Essential Preparations for a Working Holiday in Australia

Before coming to Australia, managing Korean phone number, initial capital, traveler's insurance, and driving license are crucial for a smooth experience.

### Key Preparations for a Working Holiday in Australia
* 📱 Maintaining a Korean phone number is crucial for various services that require verification, such as **KakaoTalk, banking, and insurance**.
* 💰 **Bring Sufficient Initial Capital**: Prepare around **$1,000 for security deposits**, **$600 for two weeks' rent**, and **additional living expenses until finding a job**.
* 🏥 Get Traveler's Insurance: Medical costs in Australia can be high, and having insurance is essential for **reimbursement and peace of mind**.
* 🚗 Consider Getting a Driver's License: Public transportation in Australia is limited, especially in remote areas, so having a car or **driver's license** is beneficial.
* 📝 Prepare Documentation: Ensure all necessary documents are in order, including **public certificates, financial records, and insurance information**.
* 🏡 **Secure Accommodation in Advance**: Have a plan for temporary housing and be prepared for **unexpected costs** when settling in a new place.
* 💳 Familiarize yourself with **currency exchange**, **overseas remittances**, and managing Korean accounts from abroad.
* 🧳 **Pack Appropriately**: Bring essential items for daily life, such as **bedding, kitchenware, and personal care products**, to avoid unnecessary expenses.

Before coming to Australia on a working holiday, there were five things I regretted in my preparation. During my one-and-a-half-year working holiday life in Australia, I spent truly precious moments that cannot be described as a turning point in life. Since it was my first experience living abroad, there were some points that I had never expected before departing, and I experienced some uncomfortable situations while living there. I hope you won't make the same mistakes, and I will start the video. Firstly, managing a Korean mobile phone number. I didn't know it would affect my quality of life so much. In conclusion, do not cancel your Korean mobile phone number under any circumstances. Switch to the cheapest plan and try to switch to a second-tier plan to keep your number alive. The Korean social system was so convenient when I was in Korea, but as soon as I came abroad, it was completely different.

The system that needs to be fixed has changed, it's a system for verifying one's identity with a mobile phone. In other countries, it's possible to verify your identity via email instead of a mobile phone. However, in Korea, uniquely, you can only verify your identity with a phone number. You might think it's not a big deal, but let me tell you my case. I lost my SIM card while living abroad, so I had to suspend my phone. Without a phone, whenever I needed to use a Korean service, I had no way to prove that I exist in Korea. For example, I couldn't use KakaoTalk, and when I tried to use it with a foreign number, I couldn't even use the KakaoTalk gifting service. I couldn't celebrate my friends' birthdays, graduations, or new jobs, which made me very sad. Also, after visiting the hospital and applying for a refund from the travel insurance company, there was no way for me to prove my identity.

I have to do it, but I can't even apply for a refund because my phone's self-verification doesn't work, and I can't even do the periodic self-verification on the bank app. Managing money in a Korean account, exchanging currency, overseas remittances, and even dealing with stocks involve really complex processes. I even need to go through a complicated process to handle tasks like going back to a university in Korea, applying for national scholarships or student loans. When I had to apply for them without a phone, it was really tough. If you are outside Korea, it seems like you wouldn't use Korean services, but that's not the case. I've seen many posts about people preparing for immigration abroad or living abroad for over 10 years facing such inconveniences. Some have even maintained a budget phone plan for over 10 years because there seems to be no solution. It's really important to keep your phone number and if possible, switch to a 2nd SIM card to avoid such inconveniences.

I hope you don't experience any discomfort, and it would be helpful to extend the validity period of things like public certificates or financial certificates due to concerns. Safely storing them on a computer disk would be very helpful. Secondly, when I came to Australia, I planned to start working on a farm right away, so I didn't bring a lot of initial capital. However, it cost more money to settle down than I thought. Even though I started working on the farm right away, I didn't make thousands of dollars from the beginning, so I struggled a bit in the early days. When a person is financially lacking, their mind also becomes lacking, and they can't fully enjoy things. So, I calculated how much initial capital I should consider bringing, but the amount of money to consider varies depending on each individual's perception of being financially comfortable.

Due to individual differences in writing habits, it would be helpful if you could refer to this information only as a rough guide. First, I recommend bringing around $1,000 generously for the security deposit. Each house may require a deposit for about two weeks, or sometimes a $1,000 deposit upfront. Although the range of security deposits varies from house to house, if you find a house where you need to pay a deposit but don't have it immediately, you can avoid such situations. Even while living a nomadic lifestyle, there may be situations where you have to move, so I strongly recommend always keeping around $1,000 as an emergency fund in your bank account. Also, considering the rent for about two weeks, please bring around $600. The cost of renting a house varies greatly, but unless you are moving into a very expensive apartment, you should be able to manage the rent within $300 per week.

It's possible to resolve this, as some places request a two-week payment in advance, so it would be good to bring around $600. Occasionally, there are also landlords who collect rent monthly. Therefore, if you can afford it, it would be advisable to prepare around $1200 for a month's rent. Please also bring some initial living expenses, as it may take longer than expected to find a job. Even if you secure a job right away, there might be a trial period before receiving your weekly pay, causing further delays. In Australia, the cost of living is quite similar to Korea when it comes to groceries, but dining out can be 1.5 to 2 times more expensive than in Korea. Therefore, if you bring around 1.5 to 2 times the living expenses you had in Korea, and budget tightly until you find a job in Australia, you should be able to manage without running out of money. Additionally, if you have the means,

After moving into a new house, it would be good to prepare the cost of basic items needed for daily life such as dishes, bedding, rice cooker, laundry detergent, etc. When applying for a working holiday visa in Australia, you need to prove that you have $5,000 in your account. It would be best to bring that amount in full. However, if you bring more money than necessary, it can make you feel more comfortable, but it may also make it harder to find a job because you lack urgency. People who bring less money tend to be more proactive in job hunting, quickly writing and sending out resumes, but they may feel quite uncomfortable. Thirdly, traveler's insurance. I have seen many people who come to Australia without traveler's insurance, which was quite surprising. Remember, you only have one life, especially when it comes to medical matters.

You must prepare in advance. I joined the travel insurance right away when preparing for the trip. Even though everyone living abroad may have different opinions, I heard that Korea has the best medical system. I have lived in Korea all my life, so I didn't really understand the importance of the medical system. But when I go abroad, it seems like the value of Korea is different. So, I immediately signed up for travel insurance. When I went to the hospital in Australia, it was less than ten times in total. Not only when you are sick, but also before starting work, there are jobs like getting preventive shots or tests at the hospital. But this really costs a lot. If I were in Korea, I could just go to the hospital easily, get some medicine, and be done. But in Australia, first, you go to the GP, a bit like a comprehensive clinic in Korea. And if the issue is not resolved at the clinic, then you go to the hospital for further treatment.

I connected with the specialist, then they drew 9 tubes of blood and connected them to the radiation room for the test. After the radiation, I paid an additional 199 dollars for the treatment. To avoid unexpected expenses, it's necessary to have traveler's insurance. With insurance, medical expenses can be reimbursed. One point I regret is that although I heard that Australian World Nomads insurance is famous for assisting with medical cards, I thought, Why bother? I'll just go for the cheapest option. However, having multiple insurance options from different companies doesn't mean they are all the same. As the GP specialist briefly mentioned earlier, the hospital system in Australia is quite different and complex compared to Korea. At first, I had no knowledge of the Australian medical system, couldn't speak English well, and was just wandering around.

I went there, popped up at the desk, showed it, went to the doctor, showed it again with Papago, and went through a lot. However, there is a separate insurance for working holiday visa holders called Assist Card. The name itself is Travel Care, providing specialized care for all medical situations that may occur during travel or living abroad. They offer 24-hour KakaoTalk consultation. If you describe your symptoms in Korean through KakaoTalk, they can help connect you to a hospital. In situations where you may not be familiar with the Australian system, having to go to the hospital or feeling unwell would be much less worrisome. Also, one of the things that working holiday visa holders really need is that Assist Card insurance covers medical expenses. Typically, with insurance, you have to pay the hospital first, and then the insurance company will.

Later, it's the time when refunds are given, but with World, in the process of raising money, recruiting, and so on, if you need to go to the hospital, it's really burdensome to have to pay for the hospital expenses first, so many people just don't go to the hospital. However, with Assist Card insurance, this kind of guarantee is possible, so I thought it was one of the good features for working holidaymakers. Also, the feature I needed was when I couldn't get a refund for the insurance premium because my phone SIM card didn't work for mobile authentication. With Assist Card, even when processing the insurance refund, the procedure is very simple on the website, so you can apply for the insurance refund without mobile authentication. I have paid all the insurance premiums and have had cases where I couldn't get a refund because of my phone. Traveler's insurance is really essential, so if you are going to join, do it well.

I hope you can check and join. This working holiday exclusive insurance includes support for the return airfare if you decide to return early within 60 days due to Australia not suiting you. I always tell people who are worried about working holidays in Australia that it's better to go and not regret it than to regret not going. In a situation where you are concerned and money issues are added, thinking about flight expenses and living expenses on top of that can make it a bit difficult to make a decision. However, Assist Card provides support for airfare when returning early, which serves as a backup for my experience. So, it's insurance for my experience. But please, don't create an experience like mine where you just sign up for the cheapest insurance without a guarantee. For the sake of my viewers and subscribers, Assist Card offers a 10% discount coupon.

You issued the coupon. If you sign up using this coupon, the financial burden will be greatly reduced. So, those who need it, please make sure to check the details. Lastly, do you know that the size of Australia is 77 times larger than that of Korea, but the population is half of Korea's? In other words, because the land is so vast, there are many places you can't go without a car, but the population is small, meaning that public transportation is not as abundant as in Korea. Before coming to Australia, I even took the written test to get a driver's license. However, a friend told me, Even if you get a driver's license, you won't have time to practice driving. What will you do in Australia? I thought what my friend said made sense, so I didn't get the license. And I have been regretting it ever since. I would have practiced driving for a few tens of minutes in Australia, even if it meant taking the test.

I should have come. Traveling is difficult without a car, not to mention finding a job, and even living is really tough. High-paying jobs are quite far away or concentrated on the outskirts of the city. But if you don't have a car, you can't go. Only people with cars can apply. Even if it's not a high-paying job, you can't work if it doesn't start in the early morning or end late at night because there is no public transportation. Even if you get a job in the city using Uber, you still have to walk 20 minutes to the bus stop or 15 minutes to the train station from your workplace or home. It may not seem like a big deal, but walk for 15 to 20 minutes under the Australian sun. Even though there are various public transportation options, there are public transportation with low frequencies.

It was very cheap and the condition was also good, but it was a bit far from the city. It took about 20 minutes to walk to the train station, so there was no way to take the train on days like that. And it took about 15 minutes to walk to the mart. It's nothing when going for 15 minutes, but when coming back, carrying water, rice, and heavy things like that, huffing and puffing, I couldn't even climb up. But taking an Uber for that seems a bit too much. So, I couldn't go grocery shopping and ended up ordering Uber Eats every day. No matter how cheap the house is, money keeps going out for Uber rides, breaking a few hundred dollars each time. So, in the end, even though the house was very cheap, I ended up moving to a very expensive house in the city center. So, in the end, I moved from that house to a very expensive one in the city center.

Feeling very restricted and with many limitations in daily life, there are many constraints to follow. So, if possible, make sure to get your driver's license and convert it to an international driver's license. Since Australia has opposite traffic directions compared to Korea, after coming to Australia, please make sure to thoroughly attend the driving license training and drive safely to seize more opportunities. Today, I organized five things I struggled with and regretted before coming to Australia. I hope you all prepare this part carefully so that you can live in Australia without anxiety and regrets. Goodbye.

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Essential Tips for a Working Holiday in Australia

Managing a Korean phone number is crucial for accessing Korean services and financial tasks from abroad, so it's recommended to keep the number active or switch to a second SIM card.

Bringing sufficient initial capital is important for settling down in Australia, as starting a farm job may not immediately provide substantial income.

It's essential to carefully consider individual financial comfort and prepare accordingly for a working holiday in Australia.

Financial Preparation Tips for Moving to a New House

It's recommended to bring around $1,000 for the security deposit and $600 for two weeks' rent when moving to a new house.

Additionally, it's advisable to prepare around $1200 for a month's rent, as some landlords collect rent monthly.

When moving to Australia, it's suggested to budget 1.

5 to 2 times the living expenses of your home country and to have at least $5,000 in your account for the working holiday visa.

Lastly, it's crucial to have traveler's insurance when relocating to a new country, especially for medical matters.

The Importance of Travel Insurance for Medical Care Abroad

Joining travel insurance is crucial when seeking medical treatment abroad, as the costs can be significantly higher than in your home country.

The medical system in a foreign country may be complex and different from what you are used to, making it essential to have the right insurance for assistance and reimbursement.

Specialized travel insurance, such as Assist Card, can provide 24-hour consultation and help navigate the unfamiliar medical system, offering a sense of security for working holiday visa holders.

The Benefits of Assist Card Insurance for Working Holidaymakers in Australia

Assist Card insurance provides a guarantee for hospital expenses, offers a simple refund process without mobile authentication, and includes support for early return airfare for working holidaymakers in Australia.

The insurance also offers a 10% discount coupon to reduce financial burden and is recommended for those in need of reliable coverage.

The sparse population and vast land of Australia make a car valuable for transportation, highlighting the importance of considering the need for a driver's license before the trip.

Challenges of Living in Australia Without a Car

Living in Australia without a car makes it difficult to travel, find a job, and access high-paying job opportunities.

The limited public transportation and long distances make it hard to commute, leading to reliance on expensive Uber rides.

As a result, the lack of a car can significantly restrict daily life and lead to unexpected expenses, ultimately pushing people to move to more expensive housing in the city center.