Australian Working Holiday Jobs Programme FAQs
Below are some of the most frequently asked questions on the Australian horticulture jobs programme. If your questions aren’t answered below you can give the team a call on 0207 353 7699 or email info@internoptions.com and we will get back to you as soon as we can.
Also Check out the following horticulture programme pages for more details:
- Australian Horticulture Travel Jobs Programme Details
- Horticulture Jobs in South Australia
- Horticulture Jobs in Victoria, Australia
- Horticulture Jobs in Western Australia
How long can I work in Australia for?
On a working holiday visa you can work for up to six months with one company and you can hold one paid job at a time.
Why do I need to pay you for a job, can’t I get a harvest job when I arrive by myself?
You can find harvest or horticulture jobs when you arrive, but you just need to visit a couple travellers forums to hear the horror stories about employers not paying you, receiving lower hourly rates than agree etc. The employers we place you with we have placed other workers with before, they treat you well, pay you on time and pay you at the agreed rate.
If they don’t for any reason then you have a point of contact in Australia as part of the programme who will sort this out for you. You also get advice on flights, insurance, working holiday visa, arriving in Australia and so on from Kiwi’s and Australians who have done this before. But the best bit is your job is guaranteed before you arrive in Australia, we are one of the only companies that can do this for you.
Is there a cost if I want work after the initial 2-3 months?
There is only one cost for the programme, once you are in Australia if you want more work after your initial paid placement you just call the Australian based team. There is work at different times of the year all around Australia. You can take some time to travel around Australia or move to the next area to carry on working.
What can I expect to earn?
Pay rates will be based on A$17.17 per hour. A lot of the pruning work, however calculated on what is called piece rates. Piece rates means for every vine you pune you earn a certain amount of money (for example, 40 cents per vine). Piece rates are calculated so that an average worker, working an honest day can achieve the hourly rate of this rate of A$17.17 per hour. Good workers earn over A$20 per hour.
Do we have to pay for the travel to and from Australia?
The programme fee does not include the cost of your flight to Australia, travel insurance or cost of your visa (£90). Check out the following articles to get an idea of how much this will cost:
Flights to Australia & New Zealand
Insurance for Australia & New Zealand
How do I apply for the working holiday visa for Australia?
Intern Options will help you apply for this visa as part of the programme. It is very easy to apply for, costs £90 and is an online application that takes 24 to 48 hours to be approved.
How many people will I be working with?
Depending on the place you will be working you will be working with a group of people anywhere from 5 to 50 workers.
How many jobs are available?
As in 2009 we have 80 positions available in total. These will again be allocated on a strictly first-come, first-serve basis. With Intern Options reducing the price of the programme in 2010 these positions will go even faster this year. So you don’t miss out make sure you fill in a pre-registration form and email this to info@internoptions.com
Do I need to have studied horticulture or have experience to apply?
You don’t need to have any kind of previous experience or qualifications in horticulture; all training will be provided on the job. You will need to be physically fit, though. You’ll also be working outside, so an ability to get stuck in and work hard is definitely a must!
If I apply with a group of friends can we all work in the same location?
Last year we had three groups of friends apply together and we place two of them onto vineyards near Melbourne and the third group went to Margaret River. We also put them all in the same accommodation which worked out great for them. No problem doing this for any groups this year.
I would like to start earlier than June, can I do this?
The main start dates are June/ July as this is the peak time for horticulture work in Australia. If you fill in the pre-registration form with your ideal start date and we can pass this by he Australian team, it is possible.
How do I get a second Australian working holiday visa?
You will need to complete 90 days of this horticulture programme to be eligible for a second Australian working holiday visa. Once you have done that you can either apply for this yourself or we can do this for you.
I would like to apply but don’t know if I am eligible?
To be eligible you will just need to be eligible for the Australian working holiday visa. Please see the Horticulture programme – Am I eligible
What work will I be doing?
All positions starting June and July will be pruning work on vineyards. You will be working on some of Australia’s most famous vineyards ensuring that the vines are pruned correctly so the grapes will grown correctly for next year.
Who will I be working with?
You will be working with a mixture of fellow travellers who are around the same age of 18 to 30. There will be some people just starting off on their Australian travel adventures, and other s coming to the end of their working holiday year. There will be a lot of people on working holiday visas who are doing this work to extend their visa for a second year. You will also be working with Australian horticulture students gaining experience and earning money.
How many hours can I work each week?
You can work between 38 and 50 hours per week during the peak months in June, July and August. After this, if you would like to work elsewhere in Australia this can be organised throughout Australia depending on demand.
Can I work in other jobs apart from horticulture?
Your initial job offer before you arrive in Australia will be in horticulture. This job is guaranteed before you leave. This programme is based around regional employment in Australia. In the application form we will ask you to detail your qualifications, skills and experience. So if a job comes up in hospitality, forklift driving, grape picking, welding etc we can match this job to you.
