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Employers Information
Visitoz was set up to help Station, Property Owners and Managers employ the vast pool of backpackers wanting to experience life and work in the 'bush'. If you're already a member, you can login here.
Visitozzers
Working Holidaymakers participating in the Visitoz programme come from the full range of countries having a reciprocal arrangment with Australia which allows them to work legally. Some of them are experienced agricultural workers in their home countries and some bring with them nothing more than a determination to do their best. Visitoz is also authorised to offer agricultural internships and at present these internees come from southern Africa, Europe, Iceland and South America. To qualify for an internship applicants must be professional agricultural workers and demonstrate a working knowledge of English.
Visitoz does not differentiate by gender and females are expected to do everything the males do within any physical limitations.
Ag Work
Anyone wanting agricultural work through Visitoz undergoes a short introductory training period. This is intended to introduce them to Australian agricultural techiques or, if they are experienced in their own countries, to Australianize their skills. They spend five days on their training farm where they ride agbikes and horses, they work with cattle on foot and on horseback, they drive and operate tractors and they learn fencing skills. Simple vehicle maintenance and farm and outback safety are also covered.
Hospitality and Domestic Work
A number of participants seek work in hospitality and Visitoz offers opportunities in outback and rural pubs and hotels; this work is almost exclusively for females although you may have opportunities for men in road houses and as cooks. There are some females who wish to experience outback life without the rigours of animal work and they could be offered opportunities as Mother's Helps and Distance Education tutors. Many of our employers have commented that their own children learn so much from having an overseas visitor in the family, whether they are teaching the children or working on the property. They all undertake the introduction to Agriculture course as the jobs are all in rural areas.
Pay and Conditions
The vast majority of these young people come from good homes and are very sociable. On smaller family properties they are normally accommodated in the homestead or in an attached wing. It would not be appropriate to send them off into isolated accommodation to fend for themselves.
Working Holidaymakers
Employers are legally required to treat working holidaymakers in exactly the same way as Australian workers, they must be paid at the "Award" for the job they are doing but if there is no appropriate award we ask that they be paid at least the minimum for Station Hand level 1. Superannuation is part of the remuneration package and they are taxed at 29%. The terms of their visa limit them to a maximum of six months with any one employer although they very seldom stay that long as they are travellers and wanting to see the whole of Australia. They offer the employer the opportunity to take someone one for anything from six weeks to six months, and then, when the job is over they are happy to leave. They look after your busiest times for you.
Internees
These are professional, experienced agricultural workers and the terms of their one year visa allow them to work for one employer for the full validity of that visa. Superannuation must be paid for them but they are taxed at the Australian rate of 15%. We find that they are often so successful that their employers sponsor them for additional years.
Contact
Visitoz has a password protected page on its web site where there is a pen picture of each participant with contact details. This is updated every Monday evening and occasionally during the week as well. If you have problems getting on to the web site, please call the office.
Employer membership
There is a one-off charge of $220 to join the employer database and on payment each property is given a log-in name and password which allows access to the web site.
The employer application page is all you need to fill out. If you wish to become a Visitoz employer please complete the form and when payment is received you will be sent a tax invoice receipt and advised of your log in details.
We look forward to helping you.