Anybody took a working holiday in Australia.

where is he going?

My pal spent a year in Melbourne and worked at a bar.

Paid quite well apparently

easy to pick up casual work in oz, should be able to travel around and get bar work in the cities, fruit picking stuff too

aus is booming and people are paid lots for doing not much

tell him to go to perth-absolutely booming

'Working Holiday?'

Don't understand the idea.

work during the day

go absolutely mental at night plus see the sights

he'll have to get a job pretty quick though as the pound doesn't go very far in OZ. The country is outrageously expensive due the the strength of the dollar. Used to be 3.5 to the pound. It is 1.5ish at the moment. Manual jobs are plentiful and easy to find and pay relatively well. If he wants to make some money he should go work around the gold coast for a couple of months. They are mining companies are dying for labourers and pay extremely well.

Did it 20 years ago around Sydney, painting, gardening etc.

Used to start at 6am and be done by 12. I was getting paid 15 dollars an hour and had free accomadation which was plenty back then.

He'll have a great time and will find work if he wants it, The Aussie bloke who I worked for would only employ poms as he said Aussies are lazy.

When was it three point five dollars to the pound the magic flea?

Not sure about 3.5 but wasn't that one of the Barmy Army chants a few years back, about 3 dollars to a pound or something?

was 3 to the pound when i first came for a holiday 14 years ago

Not now Joel, to the tune of sloop John b.....

All aboard from blighty,
The Barmy army and me,
Around Adelaide town, we did roam.
Six quid for a pint
A grand for a fliiiiiiiiiight
With Strauss our captain, well take the urn home.

Agree precisely with jbha, first time I went was 1998, three bucks to the pound, last time I went was 2009 and it was two to the pound, Ive no plans to go again while it is one point five to the pound.  Would love to get a cushdy job out here mind.

Huggy unless your boy has some special skills or an engineering degree the chances of getting work in the mines is remote to say the least. As is the location of most of them - mines and nightlife and sight seeing usually mutually exclusive. It's true some mines are doing well but the rest of the economy is struggling. The sorts of jobs young UK holidaymakers are looking for are in short supply. Check out website 'gumtree'. It has  the casual type jobs popular with travellers. Note how most ads are from people looking for work not advertising jobs!
If your boy has some qualifications then obviously look for something in that area.If not get some before he goes. An experienced barman will get the job over an inexperienced one. Australia is a nation of imports these days so there is work in warehouses and similar. Get a forklift ticket and some experience and should be able to get work. Will have to get an aussie ticket ( about $350 ) but worth it. I stress the experience part.
My advice is to be cashed up because he may not find employment.Nothing worse than being broke and a long way from home! He doesn't happen to be a half decent rugby player by any chance? Some clubs will find you a job and a place to live and loan of a car !!

I'm currently living in Melbourne. He needs to get a job quick. A pint is about £6, so his cash won't last long. When I first came here I got a job in a supermarket. Fruit packing is an option.

As noted above he should be proactive in getting work as soon as he gets there or his money will go very quick.

Stay in a hostel and you will hear about opportunities - what job experience does he have?

Thanks for all the info,some great tips.

My lad at the moment is working as a cocktail/barman at a trendy mexican bar,but would do any kind of work to pay his way in Australia.
He booked his tickets yesterday (going in September) he has changed his mind and going to Sydney first for three months,so he will be there for the new year.

Shouldn't have too much trouble picking up bar work if he has good experience.

When I was there you had to do a one day course before you were eligible for bar jobs (about how not to serve drunks etc..).

Less than two weeks to go,I will miss him.

I have just an email from my son to say he has settled in nicely and has found work in a bar/club in Manley

*Manly

Manly is great Huggy - he has landed on his feet there.

I have a Facebook mate who's travelling the World, he just spent 3 months as a barman in Aussie land. Shaagged 12 different birds on 12 consecutive nights. Must have ran out of birds and why he's moved to Bali.