I am delighted to share the latest insights received from the Director, Strategic Migration Partnerships, Skilled Visa Branch, regarding the extension of work rights for Working Holiday Makers (WHMs) beyond the initial 6-month period with a single employer. This decision by the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs aims to support WHMs and enhance their experience in Australia.
Commencing from 1 January 2024, the previous exemption process related to visa condition 8547 will persist. This continuity aligns with ongoing consultations on the Working Holiday program settings and reforms, as outlined in the recently released Migration Strategy.
To keep you informed about the upcoming changes, a discussion paper will be released in early 2024, addressing various aspects of the Working Holiday program. This includes eligibility criteria, visa conditions, and specified work requirements. Stay tuned for more details on this reform process.
In the interim, effective from 1 January 2024, the following arrangements will apply until further government decisions are made:
Extended Work Rights for Working Holiday Makers
- Location Variability: WHMs can work for the same employer for more than 6 months if the work spans different locations, and the duration in any single location does not exceed 6 months.
- Plant and Animal Cultivation: WHMs are permitted to engage in plant and animal cultivation activities anywhere in Australia for extended periods.
- Specified Industries: Extended work rights apply to specific industries, including aged care and disability services, fishing and pearling, tree farming and felling, construction and mining, limited to northern Australia (refer to the website for the definition of Northern Australia).
- Natural Disaster Recovery Work: Since 17 February 2020, WHMs can participate in natural disaster recovery work beyond the initial 6-month limit.
- Critical Sectors: From 4 April 2020, extended work rights are granted in critical sectors, such as agriculture, food processing, health, aged and disability care, and childcare, anywhere in Australia.
- Tourism and Hospitality: As of 8 May 2021, WHMs have extended work rights in the critical sector of tourism and hospitality across the country.
These arrangements provide greater flexibility for WHMs, acknowledging their valuable contributions across various sectors in Australia. As we await further details on the comprehensive reform process, Migration Guru remains committed to keeping you updated on the latest developments.
For any questions or assistance regarding these changes, please do not hesitate to reach out to our experienced team at Migration Guru. With over 90 years of collective experience in Australian migration law, we are here to guide you through every step of your migration journey. Readers are encouraged to follow us on Facebook for all the updates.
