When I applied for my Australian Working Holiday Visa, on a random Tuesday evening after a shitty day at work, I had no idea what to expect. All I knew is that I was done with working, for now anyway.
That's not to say there isn't work in Australia, there definitely is, but you might end up in an unexpected role...
So I've lived a thousand lives, had a thousand jobs, and I'm not done yet! I feel like in Australia you really have to do whatever it takes to survive and pay your bills, but you are rewarded with such an incredible standard of life out here.
Taking on all of these diverse jobs has given me knowledge I'd never usually gain, and it's also given me the confidence to try new things.
Who knows what role I'll land next?
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I'm back in the UK after almost a year of non-stop travel. But don't worry, I'll be jetting off again soon, I just need some time at home to heal. Travelling for such a long time has taken its toll on my mental health, and the anxiety I thought I left behind on British soil has reared its ugly head once more.
Now I'm not stupid, I know travel can't cure all, but I think a small part of me believed that by leaving behind the regular things that cause stress (work, living with parents, etc) I might be able to finally free myself of my unstable moods. Well unfortunately that hasn't been the case but my god have I learnt some important lessons on this journey, and regardless of the lows I feel mentally stronger than ever.
Long term travel isn't always easy. From constantly worrying about if I can afford things, to struggling to find accommodation, and transportation every few weeks, it can be a lot. But that's not to say it hasn't been rewarding. I've overcome SO many challenges in the last few months, and I genuinely believe that I can do anything I put my mind to now. I'm the most confident I've ever been and I owe that to the numerous problems I've come across and delt with recently.
But there is also nothing wrong with admitting it's time to come home.
If I'm honest part of me is disappointed I couldn't keep on top of my wavering moods. I've done the therapy, I've put in the work, and for the most part I've been so happy knowing I'm finally living the life I've always wanted. So yes sometimes I feel a little frustrated with myself for coming back home. But then I try to remember just how far I've come.
A few years ago I could barely even get on a bus alone without being consumed with anxiety. Something as simple as being in a crowd of people would fill me with dread. Anxiety attacks were just a way of life for me back then, but now that couldn't be further from my reality. I barely even recognise the girl I was then and I'm genuinely proud of that.
So I'll be catching my flight again soon. I'll pass through airport security on my own, endure a few long haul flights alone with my thoughts, and check myself back into a shitty Sydney hostel to start my Australian life once more. And when I close my eyes on that very first night back in Oz, I'll know that my demons will be watching, but I'm the one who controls them.
If you're also struggling with anxiety, Mind has a helpful page on symptoms, causes, treatments, and more.
Thanks for reading!
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AD - This post is in collaboration with Welcome To Travel
Choosing to move to Australia on a working holiday Visa was no easy thing. I had to consider leaving behind my friends and family, quitting a job I kinda liked, and moving thousands of miles across the world to a place I'd only ever seen on the screen. But I did it. I moved to the land down under and so far it's going pretty damn well!
So what did I do to prepare myself for the big move? As a solo traveller, and a female one at that, there were a couple things things I needed to consider that maybe groups or couples wouldn't even think about. That's not to say moving to Australia solo needs to be hard but it's not for everyone.
Let's break down the prep I did for my Australian adventure...
1. Research - I didn't do as much as I should, I'll hold my hand's up to this one. I'd seen vlogs, and tiktoks, and bits on instagram about the girlies living their best lives in the sunshine and I was SOLD. "Get me to the place where it's always summer" I thought! But here's the catch, Australia has seasons too and their winter is still chilly! I wish past Grace did a little more research before hopping on a plane without a jumper to weather that was actually colder than the UK.
So watch the vlogs, watch the tiktoks, and consume all the content, but do some proper research about the weather, the cities, read hostel reviews because you'll want to prepared and safe in the first few weeks of your new life in Australia.
2. Apply for a working holiday Visa - There are a couple of working visa's you can apply for if you want to move to Aus but the most popular one in the UK is the Working Holiday Visa 417. This is the one I'm currently travelling on and it is VERY easy to apply for. In fact I applied for my Visa in about an hour and it was approved almost instantly. Waiting times for Visa approval can vary though so this is something to be aware of.
3. Book the flights - I booked my flight to Australia about 3 months before I intended to leave. This gave me plenty of time to prepare for the move and enjoy some quality time with my friends and family. Booking my flights so far in advance also meant I benefitted from slightly cheaper flights than if I'd have booked them last minute. But even if you do book flights in advance be prepared to spend a few quid on them. I paid £1070 for my flight as I wanted to fly with Emirates and this price seemed to be pretty average, however I did see flights for as low as £600.
As a woman travelling alone, I deliberately booked a flight with a short layover so I wouldn't have to travel in and out of the connecting city with all my baggage as this is when I feel most vulnerable.
4. Book a welcome tour - Before leaving for my big adventure I was feeling a little nervous, which is understandable, so I decided to life life on easy mode and book on to a welcome tour for my first week in Australia. I booked with Welcome To Travel, a company set up by travellers so I knew I'd be in good hands. Starting my working holiday with them meant I would get an airport pick up, a fab introduction to the city with multiple tours, help setting up an Aussie bank account, an Aussie SIM card, and they would also apply for my tax file number amongst other things.
The Welcome To Travel tour helped me get settled into Melbourne very quickly and also gave me 22 new friends who were all on the same journey. For me personally as a solo traveller, making connections with other travellers is so important and in that first week I made so many friendships I still hold very dear even weeks after the tour has ended.
If you like the sound of a welcome tour, the company offers two, one in Melbourne (which I did) and one in Sydney. You can get $50 off either of these tours with my code GRACEBEE*
* I receive a small amount of commission when this code is used.
5. Give notice at work - Once my working holiday visa was granted (and even before I'd really planned anything else) I handed my notice in at work. This one was quite bittersweet for me as I'd finally found a job I didn't hate but the thought of travelling Australia and one day finding a job in the sunshine made it VERY easy to hand in my resignation. Before you do this it's worth checking your contract as I didn't and my notice period was slightly longer than I had realised. It's also a good idea to talk to your managers about references so that you can update your CV ready for working in Australia.
So that's how I prepared to travel and work in Australia as a solo female traveller on the 417 working holiday visa. If I can pull this off anyone can, but I hope my experience helps you plan for you own trip.
I'd be happy to answer any questions about my travels and don't forget to keep up to date with my adventure on Instagram - search @gracebeeuk if you're not already following!
Thanks for reading!
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Hi my name is Grace and I couldn't care less about snazzy job titles, popping out a couple kids, and settling down in the suburbs. In fact the thought of striving to achieve these traditional life goals makes me feel very uneasy. That's not to say that I can't see some value in doing things "the old fashioned way", but it's not the life for me!
Ever since I can remember all that I've wanted to do is see the world. My bucket list consist's of visiting elephant sanctuaries in Thailand, hiking Mount Kilimanjaro, and chucking tomatoes at strangers at La Tomatina Festival in Spain. But climbing the corporate ladder? No thanks!
I honestly don't give a shit about having a career, as long as I have enough money to live and have fun. Having an enjoyable life will forever be my priority and I just don't see how a fancy job role could contribute to that. In fact I can only think of a few jobs that I would consider 'fulfilling', and let's be honest, the traditional folk wouldn't consider those 'real jobs' anyway.
And don't get me started on the bog standard family unit. I barely know what I want, how on earth would I be able to understand the needs of a child. Beside that, I'm not willing to give up the time and money to raise someone in a world like this. It's a no from me.
What about owning a home? Eh, i mean one day maybe. Housing is SO unattainable for young people right now, especially young single people, so I'm spending my deposit on seeing the world and making memories. Now this isn't a decision I've taken lightly, I've been saving for a house deposit since I was 18 so seeing it slowly deplete recently was actually kind of painful. Will I regret spending this money in a few years? Honestly I'm not sure, but like they say 'money returns, time does not'.
Sometimes I wish I was content with a normal life. But life is too short to live it ticking boxes. The world is out there and I'm ready to see it!
People keep calling me brave. Since I made the announcement that I'm leaving to find a new life in Australia I've been called brave so many times but I don't feel it. Sure I'm nervous about a lot of things, I mean moving across the world would make anyone nervous but brave? I don't know.
Getting a mortgage, having kids, and living your whole life in one city? Now that is brave to me! To be so sure that is the life you want forever? That scares the shit out of me! If it all goes tits up while I'm travelling I can just come home, no problems! Does that make me weird? If it does, I don't want to be right!
(AD)*
Do you have itchy feet like me? Maybe a working holiday in Aus could help you scratch that!
I'll be spending my first week in Australia on the Welcome to Travel Tour in Melbourne. The week long tour includes an airport pickup, tours of the city, a road trip to Philip Island, help with all the life admin involved with moving to a new country, and so much more.
If this sounds like a bit of you, use code GRACEBEE for $50 off your tour!
This code can be used on either the Welcome to Melbourne Tour, or the Welcome to Sydney tour.
* I receive a small amount of commission when this discount code is used ☺
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