Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Working Holiday Maker (WHM) Visas (417)
Young visitors (those aged 18 to 30) from Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany,
Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Taiwan and the UK are eligible for a
WHM visa, allowing visits of up to one year and casual employment.
The emphasis of this visa is on casual and not full-time employment, so you're only supposed to work for any one
employer for a maximum of six months. A first WHM visa must be obtained prior to entry to Australia and can be ap-
plied for at Australian diplomatic missions abroad or online (
www.immi.gov.au/visitors/working-holiday
)
. You can't
change to a WHM visa once you're in Australia, so apply up to 12 months before your departure to Australia.
Women Travellers
WA is generally a safe place for women travellers, although the usual sensible precautions apply. Avoid walking alone
late at night in major cities and towns, and always keep enough money aside for a taxi home. The same applies to out-
back and rural towns with unlit, semi-deserted streets between you and your temporary home. Lone women should be
wary of staying in basic pub accommodation unless it appears safe and well managed.
Lone hitching is risky for everyone, but women especially should consider taking a male companion.
Work
If you come to Australia on a tourist visa then you're not allowed to work for pay - working for approved volunteer or-
ganisations in exchange for board is OK. If you're caught breaching your visa conditions, you can be expelled from the
country and banned for up to three years.
Seasonal Work
WA is experiencing a labour shortage and a wealth of opportunities exist for travellers (both Australian and foreign) for
paid work year-round.
In Perth, plenty of temporary work is available in tourism and hospitality, administration, IT, nursing, childcare,
factories and labouring. Outside Perth, travellers can easily get jobs in tourism and hospitality, plus a variety of seasonal
work. Some places have specialised needs; in Broome, for example, there is lucrative work in pearling, on farms and
boats.
INDUSTRY
TIME
REGION(S)
grapes
Feb-Mar
Denmark, Margaret River, Mt Barker, Manjimup
apples/pears
Feb-Apr
Donnybrook, Manjimup
prawn trawlers
Mar-Jun
Carnarvon
bananas
Apr-Dec
Kununurra
bananas
year-round
Carnarvon
vegies
May-Nov
Kununurra, Carnarvon
