Many of you may wonder what RSA, ABN or rego mean. These words or abbreviations, which are mostly specific to Australia, can be a little complicated to understand at first. In this article I will give you some explanations that I am sure will help you out.

 

ABN or Australian Business Number: name used for your salary

status when you work for yourself. Any employer can ask you

to have your ABN. This implies that you will have to declare and

pay your taxes yourself at the end of the financial year (taxes are

not deducted from the gross pay in that case), you will not be

covered by the employer's insurance if you happen to have an

accident at work, and the employer will not pay any contribution

towards your superannuation. So it is important that you ask

to get paid more than on casual status because there is no

insurance or superannuation contribution from the employer.

 

Blue Card: This blue card indicates that the government gives you permission to work in a supportive and safe environment with children in Queensland. You can apply online by typing "Blue card application" on Google. This card is required if you want to work in areas related to children. Cost in 2018: $ 87.20.

 

Casual rate: Working on a "casual" basis is very common in Australia. This means that you are paid per hour without being entitled to any annual leave or sick leave, but instead you will get paid 15-25% more (called "casual loading") than someone working part-time or full-time.

 

Bin / bucket / piece rate: When you want to work in farms (especially to get your second year visa in Australia) you will notice that many picking jobs offer you a pay per bin or bucket or piece rate. This means that you will get paid according to your productivity. Productivity does not always mean that you are not going to earn anything but really depends on your physical and mental condition. I saw this guy picking oranges for example, he was picking 10 bins a day by himself, whilst the two of us were only picking 8 a day! And then, there were other people who only picked 4 bins between the two of them. This has to show you that it varies a lot. Taxes are generally pre paid by the employer (called PAYG) when working in farms, so you should be able to see your gross and nett pay on your payslip.

 

Hi vis vest: abbreviation for High Visibility Vest. This jacket / t-shirt / coat ... of orange or yellow reflective colour is often requested to be worn while working on farms, driving buses or other machinery, factories and in construction. The equipment can be purchased at Bunnings, Kmart, Big W or Target, to name the cheapest options.

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Midges / sand flies: I am not an insect expert so I can't tell the

difference between midges and sand flies. What I do know is

that they are small bloodsuckers, which make you scratch

between 2 minutes or 3 days, depending on the person!

Often located in hot and murky or muddy places, midges and

sandflies bites can be avoided by spraying Bushman or

Aerogard on exposed skin. Prefer the Bushman if you are

prone to insect bites even if it is more expensive and smells bad.

 

Patrolled beach / swim between flags: this means that the

beach is supervised by lifeguards and you have to swim

between the flags. The currents can be quite strong at the beach so it is better to swim on a "patrolled beach". If it is not supervised it is best not to go for a swim or it is at your own risk.

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PAYG or Pay As You Go: here we talk about payroll. PAYG is the name for the taxes that are pre paid for the employee by the employer. Gross income - PAYG = Nett income. At the end of the financial year, June 30th, you will do your "tax return" to see if you have paid too much or not enough tax throughout the year according to your total income. I will detail some examples on a future article.

 

Rego or registration: this is the car registration. The rules and costs vary depending on the state in which you are located (for example, type on Google "rego nsw or rego qld" for more information). The rego is to be paid for 6 months or for the whole year in advance. It should costs you around $ 600 to $ 800 a year, transferable at the time of resale.

 

Roadworthy: this is in regards to the purchase and the sale of vehicles and, in some states, it is compulsory in order to obtain the registration of the vehicle. Passing a "roadworthy" means that the vehicle is safe to be on the road in Australia, it's a safety matters (brakes, seat belts, lights...). This certificate is also required when buying or selling a vehicle in most states.

 

RSA or Responsible Service of Alcohol: this certificate can be obtained online (about $25) and will allow you to work in jobs associated with alcohol, for example barman, waiter, etc ... Please note each state in Australia have their own RSA certificates and requirements.

 

RSL or Returned and Services League of Australia: Australians may tell you to go to the RSL for a hearty meal at a good price, often $ 10-15 per meal. The RSL supports the veterans from the war.

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Superannuation: this is the contribution the employer pays (9.5% of you your pay in 2017) for the employee's retirement. This money is put into an account where the money is used on the stock exchange and the fluctuation of the market means the money should increase by the age of retirement. For example. my money in superannuation has increased by 25% in 10 years. This does not really interest travelers, however you can recover your superannuation amount when you leave Australia minus 65% taxes. You can choose your superannuation or go with the one suggested by your employer (once again if you work under ABN you won't have to provide it). Everyone has their own reasons for choosing a superannuation, I personally do not see the difference especially if you stay in Australia for a short period of time.

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Swimming enclosure: did you say a swimming net? Yes that's right! When you are in a place where there are crocs and jellyfish, meaning the northern part of Australia, you will find swimming enclosures where you can swim safely. I recommend to use them because this is real! There are people every year who get stung by jellyfish and end up in hospital in serious condition. And should I mention the croc attacks?

 

Tax return or Tax back: this is part of the taxation system in

Australia. This is called tax return although sometimes it

should be called tax payment! Simply put, depending on the

amount of money earned during the tax year you have to pay

taxes to the government.

If you have already paid all your taxes using PAYG (explained

above, taxes prepaid by the employer) you will not have to pay

anything and won't get a refund.

If you have not paid enough taxes during the year you will have

to pay taxes.

And if you have paid too much you will be refunded the difference.

With the new tax system since 2017, people under a Working Holiday Visa are taxed at 15% all the time using the PAYG system (if the employer is registered, so check first) which is the amount due at the end of the financial year to the government, so you shouldn't have to pay or get refunded, which makes things easier for the government.

 

TFN or Tax File Number: this precious number will allow you to work in Australia without being taxed a fortune! You can apply upon arrival in Australia on the government website:

https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/tax-file-number/apply-for-a-tfn/ and go on "Foreign passport holders or temporary visitors".

The TFN will be required each time you start a new job by completing a "Tax File Declaration" if you are employed (but not if you work under your ABN of course). You will have 2 weeks to provide your TFN to the employer otherwise you will be taxed twice as much!

 

White Card: This card is required to work in the construction industry in Australia. It proves that you have the fundamental knowledge to work safely. The White Card can be obtained online for about $50.

 

Do you have words that you do not know the meaning of? Let me know and I will try to explain. Thank you for sharing this article to pass on the information.

 

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