Tips for Completing the 88-Day Work Requirement in Australia

When applying for a WHV (working holiday visa) in Australia, one requirement for re-application is completing 88 days of farm/regional work. This rule applies to most people, except those holding a British passport who apply for their next visa after July 1st, 2024; they are exempt from this requirement. However, for everyone else, finding reliable work can be quite daunting, especially for solo travelers without transportation.

I came to Australia on my British passport, which exempts me from completing the 88-day work requirement. However, my boyfriend, holding a Canadian passport, must fulfill this condition before his visa expires. Because of this, I’ve joined him in tackling the challenges of regional work. I want to share some valuable pointers that could simplify this process for you. Finding work can be tough in some regions, so stay determined even if your initial efforts seem fruitless.

Below, I have outlined the steps in an easy-to-follow guide. While everyone’s journey may vary, use this as a guide to help you complete your 88 days and secure your second-year visa.

Who is this guide for?

This guide is intended for anyone on their first year WHV in Australia

Do I need to complete my 88 days?

The first thing you should consider is whether you need your 88 days. The purpose of the 88 days is to contribute in exchange for your visa. This typically involves high-demand jobs that are also physically demanding. These are the types of jobs that Australian residents generally avoid but are crucial for the economy.

You need to do your 88 days if:

You hold a 417 subclass WHV and want to apply for a second year visa
You hold a British passport and will be applying for your second WHV before July 1st 2024

You do not need you 88 days if:

You do not wish to return to Australia on a second or third year WHV
You hold a British passport and will not be applying for you second WHV until after July 1st 2024

Where can I do my 88 days?

Your 88 days can be done anywhere in Australia. However there are different rules for different areas. In most parts of Australia you will be expected to do some form of farm work, mining or animal conservation. If this doesn’t sound like you thing then heading north will be your best bet. Once you are North of the Tropic of Capricorn, or in very remote Australia jobs in the tourism industry and hospitality can be used towards your 88 days.

What kind of work can i do?

As I said before the sort of jobs you will be looking at will be hard work. The easiest jobs to get are in the fruit farming industry. Other available jobs are:

plant and animal cultivation in regional Australia
fishing and pearling in regional Australia
tree farming and felling in regional Australia
mining in regional Australia
construction in regional Australia
bushfire recovery work in declared bushfire affected areas carried out after 31 July 2019
recovery work in natural disaster affected areas carried out after 31 December 2021
critical COVID-19 work in the healthcare and medical sectors anywhere in Australia, after 31 January 2020

If you are heading north you can also work in tourism or hospitality in one of the following roles:

tourist guides and operators
outdoor adventure or activity instructors
tourist transport services
gallery or museum managers, curators or guides
hospitality workers, such as in hotels or other accommodation facilities, restaurants, cafes, bars and casinos
conference and event organisers

Check out the full list of eligible and non eligible jobs here on the Australian Governments website here

How do I find a job?

This is where things start to get a bit more difficult. You are competing with a lot of other WHV holders so it is important to be proactive and stand out. There are a number of ways you can improve you chances such as:

Have an up to date CV/resume

One of the big difference here to where I am from is what employers are looking for from you CV. It is common here for you CV to be 3-4 pages long and include a cover letter. i would suggest spending a day looking at jobs in different areas of work and creating cover letters so you are ready to send them out as soon as a job appears. Check out this guide here from Indeed Australia on how to write a resume if you are stuck.

Get on Facebook

One of the best ways to discover job opportunities is to participate in Facebook groups for WHV travelers. Numerous groups exist, often focused on specific regions, which is ideal if you have a preferred location. Act quickly, as this is a common method for job discovery. Instead of merely commenting your interest, proactively request email addresses to send your resume. Additionally, stay alert for scams. Only share personal information when you are confident in the trustworthiness of the contact.

Use Indeed or Seek

This is an easier alternative to Facebook as you can send your resume out to companies once you have uploaded it. the downside is there aren’t always as many jobs tailored to WHV holders.

Phone Calls

This option usually only works best if you are looking for work in hospitality. Get on Google Maps and search for bars/pubs/hotels in remote areas. Phone them and ask if they have any availability and if the work is eligible for 88 days.

Working Hostels

There are a number of working hostels doted all over the country. These are a great option if you are traveling solo or looking to save money. You will live at the hostel and they will find you work. this will nearly always be some kind of fruit farming job but it completely removes the stress of finding accommodation and transport.

Tips for completing your 88 Days

Give yourself at least 6 months to complete your 88 days. You never know what might get in the way. Extreme weather or injury could set you back and if you don’t complete your days in time you won’t get a second year visa.
Check the weather/time of year it is in the part of Australia you want to go. This will determine what kind and how many jobs are available.
Be mentally and physically prepared. You need a can do attitude to get you through the day. I have known people to be fired for being too slow, complaining etc. A positive attitude will make a world of diffeence
Be open to anything. A job is a job and if you have some extra time you can always look for another if you don’t enjoy this one.

My Experience

What better way to understand the process and know what to do than a first hand account?

Looking for work

My boyfriend and I hit Sydney’s ground running in February, hell-bent on knocking out those mandatory 88 days like it was nobody’s business. We were on a mission, diving head-first into every WHV group on Facebook we could infiltrate. We powered through a resume refresh and started bombarding every job ad in sight with messages. Our hostel was booked for a measly week, and little did we know, we’d collided with Taylor Swift’s Eras tour. Every room in the city was snatched up, pumping our stress levels through the roof. If we didn’t snag a job fast, we’d be shelling out big bucks to flee Sydney’s chaos and hit the restart button elsewhere.

Travelling for work

On day 4, my partner received a response from a woman he contacted through Facebook. The following day, we interviewed with her and everything seemed promising. She offered us accommodation and work. On day 6, we flew to Cairns and spent two days unwinding before boarding a bus to Tully, a small town known primarily for its sugar cane and banana farming industries. Upon arriving in Tully, our host took us to our new home. The next day, my boyfriend began his induction at a local banana farm and started work immediately. Meanwhile, I was yet to secure a job. However, two of our housemates who worked at a local pub suggested I submit my resume there. A week later, I landed a job at the pub, thankfully equipped with air conditioning!

How its going

There were a few setbacks because my boyfriend’s farm got sold and his hours were reduced, but the lady who helped us move there quickly found him another job in banana farming. Additionally, some flooding led to more days off. On the farms, you need at least 30 hours of work per week to qualify for the full 7 days. We’ve already spent nearly 9 weeks here and plan to stay at least another 5 to complete the 88 days required. The earnings are good and the people are lovely, so we don’t mind extending our stay!

Questiones?

I know first hand how daunting this experience can be. If you have any questions please feel free to ask them below and I will do my best to answer them as best I can. In the future I hope to make a more detailed post about my time in Tully and other travels around Australia.

Happy Travels <3