The Working Holiday Maker (WHM) programme allows young travellers to have an extended holiday in Australia supplemented by short-term agricultural, and in some cases hospitality and tourism, employment.
Backpackers will be able to stay in Australia longer under changes the government is proposing for the country’s working holiday rules.
The Working Holiday Maker (WHM) programme allows young travellers to have an extended holiday in Australia supplemented by short-term agricultural, and in some cases hospitality and tourism, employment.
The relaxed conditions are due, in part, to a lack of seasonal workers on farms that produce fruit and vegetables.
The programme consists of two visa sub-classes, the Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa and the Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa.
Among the most significant changes are the length of stay for visitors on these two visas.
Workers will be able to stay in Australia for up to three years from July 2019, rather than two, if they complete six months of regional work during their second year in the country.
The government is also extending the areas in which 462 visa-holders can work if they want to work in regional Australia in order to stay in the country for a second year.
Currently they are only able to work in Northern Australia, but soon they’ll be able to choose from key regional areas in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia, along with all of the Northern Territory, South Australia, and Tasmania.
And instead of only being able to stay with the same employer for six months, visa holders will now be able to work for the same employer for one year.
More than 200,000 working holidaymaker visas were granted in 2017-2018, with participants from the 45 nations eligible for the programme.
The scheme is open to Singaporeans aged at least 18 but not yet 31 (at the time of the application).
“Australia has long been a popular destination for working holidaymakers, but we have seen a decline over the years. With these changes we will see an increase in the appeal of Australia as a working holidaymaker destination,” said lobby group Tourism and Transport Forum CEO, Margy Osmond.