Intrinsic | for students and youth

You may undertake any type of work of a temporary or casual nature. However, employment must NOT exceed six months with any one employer.

AIFS will assist you in searching jobs when you arrive in Sydney, you will have access to the following services designed to help AIFS participants find work and you will be given information on and handy tips for working all around Australia via the AIFS Employment Services:

• Arrival Orientation: Overview of employment opportunities and types of work most AIFS participants can find in Australia
• Job Workshop: Practical work information and Résumé / cover letter advice and checking
• Job Desk: One-on-one consultations with AIFS’s Consultants
• Employment Board: Updated daily with job advertisements
• Workabout Australia Book: Useful tool to find fruit picking work
• Free access to Harvest Hotline: Connect you with thousands of fruit picking and farm jobs all around Australia
• Email newsletter: Includes updated information on new positions
• Email & phone support: Get support from AIFS staff and the Job desk

You may also find some discounted courses at AIFS which might be helpful when you are seeking jobs:

• WWOOF membership: Guaranteed volunteer work on farms all around Australia
• Farm courses: Help you get the skills you need to work on a farm and get a job
• English language courses: AIFS staff can help you to choose the best English course for your needs to improve your English
• Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) course: This course can help you to get the certification for working in all hospitality positions around Australia

WWOOF - Willing Worker on Organic Farm. Willing working means helping with the everyday work that needs to be done on the farm. There is no payment for your help - it is not a job - it is an exchange. You exchange your help for being fed and accommodated in your hosts’ home. This is a cheap way to see & meet real Aussie, involved membership fee (AUD50 for 1 year) & transport costs only.

AIFS will provide 2 job offers for you. If you decide that you cannot work for that employer, or you lose your job, you still have another job offered by AIFS. But if you lose the last job offer, you will have to find the job by yourself through other channels.

If you are using an HKSAR passport, you can apply for the eVisa online via the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) website. Electronic applications can be lodged at www.immi.gov.au by selecting Online Services (eVisas) from the main menu. You will need a visa label placed in your passport to show employers you have the right to work. To get the visa label, you can either:

1. Get your visa label printed before at the Sydney airport. You will be directed to the visa label desk after you have had your passport stamped, or

2. Get your visa label printed at the nearest office of the Immigration Office in Australia. To be issued with this document, you will need to show the Immigration Officer with your passport and the document you received from the DIAC (via mail or email) to confirm that the visa has been granted

The Immigration Office in Sydney is located at 26 Lee Street, next to the Central Station and is open Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri from 9:00am to 4:00pm.

You are responsible for your accommodation while you are in Australia. However, you will be arranged to stay at BASE Hostel for the first 2 days, it is within walking distance to AIFS. To check out more for BASE Hostel.

Even though it is your responsibility to make your housing arrangement, we will assist you to find a place in Australia.

It is under Australian laws that people on a Working Holiday Visa will have to pay tax from the very first dollar they earn, at the rate of 29% for each dollar earned under AUD20,700. The rate increases to a maximum of 48.5% for each dollar you earned over AUD50,000.

You should apply for a Tax File Number (TFN) as soon as possible after your arrival in Australia. If you do not obtain a TFN within 28 days of starting work, you will be taxed at the highest rate from the first dollar that you earn (48.5%) rather than at the rate of 29%.

A Tax File Number (TNF) is a unique number issued by the Tax Office to individuals and organizations for identification and record keeping purposes. If you don’t, you’ll be taxed at the rate of 48.5 % - a huge whack out of your wages. As long as you have a TFN, you’ll be taxed at the much lower rate of 29%. You can obtain a TFN online. If you find a job quicker than expected, don’t panic - you have 28 days in which to obtain a TFN.

When you leave the job, make sure your employer fills out a payment summary and the amount of tax withheld from your weekly pay packet. You should be able to claim back some of that money when you leave Australia. Consult a tax accountant (e.g. www.taxback.com) or contact the Australian Taxation Office. In Australia, the tax year ends on June 30 and you need to lodge your tax return by October 31.
For details, please visit www.ato.gov.au.

The application for a TFN can be made online on www.ato.gov.au or through one of the branches of the Australian Taxation Office. A TFN is usually issued between two to four weeks after submission. In the meantime, you will be given a receipt or receipt number to show your employer, entitling you to be taxed at 29% from the day you lodged your TFN application.

A Tax Claim is actually a “tax declaration” which entitles you to a refund only if you have paid more tax than you owe. You will have to pay additional tax if you didn’t pay enough while you were working. And it is compulsory whether or not you think you might be entitled to a refund.

• At the end of each financial year (between 1st of July and 31st of October)
• At any time of the year, if you are about to leave Australia. You will need to write a note explaining that you are about to leave the country and do not plan to come back to work in Australia within the next few months.

* Warning: if you were working in Australia before the 1st of July and didn’t lodge a Tax Claim between the 1st of July and the 31st of October, and you wait till you leave Australia to lodge your Tax Claim, you can be charged interest for not having lodged your Tax Claim in a timely manner of you owned additional tax.

Failing to do so may jeopardize your chances of obtaining another working visa in the future.

The program is open all year round.

The visa allows a stay up to 12 months from the first date of arrival to Australia. In 2004, the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs announced that from November 1, 2005 Working Holiday Makers may apply for a second Working Holiday visa where they can demonstrate that they have undertaken a minimum of 3 months' seasonal work in regional Australia. There will be no change to other existing requirements for grant of a Working Holiday visa and the countries with which Australia has reciprocal Working Holiday arrangements will remain the same. Successful applicants for a second Working Holiday visa would be allowed a further 12 months stay in Australia.

• Apply for the Working Holiday Visa
• Purchase Insurance (not just medical, but also liability)
• Sufficient funds to Australia
• Your updated CV / resume & cover letter on a floppy disk
• A good travel guide (e.g. Lonely Planet Australia)

You should bring enough money to pay for food and housing for your first month in Australia. This is important, because you may not be able to find a suitable job or receive your first pay check until after you've been working for two weeks. As a general rule, you should have at least AUD2,000 when you arrive in Australia.

AIFS will assist you to open a local bank account – Westpac, in Australia. You will be able to pick up your bank card and banking documents at the arrival orientation. There will be a small monthly charge for your bank account.

Yes, you can change your departure date. However, there will be an amendment fee of HKD150 each time. And new booking must be made at least 5 weeks before the new date of arrival.

Cancellation is accepted at a minimum of 2 weeks prior departure. You can get a refund, however there will be a cancellation fee of HKD1,000.

An orientation at AIFS is compulsory, as it will help you to adjust more quickly and comfortably to your new environment. This will also give you the opportunity to meet fellow AIFS program participants. Dates & times of orientation will be provided to you before departure. Be sure to bring proof that you are a participant on AIFS’s program and your passport to the orientation. You will also be given a membership card during the orientation. This card provides you access to the resource centre, an international rechargeable phone loaded with a credit of AUD5.00 and free internet time each day at AIFS.

When you arrive at the Sydney International Airport, there will be someone to pick you up to your first 2 night accommodation – BASE Hostel, which is 15 minutes walk to AIFS. You will need to attend an arrival orientation at AIFS the next day to help you settle into Australian life. You will receive useful information like:

1. Life in Australia
2. Finding work in Australia
3. Finding accommodations in Australia
4. Taxation
5. Bank and money issue
6. Health and safety
7. Getting around in Australia
8. Courses & adventure activities

• Since you are not an Australian resident, you will be unable to get a contract with any mobile companies, but pre-paid mobile phone packages and SIM card packages are available at AIFS as well as other mobile network operators across the country.
• All pre-paid packages include a handset, a SIM card and a recharge card. SIM card packages include a SIM card and a recharge card. Prices vary with different companies; please check with AIFS.
• If you plan to bring your mobile phone to Australia with a SIM card package, please make sure your mobile phone is not locked by your service provider, if this lock is not removed you will not be able to use your phone in Australia.

• Accommodation information
• Employment information and support
• Bank account preparation
• 24-hour emergency line
• Photocopy and fax services
• 30 minutes of free Internet access per day
• AIFS ID and recharge card (with AUD5 telephone credit)
• Free mail forwarding for 2 months
• Mail storage service for 12 months
• VIP discount card
• Travel desk with AIFS exclusive discounts
• Toll free phone booth
• Weekly city walking tour
• Regular social events
• Access to Australian newspapers, magazines and AIFS library

AIFS will assist participants with any medical or non-medical emergency on AIFS’s 24-hour emergency hotline.
24-hour Emergency Line: 0407-708-529

1. You are seriously ill or injured
2. You are the victim of a serious crime
3. You are arrested

Non-Emergency assistance during office hours: 02-8235-7099

1. Theft or minor crime
2. Housing concerns
3. Loss of passport
4. Insurance and visa enquiries
5. Legal information and advice
6. Tax information
7. Problems with employers

Email us at info@intrinsic.com.hk or call us at (852) 2312 0077 for further enquiries.