Surprisingly, not all said yes.
While we’ve all probably entertained the thought of working overseas at least once in our lives, the dream of a bustling cosmopolitan lifestyle is often slashed by the reality of cost and risk.
However, with Australia’s new Work and Holiday Visa Programme, young Singaporeans might actually be able to get the best of both worlds – to work and travel at the same time.
The programme, which was announced on 1 June during Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s visit to Singapore, will allow Singaporeans between the age of 18 to 30 to work and live in Australia for up to a year.
The agreement, which will roll out on 1 August this year, aims to foster greater ties between Singapore and Australia through cultural exchanges.
Mixed Response
While the programme might potentially provide young working adults with a refreshing change or give graduates a unique start to their careers, the general response to the programme was mixed.
Photo Courtesy of Michaela Yang
Although 23 year-old university undergraduate Michaela Yang admired the work culture down under, she admitted that the arrangement would not be beneficial in the long term. She said:
“During my exchange in Australia, I was able to see the work environment (in Australia) first hand. Compared to Singapore, it’s a lot less taxing as the job is respectful of your work life boundaries.
“That said, I wouldn’t do it for a long time because while it’s fun to be in a different environment and a great way to gain exposure, it is ultimately harder to gain career advancement overseas (within that one year).”
According to the official website. there are a wide array of jobs available across the country, spanning across different industries and skillsets.
For example, you could be a carpenter in Melbourne, a marketing manager in Sydney, a foreman in Perth, or even a traffic controller in Brisbane.
Photo Courtesy of Kelvin Lau
University student Kelvin Lau, however, shared that he would only be open to the idea later in his career.
“I would definitely consider this, but probably only when I’m older.
“It would be more ideal to do this when I want to take a break from working, or when im in between switching careers”
Economically Attractive?
Photo Courtesy of Charles Heng
For Charles Heng, a 24 year-old polytechnic graduate working in the design industry, he felt that the programme just wasn’t attractive enough in the long term:
“Although people I know are considering it, I wouldn’t do it because I would be aiming for a full time job and the pay described just isn’t enough for me”
The Australian minimum wage is currently AU $17.70/ hr, which means that a person within the programme should be earning an average of $20/hr.
How Do You Apply?
Before you pack your bags, book your tickets and bid your friends goodbye, there are several requirements to take note of.
Firstly, you must successfully apply for the Work and Holiday Visa (Subclass 462), which stipulates proof of english proficiency among other things.
Also, apart from the abovementioned age range, you would also need to be a Singaporean with a polytechnic diploma or a university degree, or at least the equivalent of two years of full-time tertiary study at a polytechnic or university.
If you’re still convinced, you can find out more about the jobs available and the programme here.
