SUPER etc. is and where to apply in order to work legally in Australia.
- Part 3 is all about pay rates and work. I show you my payslips, what I earned, and you can too in 2024! I show you all special occasions where you can earn more money!
- Part 4 is all about finding typical backpacker jobs and pay rates. I show you all relevant ways, platforms, and websites where you can find jobs!
- Part 5 is all about extending your working holiday visa in Australia and the required 88 days of specified work! (Farm work)
What’s next in your journey?
For working holiday starters:
- Apply for the working holiday maker visa subclass 417 (usual approval time 1 min – 14 days) or 462 (usual approval time at least 14 days due to further requirements)
- Provide further details if necessary to get the application going (health examination, etc.) in your immigration account (ImmiAccount).
- Get credit cards, especially a WISE account (Australian bank account), and check passport validity! (min. 2 weeks – 1 month before you plan to flight)
- Book your flights (AFTER receiving an approval letter from immigration).
- Packing list 2024 (Coming soon)
- Get travel insurance before you fly (SavetyWing or Heymondo)
- Get an onward ticket ALWAYS! (24-48h before your flight, evidence of leaving the country you enter). For working holiday Australia visa holders, it’s NOT necessary.
- Book your accommodation via Hostelworld to get to know people quickly. I recommend the first two weeks at the same spot.
- Job hunting and other bureaucratic stuff (once in Australia)
- Open up your US LLC to get your freelancer business started!
- Sign up for my newsletter to become a smarter traveler and stay up-to-date.
