Update
of Visa Extensions
WWOOF has
seen a record number of willing workers joining due to a lack of paid work
being offered to people who enter Australia on a Working Holiday Visa. The
government offers the Working Holiday Visa extension program but currently it
appears that there is not enough paid work to go around. These disappointed
visitors join WWOOF in order to extend their visas. Can we blame them? No.
They are only taking up the offer as laid out by the Department of Immigration
(DIAC). How were they to know that paid work in Australia is on a downturn? We
feel an obligation to work with both the Department and these overseas
visitors to help them achieve their goals in a foreign land.
Hosts have
reported receiving the most enquiries ever, most probably due to the
increasing numbers joining WWOOF. Some hosts couldn’t be happier about it and
others are totally overwhelmed by the number of callers and therefore choose
not to answer them. The old adage ”You can’t please all the people all the
time” comes into play here. But imagine the conundrum of these WWOOFers! No
wonder there is an inquiry ‘frenzy’ when hosts are not replying to WWOOFer
inquiries. This leads to panic and panic leads to inconsiderate behavior from
both WWOOFers and hosts. If you are one of the disgruntled hosts, please let
us know so that we can notate in your host entry that you do NOT wish to
receive any inquiries from WWOOFers who are seeking to extend their visas or
perhaps put up your own notice on the Bulletin Board to this effect. It will
eliminate unwanted calls and make it clearer which hosts these WWOOFers should
or should not contact. All entries marked with a PP indicate the hosts are in
the correct postcode, and are willing to accommodate those WWOOFers who want
to extend their visas. Previously before the Department changed the rules, the
PP was inserted in these entries as a Primary Producer in an eligible postcode
area. But since the Department has scrapped the Primary Producer with an ABN
rule, we keep the PP’s included to show the hosts are keen to sign the
relevant forms, etc.
Facts About
the WHV Extension Program You Should Know:
-
DIAC deems 4-6 hours per day counts as 1 full days work for
WWOOFers
-
Hosts no longer need an ABN
-
Hosts do not need to be a Primary Producer
-
Host property must be in an eligible
postcode
offering “specified work”
-
WWOOFers need to perform “Specified
work” as
per
DIAC website
See
DIAC website
for details, or
e-mail us for more information
***************
Ponder this
|
What WWOOFers dislike
Hosts who make me weed
for hours alone
Hosts who don’t treat
me like one of the family
Hosts who don’t answer
my inquiry
Hosts who supply
insufficient food
Hosts who supply
dirty, smelly, bug ridden bedding
Hosts who expect more
than 6 hours labour daily |
What hosts dislike
WWOOFers who don’t
follow instructions
WWOOFers who book and
then don’t show up
WWOOFers who don’t
answer my email to them
WWOOFers who sleep
late / can’t be bothered
WWOOFers who overeat
and raid the pantry
WWOOFers who take
without asking first |
|
What WWOOFers love
Hosts who treat me
like family
Hosts who reply to my
inquiry
Hosts who show me
their special lives
Hosts who give me
healthy food, no junk
Hosts who give me a
variety of interesting jobs
Hosts who teach me new
things
Hosts who accept me as
I am and respect me
|
What hosts love
WWOOFers giving 4+
days notice of arrival
WWOOFers who listen
and follow instructions
WWOOFers who like my
kids and show it
WWOOFers with a good
attitude
WWOOFers who are
enthusiastic to learn
WWOOFers who have
good manners & are tidy
WWOOFers who are
respectful & honest |
~FEEDBACK~
“WWOOFing
is one of the most amazing things! My kids and I have enjoyed visits from so
many wonderful people. Andrew & Natalie have learned so much about the big world
out there” . Hosts should consider putting photos on the Bulletin Board to help
potential WWOOFers with planning their adventures and also give them a clear
idea of what to expect on your property.
WWOOF Host NW039
We’ve been hosts
for 8 years and enjoy working with enthusiastic helpers. It is sometimes a good
thing to see the challenges we face through the eyes of others. To see the
excitement of a young WWOOFer who just caught their very first fish!- its just
the most rewarding feeling. It also helps fill in the empty nest syndrome when
the kids leave home. We now have friends all over the world”
WWOOF Host
NT054
Incidentally, we
are being deluged with WWOOFers. Because of the drought we have less work and
the farm is in ‘mothballs’. But we battle on. I am writing this because I
believe WWOOFers come in all shapes & sizes. Our current French girl is a huge
size 22. Our farming neighbours said she was hopeless, far too large to cope
with picking zucchini, etc. How wrong they were! The girl was a delight and one
of the best workers we had. WWOOF
Host
VA010
We have had
nothing but good experiences, everyone of them had been unique, from Canada,
Spain, USA, Holland, France, NZ, Taiwan & Australia– each person contributed to
the best of their capabilities. We make sure we work side by side with our
guests and give them a job that suits each individual. The cultural exchange has
been fascinating and each of our guests has been treated
as a family member,
and they in
response, have been considerate & respectful. We’ve had many laughs together
over language & cultural differences and opportunities to help those with poor
English skills– even to the point of having a good conversation after 3 weeks
when they first arrived only knowing the word ‘hello’. Grateful comments in our
Visitors Book gives the feeling that there are a lot of honest, reliable,
helpful, responsible & healthy young people out there, giving to society instead
of becoming only consumers. WWOOF
Host
NM141
We have met the most amazing
friends through sharing our life with WWOOFers. Being a single Mum, I would find
it really hard to provide so much of our family’s food without my WWOOFers. They
aren’t all perfect, but every one of them has given me the great gift of
learning about their culture, graciousness & generosity. Many thanks to you all.
WWOOF
Host
TH152
I have had so many terrific
WWOOFers this year. One woman who is travelling the world with her son, we will
be friends for many years, we had such an instant connection. Another from
Germany who came for a week and stayed almost 2 months at Christmas. I still
miss her friendship & laughter. All WWOOFers do some good work– some a bit of a
disaster, but it is up to us to teach and work with them. This program is so
rewarding for my kids to meet & talk with other kids from around the globe. WWOOF
Host
NF088
I’d
like to thank you for the opportunity to share with other cultures and give my
kids these experiences as well. We could never afford to travel with 4 of them
to all the places we have been ‘exposed‘ to.
It givesmy
kids great confidence to share & communicate with our visitors. We have made
some special friends over the years. WWOOF
Host
QT121
Hi! I am from
South Korea. And I did do a WWOOF 1 month in Dunsborugh. Its very good
experience for me. I met Tiwan, German and eland WWOOFer in here. Thank you
WWOOF Australia, I learn new engrish. WWOOFer
I08/34484
“Some
WWOOFers say that only 15% of hosts reply to them. I am noticing that WWOOFers
are ringing at the last minute. I tend to back away from such hasty calls, but
the WWOOFers who give me 2 weeks notice I will bend over backwards for. I
haven’t had a bad WWOOFer yet and have had at least 250 so far. I work with my
WWOOFers and spend a little time with each one, finding the results are amazing.
I say this for a comment to all hosts. I believe the WWOOF office should send a
questionnaire to WWOOFers to comment on bad hosts as I have heard stories they
worked 8 hours a day and the experience was truly horrible, with the host
threatening the WWOOFer if they told anyone about it. Hosts like these should be
banned. All I can say is that they are amazing kids and keep us old fellas
young. I am in the bush and the cuisine is multi-national, better than any
restaurant in Perth and its every week! What more could you ask for. WWOOF
Host
WP094
It has come
too our attention that some hosts refuse to take (or even answer) WWOOFers of
certain nationalities because: (a) language is a problem, (b) many are from
cities and are scared of animals, insects, getting dirty, or problems with water
usage. One of my WWOOFers told me she had emailed & phoned every host in the
Sydney/Blue Mountain region, getting not one reply. My reason for writing is
that even if many WWOOFers of a certain nationality have perhaps spoiled it for
the rest, there is no excuse for hosts to not respond to WWOOFer inquiries, even
if it is a negative one. At least then, WWOOFers receive a reply and can
concentrate their efforts elsewhere. I find it rude that hosts cannot even write
a few words in reply. WWOOF
Host
NF087
WWOOFing has
been an awesome way to experience your country and has given me the opportunity
to meet with ‘real’ Australians and learn about their daily lives, as well as
Aboriginal culture, gardening, animal care, pioneering, growing organically,
vegetarian cooking, painting…….the list goes on and on. I’m so happy I signed up
in October!! WWOOFer Amanda I08/31226
I went to a
wilderness farm for 2 weeks with hosts John & Caroline NT002 near
Katherine and it was the highlight of my trip. It was a real, huge working farm.
We ate a lot of their produce supplemented with meat & fish caught on the
property. There were many travelers passing through and a few long term WWOOFers
staying to learn. The kitchen & the river were great. Half a days hard work and
a half days freedom and Caroline brought everyone together around the evening
meal. Thanks for prompting me to give feedback! WWOOFer Alanna
I08/21657
I had
some great experiences as a WWOOFer. I am at this moment in my
WWOOF number 10 in the NT and I have to say thank you to this
organization. It is a really good way to discover a country and its people.
WWOOFer Laura I09/6029
After having
heard so many stories about unreliable WWOOFers, I cannot resist giving you an
example of unreliable hosts. I had booked via several detailed emails for a stay
at a Bega host and I phoned them 2 days before to arrange the meeting. They
became ‘cold’ when I told them I would be hitch hiking. The following day they
called me at 9pm to tell me that both were ill so they couldn’t have me anymore.
What a lame excuse! I am an experienced hitch hiker, I have been to many remote
places, and think that hitch hiking is an excellent means. My hosts don’t have
to collect me as I usually find a lift to their gates. PLEASE, do not reject
hitch hikers. The good part of this story is that I found very nice hosts
who rescued me at short notice so I don’t complain. Thank you NB020!
WWOOFer Frederic I09/41313
Of all the
WWOOF experiences I’ve had to date, the happiest and most helpful race of people
(generally speaking) would have to be Korean girls/women and their age does not
appear to be a factor, and I think they’re happy working inside or outside and
stay for a fortnight or more. All have been courteous and willing to work for
longer hours than I had asked them to. All the Asian WWOOFers and Koreans
especially have the best work ethic by a long way. Over a period of 6+ years,
I’ve reached these conclusions and I wouldn’t have known these facts if it
wasn’t for the WWOF program, for I’ve yet to journey overseas to make a direct
comparison. WWOOF
Host
QN093
WWOOFer
Questionnaire
Several hosts
have sent us examples of questionnaires they give the WWOOFers to complete
before accepting them on their property. Some of the questions asked are:
*What is your
WWOOF membership number/country of origin?
*Why did you
choose our place to visit?
*Are you interested in organic
gardening, or other reasons for coming?
*Can you work independently?
*Are you experienced with
children?
*Are you happy to help with
meal preparation & clean up?
At the top of each page on the
WWOOF web site there is a link to a
WWOOFer Application which WWOOFers can copy and paste into an e-mail to
Hosts. Have a look at this form and if it covers all of the things you want to
know, ask WWOOFers to fill it in and send it to you, then add any extra
questions you have to your reply. If you think there is something we should add
to the form, let us know & we will add it in.
Another suggestion was to
supply WWOOFers with ‘Settling-In Upon Arrival’: an introduction of the WWOOFer
to the property & house rules which could contain things like:
*Be tidy, clean up bathroom,
dirty dishes, etc. *Food issues, such as don’t raid pantry without asking.
*Don’t misuse water (explain why) & electricity; *time restrictions on internet
or phone use; *ask questions if you don’t understand, any special or strict
routines to follow. If a mistake is made, be open and honest and tell us about
it so it can be fixed (we won’t yell at you, we promise!), *include anything
that gives the WWOOFer a general idea of how things work on your property and
what they should do if a problem arises.
*Have signs posted in
appropriate places about important things to remember to do. Try and keep your
language simple so WWOOFers with limited English can understand what you have
said.
Some hosts email these
questions to WWOOFers first before accepting to host them. Others get the
WWOOFer to agree after they arrive. If WWOOFers know your needs or attitudes to
things in advance, it makes for better communication and better host/WWOOFer
relationships.
WWOOF has added a ‘WWOOFer
Application form-to be sent to hosts’ on our website. It appears at the very top
of the homepage for selection. Ask the WWOOFers to complete this form and submit
it to you.
***************
CONGRATULATIONS to WWOOF Hosts WW063 of
Oranje Tractor Wines, Albany’s only Organic Winery, who achieved a 5 star
winery rating in the “2010 James Halliday Australian Wine Companion”. Oranje
Tractor was awarded the best winery in the Albany Region, making it into the “10
Dark Horses” selection, with most of their wines scoring 92 and above out of
100. Their 2004 Riesling with 95/100 was in the top 20 in Australia, 2003 & 2004
vintages scored 94/100. oranjetractor.com
***************
English WWOOFer, Adam
Greenwood, has just published an A-Z pocket guide called “The Practical Guide to
WWOOFing” Adam has WWOOFed in England, Scotland, France, Spain, Portugal and
Hungary and has put this guide together for WWOOFers independently of any WWOOF
group. Your WWOOFers may be interested, it is available from
Adam's website as a paperback or e-book.
***************
All the best for a great
Spring from the WWOOF Team, Garry, Traci, Debb, Tam. Lorraine & Manda
Host Renewals
Host
Renewals will be invoiced in the next few weeks for those hosts whose
expiry date is December 2009. This year there will be a ‘mystery’ prize to those
hosts who have correctly completed their host renewal forms, including the
number of WWOOFers hosted.
WWOOF P/L has a
Privacy Policy detailing the handling of personal information pursuant to the
Privacy Act 1998 and the Privacy Amendment (Privacy Sector) Act 2000. The
Privacy Policy is available for your inspection. If you require any further
details, please contact our Privacy Officer on 03-5155-0218
WWOOF Membership
$60
single or
$70 for two people
travelling together
**Hosts receive $10 for
every member they sign up!**
Host Membership
New
Host $50, Annual Renewal $45,
Concession $30
**Host Application
and Renewal are free on receipt of a copy of your
current
certificate from
an AQIS Certifying Body**
Host Deadlines
for alterations in the WWOOF Book:
30/04/2008
&
31/10/2008
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