I often receive emails asking me how to get started as a digital nomad in Australia. Well, it’s simple really. Get an online job and start travelling around Australia.

In this blog post I will provide information on how to travel Australia as a digital nomad or online remote worker. I have been a digital nomad for a long time and never realised it. Yep, I work online as a travel blogger and proofreader and I travel Australia. It really didn’t have a name when I started travel writing some 30 years ago. So whether you are an overseas visitor or an Australian citizen, here’s my digital nomads guide to Australia.

What is a Digital Nomad

A definition of a digital nomad is someone who works online to make money to sustain a nomadic lifestyle. Basically, it is someone who works online and travels. Now Australia doesn’t have a digital nomad visa like many other countries who are introducing one. So overseas digital nomads will need to ply their online trade while visiting Australia on a 90-day tourist visa or even a working holiday visa. Australian citizens of course, do not need any visa to be a digital nomad in Australia.

How to Become a Digital Nomad in Australia

Becoming a digital nomad in Australia is quite easy for those who already work online. Then all you need is the right equipment that will travel with you. Of course during your travels you need to make time to work so you can make an income to continue travelling Australia. If you don’t have an online job at this time, but want one, here are some of the most popular work people do online. And if you don’t get a job online, there are physical or in-person travel jobs you can pick up as you travel. Click here to read my posts on Aussie travel jobs.

What are Digital Nomad Jobs

Digital nomad jobs are basically any professions or jobs that can be done online, and ones that can be combined with traveling. They include, but not limited to, teaching English online, being a VA (virtual assistant), website designer, social media manager, travel blogger, create and sell ebooks or a product or a course, do accounting and/or book keeping, translating, IT and graphic designing and drop shipping to name a few. Click here to read my post on 18 Digital Nomad and Online Jobs to do while travelling Australia.

Pros and Cons of being a Digital Nomad in Australia

The Pros: 

• You can live in any part of Australia and make money to support your new lifestyle. 
• Stay as long as you like in one place and immerse yourself into the local culture. 
• You can move on to another place whenever you like. You could follow the sun if you want!
• You can travel with your accommodation. Many live in vans, tents and tow caravans. It’s a much simpler life!

The Cons:

• To fund your lifestyle you need to work to enable your Australian nomadic life. The amount of work you need to do will depend on how much income you are generating and how much you need to live your digital nomadic lifestyle in Australia. 
• Your client/s may give you a deadline and you have to work at inconvenient hours to get the job done.
• Wifi not the greatest. Even though Australia has introduced NBN (National Broadband Network), Wifi is still not as fast as some other countries. Also, you may not get coverage everywhere you go in Australia. If you are relying on fast internet speeds to run your online business you will need to do some research as to what you need and how you will access it. 

How to find a Digital Nomad Job

Before I get into the types of jobs you can do as a digital nomad in Australia, I will answer the question “How do I find a Digital Nomad Job”? So here goes, here are my suggestions on how to find a digital nomad job or remote job.

• Ask your current employer if you can work remotely. This can sometimes be an option but if not I suggest:
• Set up a website and/or a social media channel and market, market, market yourself and your services or products.
• Approach potential clients – get yourself a media kit which sets out your rates and send out emails to targeted clients.
• Register a profile through specific websites – there are many online sites to register with such as Fivver, Airtasker, Upwork, Freelancer, FlexJobs and Remote to name a few. 

Tip: When just starting out as a digital nomad I would suggest you choose one service to offer. Concentrate on that to grow it before expanding. It is better to be a specialist at one rather than mediocre at many.

How to be a Digital Nomad

In my opinion to be a digital nomad you need three things.

• skills that you can use on an online platform. 
• the right equipment that allows you to work online.
• a comfortable workplace

Skills Needed to Work Online

Everyone has skills, even if you don’t realise it. You then adapt these skills to an online platform. And if you don’t have skills you can always do a course to help you get skills. For instance, I like to write and travel so I did a travel writing course and then a proofreading and editing course. Now I offer writing services and proofreading skills via an online platform, my website. And I have a number of clients that I provide travel articles for and also I proofread other people’s work. The best part is, I get paid to do these things and even better is I can do them from wherever I may be.

Equipment Required to Work Online

The other thing you need to be a digital nomad is the right equipment. Depending on what digital job you intend to do you will need equipment. Equipment I suggest includes a laptop with appropriate software. A powerbank to ensure electronics are always charged. An electronics carrier bag to keep electronic bits and pieces in. A camera or GoPro with accessories. A laptop stand to help you work ergonomically and comfortably. And access to a fast wifi connection either at your accommodation, in your van, in a coffee shop or in a co-working space.

A Comfortable Work Space Or Home Away From Home Office

As well as having the right equipment for your digital nomad life you also need a comfortable environment to work in. This can be in your van, hostel, coffee shop, while housesitting or at a co-working space. As you will be spending your time working on a laptop you need to ensure your furniture is ergonomically friendly. As I spend a lot of time with my laptop I have discovered this great laptop stand as shown above. It helps me be more comfortable whether I am working in bed, a lounge chair or at a table.

Once you know the skill or skills, your equipment and your work space you can begin your digital nomad lifestyle. You might want to set up your digital business before you get on the road. Then you can concentrate on making money while you are travelling.

Final words on being a Digital Nomad in Australia

I hope this post has helped you gain a clearer picture of the possibilities of becoming a digital nomad, or not while travelling Australia. There is no harm in travelling around Australia purely as a traveller who has saved and resigned from their job and then hit the road. If the digital nomad lifestyle doesn’t eventuate you can always pick up physical work along the way. Head over to my Job Types page to see what jobs you could get. Most of all, enjoy your time living, working and playing in Australia – however you do it.