No luck with job hunting in Brisbane! any advice?

I'm from Toronto and I'm in Brisbane until April. Since my boyfriend is Australian he found a job quickly but my job search is horrible! am i the only one who thinks that no one wants to hire any one with a visa?
I cant even walk into Mcdonalds and get a job...they tell me to "apply online" as well as all the other retailers.
It seems like the only options are fruitpicking far away or commission only fundraising sales! ahh.
any advice anyone?!!? thanks a bunch!

What kind of visa do you currently have?

just the working holiday 1 year

Unfortunately, most established employers will not hire those on a temp (WHV) visa. When I arrived here on a provisional visa (temp leading to perm) I had some difficulty even though I was considered a resident with a tax number, Medicare etc. Only after I was granted PR was I able to secure very good work. Employers are afraid of running afoul of the law and the fines are quite high if they hire those on WHV's. You could also be fined and barred from re-entry for up to 3 years.

If you and your Aussie boyfriend have been living together for 12 months +, it might be worth a try to secure a 'partner' visa. This is a 2-stage visa. If it is granted you are allowed to stay for 2 years; at the second year mark you will be asked to furnish proof of the continuing relationship. Should DIAC be satisfied with your documentation then you will be granted a permanent visa.

Immigration has been a hot political topic for the government and they have bowed to pressure. There is significant evidence that the economy is slowing down and there is much more competition for advertised or non-advertised jobs than ever. Most ads state that applicants must be a citizen or permanent resident.

I am unsure if you can get a bridging visa to remain onshore while you process this so it wouldn't hurt to look through the immigration site.

Best of luck!

Hi, I have read some of the threads and I think I may be in the same situation as some other people I am currently living in Canada where I am dating an Australian who is due to move back to Brisbane this July. We are hoping that I could move there as well, temporarily to experience the culture and to not end the relationship.

We currently work together in the mining industry however I am not in a specialized field. He already has gauaranteed employment upon returning to Australia.

Would getting set up with a staffing or temp agency be a good way for me to find work over there if i were to go over with a Work Holiday Visa?

We have not been together long enough to use the partner sponsor's visa.

Marry the aussie, you'll get permanent citizenship. Failing that, go to Canberra: huge amount of jobs and not enough people.