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Visitoz: Australian Working Adventures

Why choose Visitoz: Australian Working Adventures?

Visit the Real Australia and Get Paid doing it! We provide guaranteed work in outback and rural Australia. All jobs are paid at the negotiated wage or better. All jobs provide food and accommodation. Choose between agriculture, horse work, hospitality, tourism, adventure tourism, nursing, child care, teaching, mining and construction.

Visitoz can offer guaranteed work in a range of rural and outback jobs. These give access to work opportunities that are very likely to be remembered as the working adventure of a lifetime.

Reviews

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Pierre
1/5
No, I don't recommend this program

Exploitative organisation to avoid at all costs

Organisation to avoid at all costs (and the costs are high)!
The "training" does not really bring any value, this is more like a holiday camp in the bush. Despite collecting hefty fees, and constantly attempting to charge extra to attendees (selling boots, bus or flight tickets at inflated prices), they fail to deliver proper jobs that are not the below-minimum wage exploitative positions, so easy to find otherwise. I would add it is a dangerous organisation as it facilitates and supports the exploitation of vulnerable overseas workers. Many end up in remote locations with no support, little ways of communicating, and visitoz ALWAYS sides with the farmer, even when he/she breaks the law. I have emails from Joanna supporting a farmer who refused to pay my tax and superannuation, adding misleading comments (it was possible at the time to get tax and super back when leaving the country). Many nightmare stories exists about the role of owner endangering young people to maximise their own profits.
I found local rural job agencies way better at providing farm jobs paid at living wage with farmers respecting their obligations as employers. There is better choice of jobs and support in local agencies than visitoz's supposedly national network.
The organization is desperately trying to keep negative feedbacks away (reason for the recent change of name for the program?) and you will find many disturbing stories about the organisation on the facebook group "Visitoz Feedback" https://www.facebook.com/groups/225934000929717
I welcome anyone interested in the program to get in touch with me for further insights.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Make your own research on the program, and find out what previous backpackers went through using their "services" A facebook group, not controlled by the owners, provides valuable insights as to what to expect.
Alysha
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Australian Farming a Success

I found VisitOz through Oyster Worldwide. After completing the training and saying goodbye (for now!) to the other participants, I took a job placement in the outback of Queensland on a remote cattle station and hay farm. It was truly unique, as I worked with only one other girl and the family of the station. My main duties were irrigation and tractor driving, along with house duties and some small mechanics (basically anything they needed/ asked for I tried). I got over a fear of cows I never knew existed until I was fenced in with them. I learned to drive machines I thought you had to be born into to understand. I learned what it is to live remotely and work for everything you have. I couldn't recommend this program enough, for those looking for either an Australian adventure, farming experience, or to be involved with where you travel. The work is there and readily needed. It's not easy, but it is rewarding in many forms. My life now is my own, I have exceeded some small town conventions and expectations. I have met people and made friends from all over the world, after just one year, my first year of travel - most of which I worked. My advice to anyone considering it is to go, participate, remain open and positive try new things - this was a place that I felt anything could happen, which was extremely motivating when it came to learning and challenging myself without fear of embarrassment, but rather curiosity and confidence.

What would you improve about this program?
The program could be improved I suppose by spending less time on motorbikes and horses - although that was definitely so much fun - and more with technical things such as tractors, maintenance, perhaps with cattle. Although this was just based on my week, and I have seen poss from other weeks where the training differed! But understand as well that in one week they can only cover so much, and it really is just a fun introduction into the various possibilities you could end up following.
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Virginie
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Take oz easy !!!

So much to say...
First it could seems a bit expensive at the biginning but you can be sure that you will get it back in 1month or less.
Then it's lot of fun with amazing staff. You learn a lot in short time but its just 1 week so all your previous skills will help you to find a good job.

Things happens like this... You work all day learn how make some fences, you can drive a tractor, ride a motor bikes and quads, ride horses, they show you a bit of cattle work and mustering. I think the program depends on your instructor i think their is 2. When you come back at springbrook after a good shower georgir may come to you if she got one or more employer interested by your profile. So now up to you to choose and call them back to to hopefully have the job.

I spent 1 amazing year in oz and i met so many people losing heaps of time just looking for a job or sometimes some Of them did have to go back home 'cause did not find a job.
After 6month in oz i call visitoz back and they helped me to find a new job. So it makes it easier...

What would you improve about this program?
When i read the visitoz website and then arrived in visitoz i've been a bit surprise about 2things... You do have to call the employer yourself to get the job they make the first contact for you... They never mention it even if it seems pretty obvious (my english was not very good so it was kind of taff for me) but i've been pretty lucky...
The other thing is that you learn and see a lot in 1 week but it doesnt make you the perfect australian farmer so you may find a job relative to your previous skills. But every thing went fine so nothing to complain about just good to know...

Programs

This organization no longer has any active programs. Visit our homepage to continue your search.

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Georgie Collcutt

Job Title
Program Manager

What position do you hold at VisitOz? What led you to join their team?

Georgie

Georgie: I work as the Programme Manager. I started of as a VisitOz participant and got offered a job here at the training farm.

I expected to only stay for 3-6 months, but found my new home here and have been working for VisitOz for more than 4 years.

What do you most enjoy about your role?

Georgie: I am able to live on location on the farm in a rural setting with all my expenses included, I am able to be with my horses and lead a healthy outdoor lifestyle.

The view from my desk looks out across the farm, I am able to watch the training programme as it takes place and not feel like I am trapped in an office based environment

What makes VisitOz's programs special?

Georgie: It is a unique business and there are no companies out there offering the same package that we offer. The VisitOz programme is not only a great experience but participants are also able to get a paid job at the end of it. Effectively they are able to earn back the cost of the training course, admin support and other initial costs paid.

What is your favorite story of a participant's experience with VisitOz?

Georgie: One of our Canadian participants worked Cotton harvesting for 5 months. She earned a lot of money driving tractors and was able to obtain a second visa. She returned to Canada after her first year and missed Australia.

She came back 6 months later. During this time she fell in love with an Aussie and he asked her to marry him. She now lives in northern New South Wales and wrote to thank us for where it all began. These stories make our job worth it.

What tips would you share with someone considering the VisitOz program?

Georgie: Make sure you are prepared for the fact that the jobs we offer are really tough and something you would have never experienced in working life before. This is because farm work is a lifestyle choice not a job. Be flexible in the work that is offered to you because there is so much more to discover about the role when you get there.

Either way you must be prepared to work sun up to sun down, often in very high temperatures and be prepared to learn on the job and be taken out of your comfort zone.

There will be bad days and good days, as like in any job that you are getting paid to do,but at the end of your 3-6 months working you can be sure that you have had an incredible and unique experience, learned new skills and pocketed all of the money you have earned.