working holiday visa

I'm looking into doing the whv thing in Australia and possibly New Zealand. I can either work there as a social worker or in unskilled labor. Given the worldwide economic meltdown, is there any work to be had for foreign travellers at this point in that part of the world?
Any info, especially from those there now, would be appreciated. Thanks.

Hi shudarsana, according to your profile your citizenship is American, so you would need to apply for the Work and Holiday Visa (Subclass 462), which is for applicants from Chile, Malaysia, Thailand, Turkey and the USA.

Although there is unemployment here it's not as bad as in America or the UK.
Some websites that may be of help are Jobsearch, and Seek. There will always be a demand for fruitpickers, see the Harvest Trail, and the Harvest Calendar. The Stoned Crow is also good and shows the fruitpicking calendar for Western Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania. Although it is hard work and less well paid, there is always a demand for workers. Cafes/bistros are another good place to try as well as supermarkets.

Good luck.

Hi Shudarsana

I can offer you an update on the job climate here in Australia, remembering it is a large country, and I am only observing what is happening in my local area, the south-west.

My family has a large apple growing operation in Manjimup. This year, we have had an unprecedented number of job applications - at least three times as many as we have need for. We have been discussing the possible reasons behind this.

I believe the backpacker network has probably passed around information that Manjimup is a good place for apple and vegetable harvest work, and we have therefore seen a greater influx of job hopefuls. Further, now that many backpackers want a second working holiday visa, there is even more interest in harvest work. Some applicants this year were quite desperate, having left their "three months" harvest work to the last possible time. My advice on this - if you're set on getting a 2nd visa, do your 3 months harvest work straight away, as soon as you get here.

However, I don't think you should be discouraged about coming and getting work. Anyone who really wants work should find a job. Show yourself to be someone motivated, committed, and ready to work hard. Be prepared to travel to different harvest regions. Do some research on harvest times for different produce, find some employer contacts off the web if possible, and contact them directly. If they don't have work, they might take your contact details. If they do, follow up, or ask them when you should call in. Remember, you might be placed on a list of 20 or more. Make yourself stand out. Alternatively, go through a job network site. Personally, I'm Australian and I have never got a job this way. I have got jobs (including harvest/hospitality jobs) primarily through networking and finding ways to contact the person who can decide to hire you on the spot.

I hope this has been of assistance.

Lucinda

Unemployment is around 5.2% but is tipped to rise above 7%. The GDP released on 4 March for ther December quarter dipped 0.5% following a 0.1% rise in the third quarter. We are however, doing much better than any other developed nation. We're not immune, and we'll get hit but we'll probably escape the worst.

To re-iterate,
There will ALWAYS be demand for fruitpickers, and even now we are importing workers from Pacific Islands to do this work because farmers can't get the pay. I remember a girl staying at the YHA in Sorrento, Victoria back in March two years ago who lived in the south west of WA and she was over here fruit picking.

The YHA at Cooktown in FNQ have a section for the fruitpickers and I spoke with the chap who runs the place today, and he tells me there is no downturn in the number of workers needed. You could do a whole year's fruit picking in QLD alone - Crops Calendar QLD Here's a a list of some farms from Cardwell to Port Douglas.
While you may or may not not find a job in your area of expertise, you can always find a job in the fruit picking industry.
Cheers.

thanks so much for the information, especially the links!!!