Young backpackers from the UK and Ireland are being encouraged to travel to Australia on a working holiday with a new campaign.
The Tourism Australia ‘Work and Play the Aussie Way’ promotion coincides with a refund on visa application fees which can cost up to £260.
The new initiative will highlight the temporary visa application charge refund offer, while also reminding young people of the type of travel experiences that await them in Australia, according to Tourism Australia managing director Phillipa Harrison.
She said: “The cost of a working holidaymaker visa application is currently refundable for those who arrive in Australia before 19 April 2022, so it’s a great opportunity for those who head to Australia now.
“This new incentive will enable thousands of backpackers to potentially start working and travelling in Australia sooner, and what’s more the visa application charge refund can help to boost their travel funds.
“We know the type of travellers that take up working holidays tend to stay longer, spend more and visit two or more destinations around the country as they combine work with travel – and Australia’s tourism and hospitality businesses are keen to welcome them back.”
Additional new measures will see Working Holiday Maker visa holders able to work for the same employer or organisation for more than six months up until the end of the year without needing to request permission.
The campaign will be supported by a range of partner activities to focus on attracting young people to roles in the tourism, hospitality and agriculture industries.
More than 24,000 applications have been received since the Australian government announced in November that working holidaymakers could return to Australia,
Of these, the UK is the top market followed by Ireland by volume of applications.
There were more than 44,000 of these visas granted to young travellers from across the UK and Ireland in pre-pandemic 2019.
Tourism Australia UK and northern Europe regional general manager Sally Cope added: “If the last two years have left you seeking a career or lifestyle change, now is a really great time to be a job-seeker in Australia.
“There are thousands of positions up for grabs in some of the most breath-taking destinations. From tropical destinations like the Whitsunday Islands and Cairns, to big cities and regional hubs such as Darwin and the famed Red Centre, there are all kinds of incentives to recruit young people on offer such as more flexible working arrangements.”
“One of the big benefits of choosing to work in Australia right now is that if you arrive before 19 April, you’ll be eligible for a AUD$495 (approx. £260) refund on your visa application.”