Australia’s ‘Work & Holiday’ visa program

MANILA, Philippines — Australia’s Work and Holiday Visa Program, also referred to as the “Working Holiday Maker Visa Program, offers young professionals from other countries the great chance to have a holiday vacation while being employed there.

The program allows tertiary education graduates and students between the ages of 18 and 30 from participating countries to work in each other’s country for up to 12 months while on a holiday vacation to subsidize their holiday, get experience and exposure in overseas work, and interact and familiarize with their host country’s industries. Visa quota for the program starts at the minimum of 100, and is increased every year.

Over the years, Australia has been expanding this visa program by signing agreements with more countries and increasing visa quotas for countries that are already participating in the program. The program is being pursued by Australian Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Senator Chris Evans.

On 1 August 2008, Senator Evans increased the visa quota for Chile. On 7 August 2008, he entered into agreements with Indonesia and Malaysia for implementation of the program. On August 9, Thailand, which became the first southeast Asian country to participate in the program on July 2004, has received commitment from Senator Evans to increase the visa quota to 500 program beneficiaries per year.

Australia also has Work and Holiday Visa Agreements with Turkey and the United States, which have benefited thousands of young workers over the years. It is also currently finalizing details of the same agreement with Bangladesh.

Now, what are the basic requirements for eligibility to the program? Very simple: applicants must be between 18 and 30 years old, must have a valid passport with at least 1 year until renewal, sufficient funds to support him or her in Australia; must accomplish health and character requirements; must not have any substantial criminal convictions nor any substantial medical issues.

This is indeed a great program which, if our country will be able to tap, will enable young Filipino professionals and would-be professionals to undergo training and potentially get permanent jobs in Australia in the future. This would be another competitive advantage of Filipinos over job aspirants from other countries, who may not have had undergone such training.

Unfortunately, our country’s Diplomatic Mission in Australia has not yet tapped and maximized the program.

These major developments in the global scene should serve as a wake-up call on our government to work aggressively to tap the this visa program and maximize its benefits for our young professionals.

Eduardo “Jun” Burgos Jr. was a journalist from 1991 to 1999 and wrote for Manila Standard and Today. He also served as information attaché of the Philippine embassy to Australia under Ambassador Delia Domingo-Albert from 1999 to 2001. He may be contacted through his e-mail address: junburgos1021@gmail.com  –Jun Burgos, INQUIRER.net