We are forever hearing about the number of accidents that are caused on the UK's roads and the desperate need to decrease it. While the most publicised reasons for crashes are likely risk-taking young drivers or drink driving, a substantial proportion of accidents happen because motorists have become distracted while driving. Our ever-busy lives mean that we are always on the go and trying to do more than one thing at once, even when we are sitting in the driving seat.Mobile phones are usually cited as being the main cause of distraction for motorists, which is the reason that the use of hand-held phones while driving has been banned since 2003. Subsequent changes in the law have seen the financial penalties being increased dramatically for committing this offence in order to provide a significant level of deterrence. Drivers now face a fine, points on their licence and a resulting increase in their car insurance if they are caught using a hand-held mobile will driving.However, hand-held mobile phones are not the only distracting thing in the car, although it is one of the few things that action has been taken to legislate specifically against. Motorists who are distracted by eating or drinking, operating a sat nav system, trying to control rowdy children in the back or fiddling with their stereo are all at a higher risk of having an accident than those who are concentrating solely on the task at hand.Most drivers will admit to having been distracted by one or more of these activities at some point because they are such everyday concerns and drivers are just used to carrying them out. One of the commonest activities is changing a CD or the radio station and it is pretty much accepted amongst motorists that this can be done without worrying since stereos have been installed in cars for so long.Unfortunately, even a simple activity such as this can cause motorists to divert their attention from the road for too long. Dangerous situations can develop very quickly on the roads, especially at high speeds, and it only takes a few seconds of looking away for a preventable accident to become unpreventable.An analysis of accidents in America has shown that about 11% of distracted driving accidents occur because the motorist was using his stereo. A run down of accidents in London showed a similar percentage, with 181 accidents occurring in 2002 thanks to the motorist being distracted by action inside the vehicle.Turning to further international research, an Australian study focused on identifying exactly how distracting audio systems are. It found that drivers who were distracted by a car stereo braked 10km per hour slower than those who were not distracted at all. To put this into perspective, the research also tested the reactions of motorists who were using hands-free mobile phones and discovered that these drivers braked 6km per hour slower than those who were concentrating.It is highly unlikely that the authorities will take the extreme action of banning stereos from cars so what can be done to safeguard drivers and put car insurance companies' minds at rest about the danger of distraction?Well, new technology could well hold the answer. Intel has developed a chip that utilises voice recognition technology in order to play songs on demand, which could mean the end of taking your eyes off the road to fiddle around with your stereo to get your favourite CD to play.The company demonstrated the abilities of a prototype chip which selected the correct song to play when asked to. Whilst admitting accents and incorrect pronunciations are one of the most significant hurdles to overcome with this technology, the developers expressed their conviction that the first copies of this software would hit the shelves in 2008.It is likely to be quite some time before this kind of technology is fitted as standard in cars as they roll off the production line. Instead, most consumers wanting to be able to change CD without even touching a button will be able to purchase the device from the shops and then fit it to their car.Whilst this sounds like a blessing for those wanting to see a drop in accident rates - motor insurance companies and car owners alike - the news isn't all good. This same technology may well be utilised in conjunction with ultra mobile PCs and Bluetooth gateways to allow drivers to access the internet, their calendar and even send emails whilst travelling down the motorway at 70mph. Sadly, it is hard to imagine that this will be less distracting than hitting the fast forward button on your stereo to find your favourite track.
A Guide to Stability Control
Stability Control has been touted as the most important automotive safety device since the seatbelt.Governments in North America, Europe and Australia have plans to make the technology compulsory on all new vehicles because studies have shown it can reduce the likelihood of single-vehicle crashes and prevent roll-overs.It is designed to prevent cars from an unintended skid in a bend. In most cases the technology works without the driver knowing that he or she has had a brush with danger.In essence, protects drivers from minor indiscretions, such as when suddenly finding themselves on wet or slippery pavement, or in an unexpectedly tight corner.However, Stability Control does not (and nor does it promise to) over-rule the laws of physics. If you're travelling way too fast for a corner or for the conditions, you may still run off the road.Stability Control is an extremely worthwhile technology, but it is important to note that some systems are more effective than others.Car makers use different names to describe the technology; there are more than 20 acronyms across the industry.was originally called ESP, for Electronic Stability Program, a deliberate pun on Extra Sensory Perception because the technology uses sensors to monitor driving conditions and driver behaviour.Stability Control first appeared on a production car in 1995, on the luxury flagship sedan, the Mercedes-Benz S Class, although the technology was developed on its behalf by electronics company Bosch and appeared on other vehicles soon after.Today, the technology is most commonly called ESC, for Electronic although in recent times it has simply been called.To understand in the simplest terms how Stability Control works we need a brief history lesson.The roots of Stability Control started with anti-lock brakes, or ABS (Anti-lock Braking System).In an emergency stop, ABS systems automatically clamp and release the brakes up to 20 times per second while the driver is applying full brake pedal pressure.Once again, this often occurs without the driver necessarily knowing that the technology is at work.The benefit is straightforward: ABS prevents the brakes (and therefore the tyres) from 'locking' and gives the driver the ability to steer around an obstacle. It is especially helpful in wet weather braking.For ABS to work, cars had to be fitted with extra sensors to monitor the speed of each of the four wheels.Engineers eventually found a new use for these sensors and created what became known as Traction Control.This is where the speed of the driven wheels is constantly compared to the speed of the other two wheels.When one pair of wheels is travelling faster than the other, the system intervenes and applies the brakes and/or automatically cuts engine power until the vehicle's speed is reduced, and all four wheels are again travelling at the same speed.For example, in a rear-drive car, if the rear wheels started to spin at a faster rate than the front wheels (which indicate the real speed the vehicle is travelling), then traction control would be activated in milliseconds.The same thing happens if the front wheels spin faster than the rear wheels in a front-drive car (when equipped with Traction Control).Traction Control is typically most useful at detecting unintended wheelspin when accelerating from a standstill, such as when trying to drive up a steep wet slope, or when accelerating aggressively out of a corner.ABS and Traction Control then became the building blocks for Stability Control. Once these sensors were in place, it was simply a matter of adding a steering wheel sensor, a throttle sensor and a sensor which detects how much pitch or lean the car is experiencing in a corner.Engineers also found a way to apply the brakes to each individual wheel, to help bring the car under control in the safest and most effective manner possible.Modern versions of the technology is so good, a race driver in a car without Stability Control would unlikely out-manoeuvre the same car with a well-calibrated Stability Control system, because the system can do what the driver can't: brake individual wheels.All this requires an incredible amount of computer power.Stability Control systems constantly monitor and process hundreds of times per second the following information:Vehicle speed (wheel sensors)Steering input (steering wheel sensor)Acceleration (throttle sensor)Braking (brake sensor)Pitch or 'lean' of the car (yaw sensor)Thanks to complex algorithms and thousands of hours of tests and calibrations, engineers develop Stability Control systems to suit each vehicle's characteristics, such as weight, mass, engine power and tyre grip.Some cars are programmed for conservative drivers and so the Stability Control system is prone to intervene at the earliest hint of a skid.Some cars, particularly performance vehicles, often have a slightly higher threshold because they have a higher level of grip.Despite the varying levels of effectiveness, Stability Control is still proven to be a life-saver.Overseas studies of crashes involving cars equipped with Stability Control claim there have been reductions of between 35 and 50 per cent in serious injury single-vehicle collisions.This is one of the reasons that the European New Car Assessment Program (ENCAP) and the Australian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) recently decided that only vehicles with Stability Control could be awarded a Five Star safety rating.As with its European affiliate, ANCAP is an independent body that crash tests vehicles to higher standards than those imposed by Governments.It is intended to be a consumer guide to car safety and most top-selling models are tested.ANCAP is supported by Australian and New Zealand automobile clubs, the State government road and transport authorities of NSW, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, Tasmania, Western Australia, the New Zealand Government, the Victorian TAC, NRMA Insurance and the FIA Foundation.When checking the safety rating of a new vehicle on the ANCAP website be sure to check if a vehicle has Stability Control (some older Five Star ratings didn't require the technology).Most importantly, though, when you're looking to buy your next car, check with the vehicle manufacturer that the exact model you are buying has Stability Control.Most modern luxury cars have Stability Control as standard, but on more affordable vehicles the technology may be standard on some variants and optional or not available on others.
NRMA Insurance is a provider of car insurance, home insurance, motorcycle insurance, business insurance, health insurance, travel insurance, boat insurance and caravan insurance in NSW, ACT & TAS.
Preparing Your Visa Requirements For Australia
So, you're eyeballing the visa requirements for Australia, and you're worrying you will be left elbow-deep in a process that gets more and more difficult with each step. Well, you can forget being nervous now. Applying for Australian visas is much easier than you think. Do you know you can even apply online? Here's how you go about it, and what documents to prepare.1. Prepare your passport from your home country. If your passport will expire in six months or less, renew it before you ready other visa requirements for Australia.2. Get a copy of your diploma. This should be from the highest educational level you completed. Americans should present at least a high school diploma while residents of Chile, Thailand, Turkey, and Malaysia must show a post-secondary education diploma.3. Download your own copy of Form 1163i. See if any medical exam requirement is applicable to your application. Note that the requirement can vary depending on where you lived in the last five years and what type of work you will be doing in Australia. Get a medical exam, if necessary, and have your doctor prepare a report which you can show to immigration officials.4. Get a health insurance to cover you for the duration of your Australian visit. If you have the money for it, buy a long-term insurance that you can use online.5. Prepare a police-or penal clearance-certificate. You will need one for every place you stayed in for the past 12 months.6. Phone the Australian Immigration office assigned to your country. Ask for any special or additional requirements that may apply to you. Don't forget to ask about their accepted payment method.7. Print out, and then complete, Form 1208. This is the form for the Application for Work and Holiday Visa, and you can get this from the website of Australia's Department of Immigration and Citizenship.8. Make certified copies of each page of your passport. Don't forget to get two passport-sized photos taken.9. Prepare all of the documents listed above. Then, send them-along with your passport's certified copies and $195, in the form of payment appropriate-to the Australian Immigration Office nearest you. Remember, send certified copies, not the actual passport.After preparing and submitting your visa requirements for Australia, it's time for the most difficult step in the whole process: waiting. You'll have to wait for approval before you do anything. On the upside, you won't actually need your visa to be stamped on your passport. Visa approval is electronically relayed to border authorities. Good luck!
Stacey Prieur is the co-creator and co-host of an exciting new Australian travel show. On their website, you can get your hands on loads of information including the visa requirements for Australia. You can learn more about their exciting Australian adventures and get access to tons of helpful tips at JillandStaceyDoTheRoo.com.
50 Ways to Save Money
There are countless ways to save your business money. Unfortunately, many Australian businesses are overlooking them, or simply don't have the time to go searching them out.Buyer's remorse is not a new idea. You may have experienced it right after a friend revealed he'd paid $100 less for his state-of-the-art golf clubs than you did. But what's $100 between friends? Better luck next time, you think.Now consider how you'd feel if the same friend told you he was saving $100,000 a year on running costs for his business. Suddenly, buyer's remorse takes on a much more serious face.Cost cutting may not be glamorous, but it is vital to ensure the stability and progress of every business in today's competitive world. Fortunately, you don't have to do it by yourself. There are consultants, such as Expense Reduction Analysts (ERA), available to help you manage costs. They scrutinise the 'little things' that are often overlooked, and yet add up to big costs - things like stationery, printing, telecommunications, couriers...you get the picture. Once scrutinised, they offer a solution tailor-made to that company."Our clients always make the decisions about which alternatives are most suitable for them, and are included in the process all the way through," says Fred Marfleet, Chairman of ERA Australia. "But our help and guidance ensures they make the right decisions."To give you an idea of the kinds of things that a company like ERA takes into consideration when investigating a cost-management solution, we've put together a list of 50 ways in which your company might cut costs.Starting with the big picture1. Centralise purchasingYou may be buying the same goods from different suppliers! Coordinate the spending of different departments to maximise discounts through bulk purchasing power.2. Cut the paperworkRequest monthly consolidated invoices to improve cash flow and reduce administration costs.3. Ask for a reasonDon't accept a price increase without challenge.4. Get a second opinionObtain alternative quotes - on everything. Advise existing suppliers that the business is being tendered, and give them a chance to reduce their prices.5. Call in a negotiatorNever allow the person in daily contact with a supplier to negotiate price. Use the good cop/bad cop approach, calling in someone else, so that emotion is not involved in the process. This also allows the day-to-day relationship to remain unaffected.6. A beautiful friendshipBuilding good relationships with suppliers can result in reductions in costs. Ask them for suggestions on how to improve the way in which you work together. Could ordering weekly instead of daily allow them to reduce their own admin costs and enable them to pass the savings on?7. Improve cash flowReduce your stock levels, and encourage suppliers to hold stock.8. Review product specificationEnsure that products being used do not exceed requirements. Can you use second-hand pallets for transportation? Recycled toner cartridges?9. Establish a caring cultureCaring is a pre-requisite to effective cost-management. If staff and executives are complacent, it's difficult to implement savings.10. Commit to stamping out unnecessary costsLead by example and demonstrate to employees that you care about saving money, even on the smallest items.And now for the detail...11. AdvertisingDon't just take their word for it: conduct regular research to ensure that your advertising budgets are being used effectively.12. About the creative...Remember that outstanding advertising creative work generally costs no more than ordinary creative. Having said that, ensure that you are not funding the creation of campaigns that win awards, but do not sell your product!13. Bank chargesReview them regularly - at least once a quarter. Ask your bank manager to suggest ways in which you could reduce them.14. Competitive bankingWhile it's easy to be complacent and leave all your banking in the hands of one institution, it pays to shop around. Many banks specialise in different areas of expertise, and you can use that knowledge to serve your needs - and save you money. Plus, you won't be fully dependent on one bank!15. Challenge the managerWhen you receive the statement of charges from your bank, take five minutes to consider ways in which the bank has added value to your business. Challenge the bank manager to come up with five himself - and ask yourself whether his list justifies the charges.16. CleaningAsk your staff regularly whether cleaning services are meeting their requirements.17. Communicate your needsTo ensure your cleaning contract - or, in fact, any contract, meets your needs, make sure the contractor knows what you expect. Let them know if there is a problem - but also give them feedback if things are going well.18. Couriers #1Understand how your couriers charge their clients. Some charge per consignment, others per parcel. Work out which service will be most effective for you and, if necessary, switch suppliers.19. Couriers #2What's your courier company's specialty when it comes to service? Some specialise in overnight delivery, other in international distribution. Use the courier that is most appropriate for the job, as this will be most cost-effective.20. Couriers #3Planning can add up to big cost reductions in this area. Timed deliveries are significantly more expensive than next-day deliveries. How soon does it really need to be there?21. Couriers #4If you help your courier company by minimising collection and waiting time, you become a more 'attractive' account, which can be a good negotiating factor.22. Couriers #5Look at instigating standard daily courier runs, which can be negotiated over and above the rate card.23. Expiry can be expensiveBe aware of the expiry date on contracts for services such as electricity, gas, and phone. Suppliers often revert to a much higher penalty rate once the contract expires.24. Freight costsConsider handling costs and packing when putting together a consignment. Does it fill one container, or is it made up of several items that can be packed on pallets so that you can minimise transport handling costs and stock damage?25. Investigate insuranceAllow time to investigate and negotiate your insurance policy before the renewal deadline. Make a note of when policies are due - many brokers wait until so close to the renewal date to contact their clients that they leave little time for negotiation.26. Know your insurance needsHave you worked out the latest level of cover you need? Is it more or less than last year? Can you cut out brokers, have your policy repackaged, or cap excesses?27. Making spaceDo not allocate a specific car park to a specific staff member. Have seven per cent fewer car parks than the number of staff entitled to them. On any day, you'll find that there will be a certain number of absentees - you don't need to pay for empty spaces.28. Making the most of fuel cardsHave you reviewed your fuel card system? While most oil companies offer rebates, they do not do so in a directly comparable manner. Some will offer a rebate off the pump price, others choose different bases (eg, area averages) from which to make their rebate. Research will show which will work best for you.29. Owning the office equipmentTake into consideration the total cost of ownership of your office equipment for the full life of each machine. Consider not only present needs, but future ones, before you purchase new equipment. Will new equipment offer a better, alternative way of doing things?30. Office supplies #1Decide on a comprehensive product range and stick to it. Be wary of 'stationery cupboards'. While they may seem an easy way to deal with this 'chore' item, they cede control of the ordering and stocking to the stationery company.31. Office supplies #2Try suppliers' own-brand products. This can reduce costs by up to 40 per cent.32. Order it backRequest that all staff hand back the unused items of stationery lurking in their desks. You may find that you do not need to re-order for many months!33. Packaging #1Standard cartons are much more cost-effective than special-sized ones.34. Packaging #2Review your packaging - invite suppliers to make recommendations for cost reduction.35. Packaging #3Printed cartons are expensive. Consider using plain ones, and sealing with printed tape instead.36. Pesty businessCheck the hours agreed for pest control services. If the supplier is charging more for after-hours service but using safe chemicals, it may not be necessary to have the services delivered when your offices are closed.37. Pesty chargesExamine the charges from suppliers who have been in place for some years. Look out for them posting increases without changes in service specification.38. Postage #1Clean up your database to reduce returned mail and coordinate your marketing mail-outs to exceed threshold quantities.39. Postage #2Investigate alternate methods of information delivery. It may be that your message can be delivered via an alternate method to conventional mail (eg email), and there are companies that specialise in distribution methods to suit your preferences.40. Printing #1Do you really need printed envelopes, when plain might do just as well?41. Printing #2Always use standard paper sizes.42. Printing #3Order larger quantities at one time, but don't get caught out. If you only need 7000 brochures, it's still cheaper to order that number at $3.30 per unit than it is to pay for 10,000 at $2.80. Companies over-order to get the price down and then don't use the stock!43. Printing #4One way to get the best out of volume-sensitive ordering is to print the items that require the same paper stock at the same time.44. Records managementDon't continue to pay for the storage of boxes simply because you haven't worked out whether you need to keep them. Review!45. Telecommunications #1Be aware of flag falls or connection fees per call, and your call duration, when assessing telecommunications contracts. Most businesses have low call durations, which means the flag fall is a large part of the cost of the call.46. Telecommunications #2Treat loyalty discounts with caution. They usually apply to eligible calls only and amount to very little on your total bill. Check the fine print.47. Telecommunications #3Have you achieved any real savings on your phone bills over the past 12 months? How many lines do you really need? Asking yourself some questions can save you a lot of money.48. Travelling lightSavings can be found in managing your travel well. Avoid last-minute bookings - you can save more than 30 per cent by booking weeks, not days, in advance.49. Travelling oftenIf you or your staff are using a lot of hotel rooms, look at negotiating a better rate with one hotel chain.50. Workers CompensationBe aware of the rollover date on your workers comp insurance. The time to review the level of premium is before it falls due, not afterwards!Making real changesThere's a lot of food for thought in our list, but even more in this fact: experts estimate that 90 per cent of Australian businesses are overspending on day-to-day expenses - by as much as 75 per cent! Are you one of them? ERA suggests that if you answer 'yes' to any of the following, there's a good chance that you can reduce business operating costs and free up profits.Do you have a centralised purchasing system with each department having its own favourite suppliers and its own purchasing processes?Do you always seem to be purchasing in an ad-hoc, as-needs manner?Do you seem to stick to the same supplier and trust that they're giving us value for money?Got a yes or two in there? Don't be disheartened. In fact, look at the positives: chances are there's heaps of money to be saved within your company. Give ERA a call to find out how - and how much! ERA is an independent cost management consultancy and works on a 'no savings, no fee' premise. If they don't find any savings for you, you pay nothing. You have nothing to lose - except a lot of unnecessary costs!To find out more visit www.expense-reduction.com.au or call +612 9922 7999Fred Marfleet is Chairman of Expense Reduction Analysts Australia, a global franchised cost management consulting group. More details can be found at http://www.expense-reduction.net
The American Express Platinum Credit Card Is The Card Of Choice For Big Spenders And Big Rewards!
American Express is known for their high quality credit cards on various levels, from Gold packages to student designed credit cards. One of their most popular Australian choices however is the American Express Platinum credit card. The Platinum card comes equipped with many of the benefits that an individual would look for within a card, especially someone with a bigger budget with an appetite for rewards. The American Express Platinum credit card is a card that has a potentially large credit line and an even bigger rewards program. Let's take a closer look at these extraordinary benefits:The Platinum card from American Express offers up to $100,000 in credit line available dollars. While it will depend highly on your own credit history, the Platinum card is known as being one of the most generous charge cards in giving credit line increases, and this generosity is enhanced the longer you are a customer.There aren't too many credit cards that can compete with the Platinum's 1.5 membership rewards points per dollar spent. The Platinum credit card is one of the most rewarding cards because each time you use it you will get those 1.5 points credited to your rewards package, which can be used in relation to frequent flier programs on one of American Express's various travel partners. You get 1.5 points per dollar for up to $100,000 in purchases and then it drops down to 1 point per dollar.There are a lot of benefits that come with the Platinum credit card from American Express that extend beyond just the credit line and rewards program listed above. A few of the benefits that you can expect to receive are: travel insurance (international as well as domestic); as many additional cards as you would like with no charge, special deals on plane tickets to select cities in Australia, ECT.Many people turn to this card risk free because American Express offers it interest free for the first 55 days; which means you can purchase as much as you want without paying a dime of interest if you choose to hold off on paying. You have almost two months to enjoy the card while sampling all of the benefits/ rewards that are offered in full.Whatever your reason for choosing the American Express Platinum credit card, you can rest in knowing that you have one of the premier credit cards in all of Australia.
Ski Japan - FAQs About Resort Work
Recently, resort work in Japan has become a popular way for many foreigners to ski Japan, and experience the Japanese culture too. If you're interested in coming to work at a ski resort in Japan, below you should be able to find the answers to any questions you may have. We hope you find this information useful!How much will a resort work program cost me?You have to pay for your own airfare and travel insurance. Expect to pay around USD$1,500 for everything.Do I need to pay a registration fee for ski jobs in Japan?No - as long as you complete your contract, you don't pay any fees.Will I really need $4,000 for the visa application?The actual amount depends on your country, but at the time you apply for your Working holiday visa you must show that you have a few thousand dollars available in your bank account. The visa office wants to see that you have sufficient funds to pay for your airfare and support yourself while in Japan. You'll need to submit a bank statement as proof.How will I be paid?Once you arrive, you'll be shown how to open a Japanese bank account, into which your salary will be paid monthly. Banks are located near the resorts, so withdrawing money won't be a problem.Will I be paying tax?According to Japanese law, all foreigners must pay 20% income tax.Will I need to work overtime?Yes. During the busy holiday periods (Xmas/New year break, Jul-Aug Summer vacation), your resort will ask you to work overtime, as they tend to be understaffed around this time. After the busy period though, things quieten down a lot, and you'll have about 6-7 days-off a month, working a standard 44-48hr week.I'm a Vegetarian / diabetic / allergic to dairy foods - will that be a problem?Unfortunately, resorts can't cater to specific dietary needs (vegetarian, diabetic etc). If you're particular about your diet, you'll need to buy your own food each day (as staff aren't permitted to use dorm kitchen facilities to prepare their own food).Will I have internet access?Ski jobs in Japan give you a taste of rural life - you won't be living in the big city. The air will be fresh, the nature vast, and the scenery spectacular. On the other hand, you may have to walk 20 mins to the nearest convenience store, and use a public phone because there's no internet access nearby. You'll never have to go too far (more than say 30 mins), but at some resorts, you may have to travel, or pay a little, for internet access.What happens if I have an accident?All ski and summer jobs staff must have valid travel insurance for the entire period of their contracts, so in case of an accident, you're completely covered by your insurance policy for the costs. You'll also be covered by "rousai" Japanese work insurance while on the job.Will I need to buy my own ski gear, or can I just rent at the resort?We recommend you rent ski gear, as it's convenient, and if you're lucky, you'll get a good staff discount from your resort! Buying and bringing your own board/skis over on the plane can be expensive if you exceed baggage allowances, and can be troublesome to carry around.What kind of protective gear will I need for skiing/boarding?Unfortunately, each year a few staff are injured as a result of a snowboarding or skiing accident, and are forced to give up their ski jobs in Japan. The most common injuries are to the head and wrists. Fortunately, these injuries can be easily prevented by two simple items of safety gear - a helmet and wrist guards.How long is a Japanese Working holiday visa valid for?A Japanese Working holiday visa is initially valid for 6 months, but can be extended up to a total of 12 months (18 months for Australians!). To extend your visa, you'll have to visit your nearest immigration office, fill out some paperwork, and pay a JPY4,000yen (USD$35) processing fee.Can I get another Japanese Working holiday visa in the future?No, you can only get a Japanese Working holiday visa once. If you want to return to Japan to work/live in the future though, you can. Like many foreigners do, you can enter Japan on a 3-month Tourist visa, then get sponsored by a Japanese company (eg. English language school), at which point you'll receive a 1 or 3 year Working visa.Can the resort sponsor me for a visa?No, unfortunately, they can't offer visa sponsorship. A company has to guarantee you a job for 12 months continuously, in order to provide sponsorship. As ski jobs in Japan are only seasonal, this isn't possible.
Ski Japan for free, experience the world-class powder, and learn about the Japanese culture too. Choose from a variety of different jobs, in all the best regions of Japan.
http://www.boobooski.com/contactus.html
Ski Japan for free, experience the world-class powder, and learn about the Japanese culture too. Choose from a variety of different jobs, in all the best regions of Japan.
http://www.boobooski.com/contactus.html
Ski Japan, Working at a Resort - FAQs
If you're thinking about working in a Ski Resort job in Japan this year, you probably have many questions. Here are the answers to the most common questions you may have!How much will this cost me?To participate in Ski jobs in Japan, you have to pay for your own Airfare and Travel Insurance. The cost varies - expect to pay between USD $1,500 - $2,000 for everything.Do I need to pay a Registration Fee for Ski jobs in Japan?No - as long as you complete your contract, you don't pay any fees.Will I really need $4,000 for the VISA application?The actual amount depends on your country, but at the time you apply for your Working Holiday Visa you must show that you have a few thousand dollars available in your bank account. The Visa office needs to know you have sufficient funds to pay for your airfare, and support yourself while living in Japan. You'll need to submit a bank statement as proof.How will I get to the Resort?Once you arrive in Japan, you'll be met at the airport, delivered to your Resort by bus, and your experience of a lifetime begins!How will I be paid?Once you arrive, you'll be shown how to open a Japanese Bank Account, into which your salary will be paid monthly. Banks are located near the resorts, so withdrawing money won't be a problem.Will I be paying tax?According to Japanese law, all foreigners must pay 20% income tax. All figures quoted on this site are after income tax.You can only file a Japanese tax return, to try to get some of your tax back, if you stay in Japan for more than 12 months. Otherwise, you can't. In addition, filing a tax return is a complicated process - for help/information, you can contact the "Japan Association of Working Holiday Makers".Will I need to work overtime?Yes. During the busy holiday periods (Xmas/New Year break, Jul-Aug Summer Vacation), your resort will ask you to work overtime, as they tend to be understaffed around this time. During this period, please accept you may not have much free time (in some cases, staff have to work up to 50-60hrs a week!). After the busy period though, things quieten down a lot, and you'll have about 6-7 days-off a month, working a standard 44-48hr week.*NOTE: Work hours depend on snow conditions - if there's no snow yet, you'll be working less (because the resort won't be busy yet).I'm a Vegetarian / diabetic / allergic to dairy foods - will that be a problem?Unfortunately, Resorts can't cater to specific dietary needs (vegetarian, diabetic etc). If you're particular about your diet, you'll need to buy your own food each day (as staff aren't permitted to use dorm kitchen facilities to prepare their own food).PLEASE NOTE: Japanese food is high in fish and meat. In the past there have been vegetarian staff who could only eat the side salad (very small) which accompanies the regular menu, and as a result, they began to complain of lack of energy / became sick etc. Please understand that kitchen staff prepare food in bulk, for hundreds of staff dishes every day, so you can't expect them to go out of their way to prepare something especially for you. If you have particular dietary needs, please think seriously about whether you'll mind making a trip to the nearest supermarket / convenience store every day to purchase food (as there won't be kitchen facilities for you to use). Thanks for your understanding.Will I have internet access?Ski jobs in Japan give you a taste of rural life - you won't be living in the big city. The air will be fresh, the nature vast, and the scenery spectacular. On the other hand, you may have to walk 20 mins to the nearest convenience store, and use a public phone because there's no internet access nearby. You'll never have to go too far (more than say 30 mins), but at some resorts, you may have to travel, or pay a little, for internet access.There are a number of free wireless networks to access near many of the resorts, so if you're an email junkie, it may be a good idea to bring your laptop with you. However, if you can give up your daily emails for a few months, and immerse yourself in the Japanese lifestyle, it'll be a much more rewarding experience, and the best way to improve your Japanese!What if I can't complete my contract at the resort?Any staff who break their contract with the resort, must vacate the staff dormitory within two days of their final day of work. Staff who leave early inconvenience the resort by leaving them short of staff, and may result in future foreign staff not being able to work there.What happens if I have an accident?All Ski and summer jobs staff must have valid Travel Insurance for the entire period of their contracts, so in case of an accident, you're completely covered by your insurance policy for the costs. You'll also be covered by "rousai" Japanese Work Insurance while on the job. In case of an accident, you'll be taken to a local hospital for treatment.In the event of an accident which prevents you from performing your job, unfortunately your resort will be forced to dismiss you. For this reason, we can't stress enough how careful you should be - please be responsible!Will I need to buy my own ski gear, or can I just rent at the resort?We recommend you rent ski gear, as it's convenient, and if you're lucky, you'll get a good staff discount from your resort! Buying and bringing your own board/skis over on the plane can be expensive if you exceed baggage allowances, and can be troublesome to carry around. In addition, there's no way to send objects larger than 150cms from Japan back home, so if you do decide to bring your own gear, make sure you don't go over the airline baggage allowance limit, as you'll have to bring them back with you on the plane.We recommend you first check out the Rental deals at your Resort after you arrive. Then, if you're not satisfied, you can make a trip to the nearest city and pick up some good deals on gear. Here are some rough prices you can expect to pay for average-quality gear in Japan:Board/binding/boots or ski/boots/poles sets = 30~40,000yen.Jacket / Pants = 20,000yen for a set.Gloves / Goggles = up to 10,000yen each.What kind of protective gear will I need for skiing/boarding?Unfortunately, each year a few staff are injured as a result of a snowboarding or skiing accident, and are forced to give up their Ski jobs in Japan. The most common injuries are to the head and wrists. Fortunately, these injuries can be easily prevented by two simple items of safety gear - a Helmet and Wrist Guards. Don't be cheap about safety - it will cost you!How long is a Japanese Working Holiday Visa valid for?A Japanese Working Holiday Visa is initially valid for 6 months, but can be extended up to a total of 12 months (18 months for Australians!). To extend your visa, you'll have to visit your nearest immigration office, fill out the relevant paperwork, and pay a 4,000 (USD$35) processing fee. It takes a few weeks to process, so be sure to get it done before your current Visa expires.Can I get another Japanese Working Holiday Visa in the future?No, you can only get a Japanese Working Holiday Visa once. If you want to return to Japan to work/live in the future though, you can. Like many foreigners do, you can enter Japan on a 3-month Tourist Visa, then get sponsored by a Japanese company (eg. English language school), at which point you'll receive a 1 or 3 year Working Visa.Can the Resort sponsor me for a Visa?No, unfortunately, they can't offer Visa sponsorship. A company has to guarantee you a job for 12 months continuously, in order to provide sponsorship. As Ski jobs in Japan are only seasonal, this isn't possible.Can I travel around before or after my contract?Of course! As long as you can be at the airport when everyone else arrives, you're welcome to travel wherever you like. After your contract, you can travel on by yourself too!
Ski Japan for free, experience the world-class powder, and learn about the Japanese culture too. Choose from a variety of different jobs, in all the best regions of Japan.
http://www.boobooski.com/contactus.html
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