Australia wants you!
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For more information contact:
Tourism Australia’s London based PR team:
Emma Humphreys & James Treacy: Mobile: 07795657294
ehumphreys@tourism.australia.com / jtreacy@tourism.australia.com
Tourism Australia
Media and Communications Manager: Leo Seaton, Tourism Australia, on +61 447 463 197 or lseaton@tourism.australia.com
Imagery & Footage
Images of locations and tourism experiences across the country, the pop up beach, Minister Ciobo, John O’Sullivan, Lucy Watson and Emma Hudson are all available on request.
Available B-Roll footage includes: young people enjoying Aussie experiences, GVs of young people in an STA shop in London, the pop-up beach, vox pops with young backpackers in Sydney, the announcement of an MOU and pieces to camera from John O’Sullivan, Lucy Watson and Minister Ciobo.
*Survey
The research was carried out online by RWB between 14-16 October 2016. The sample comprised 1,011 UK adults aged 18-25. All research conducted adheres to the UK Market Research Society (MRS) code of conduct (2014) and RWB is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office and complies with the DPA (1998).
** Background on the WHM visa
Australia’s Working Holiday Maker (WHM) visa programme’s purpose is to foster closer ties and cultural exchange between Australia and partner countries, with particular emphasis on young adults. It has been in existence since 1975. Partner countries initially comprised a relatively small number of Commonwealth countries, but the programme has since grown to encompass 39 partner nations and regions from across the globe.
It is an excellent way for young people to enjoy the experience of working and travelling in Australia, enjoying coastal adventures, the unique wildlife, the delicious food and wine and the laidback lifestyle for an extended period of time. Working Holiday Makers return to their home countries with great stories of their travels and work experience which they can draw on for life.
As of 25/10/2016, all Working Holiday Maker visa applicants must:
- Be aged 18-30 at the time of application
- Hold a passport from an eligible partner country
- Not be accompanied by dependent children during their stay in Australia
- Meet health and character requirements
- Meet financial requirements
Working Holiday Makers are able to work and travel in Australia for a 12 month period and are limited to one Working Holiday Maker visa in their lifetime. However, first-time Working Holiday visa holders (subclass 417) who undertake three months (88 standard working days) of ‘specified work’ in regional Australia during their stay acquire eligibility to apply for a second such visa. ‘Specified work’ includes work in the agricultural, mining and construction industries.
Examples of eligible work include picking fruit, herding cattle on a farm, painting buildings, conservation work, stud farming, landscaping etc. The work doesn’t have to be carried out with one employer or in one set block of time. The work must be undertaken in rural and regional Australia which includes parts of New South Wales, parts of Queensland, parts of Victoria, parts of Western Australia and all of Tasmania, South Australia and the Northern Territory. The Australian Capital Territory is not classified as part of regional Australia.
Statistics
*** For the 12 month period ending 30 June 2016, 42,175 Working Holiday visas were granted to UK citizens (5.7% decline compared to the previous 12 month period). This is made up of 34,097 first Working Holiday visas (subclass 417) and 8,078 second Working Holiday visas (subclass 417).
**** Exchange rate of £1gbp = $1.61aud. Source, xe.com
Youth travellers represent a critically important part of Australia's visitor economy - contributing 27 per cent of all international visitor arrivals, and 44 per cent of all international visitor spending. Importantly, young travellers tend to stay longer, disperse more widely throughout the country and they also often return to Australia later in life, with their families or on business. Source: International Visitor Survey
***** The £499 fare for travel between the UK and Perth and are valid from Gatwick to Perth and book by 31Oct for travel 01Sep-30Nov.
About STA Travel
STA Travel is the world’s largest youth travel company and has been spreading love, peace and adventure since 1979. Employing over 2,000 passionate people in 11 amazing countries, we work with like-minded franchisees and licensed partners, creating thrilling adventures and experiences in more than 50 countries. Our retail division will stretch your brain (and you) farther than you thought it could go and there are over 270 branches to visit with presence in almost every country from A – Z. Australia, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, United Kingdom and United States and New Zealand are just some of our retail spaces. We are privately owned by Diethelm Keller Group in Switzerland and that means we do things that are right for our customers – making sure that each and every experience chosen is beyond your wildest dreams.
