What started as a random chat at Matso’s in Broome turned into one of those conversations you don’t forget.
In this episode, we sit down with Lesley-Anne Merrigan, who left Dublin earlier this year and is now backpacking her way through Australia. She’s currently in Broome completing her 88 days of farm/regional work on a Working Holiday Visa — the requirement you need to tick off if you want to apply for a second year in Australia.
We talk about what pushed her to leave Ireland (career frustration, cost of living, feeling stuck), and what it’s actually been like landing in remote WA. The heat. The isolation. The culture shock. The “what have I done?” moments. And then — the shift — when uncertainty starts to feel like freedom.
We also get into something that doesn’t get talked about enough in backpacker circles: understanding and respecting Indigenous Australian culture, especially in regional towns where you’re far more exposed to the realities of the country than you are in the big cities.
If you’re thinking about doing your 88 days, applying for a second-year visa, or you’re already here questioning your life choices — this episode will feel very familiar.
We chat about:
Why she left Dublin (and why London and Dubai weren’t the answer)
What the 88 days really look like on a Working Holiday Visa
Why doing regional work can give you more leverage for sponsorship later
Cost of living: Ireland vs Australia
Broome backpacker life, slang, and “Broome time”
Learning to live with uncertainty instead of fighting it
Follow Lesley-Anne on Instagram: @lesleyannemerrigan
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