How It Works
Who can be a Farmaroo® ?
If you are Canadian and between the ages of 18 and 30 with farming experience, then you can apply to be a Farmaroo® . You will need to have a current passport and be eligible to apply for an Australian working holiday visa.
Ideally you will have farm machinery experience, including combine harvesters and grain carts. Experience with agricultural GPS units would also be beneficial.
What does it cost to be a Farmaroo® ?
There is a cost to join the Regional Placements program which covers your initial placement and set up fees. As a non-resident of Australia, you will also need to pay for compulsory health insurance to cover your working placement.
Covering organisational costs and responsibilities only, these fees have been leveraged to keep costs as low as possible for Farmaroos. However, it is safest to say that your income earned whilst in the Farmaroo program should comfortably cover recreational travel in Australia once the program is complete. Should farmers choose to re-engage Farmaroos, fees are significantly reduced.
Dodgshun Medlin Regional Placements is an innovative and safe service to established and trusted clientele and Farmaroos alike.
Pay and Conditions
While working as a Farmaroo® in our Regional Placements Program you might be surprised at the wages paid on Australian farms. Unlike some other schemes, our program is not a traineeship. This means your pay is not at the diminished rate of a trainee, but that of a full adult.
You will have a minimum 38 hours of work per week for at least five weeks with the option of more if the harvest demands and you are willing, but neither guaranteed nor compulsory. Wages are paid weekly by Dodgshun Medlin on behalf of your host farmer employer.
You will also be provided with a place to live free of cost for the duration of your work placement pre-approved by us for suitability and comfort before you arrive.
Visa Requirements
To be a part of the Regional Placements Program, you will need to obtain an Australian Working Holiday Visa (417). This Visa allows you to stay in Australia for a period of 12 months while completing short-term work to supplement travel.
To get your Australian Working Holiday Visa or find out more please visit the official Australian Government Visa website.
Insurance
To be part of our program, you must have health insurance for the duration of your working placement and we will organise this. Insurance will be valid for 12 weeks from the date of your arrival and will ensure that in the unlikely event that an accident does happen, you will be fully covered for all of your medical expenses.
You will also need travel insurance for the remaining part of your stay in Australia. Once the initial 12 weeks of cover is complete, we can help you organise to have the same cover and policy again. (Please note that insurance is only sold in 12 week blocks.)
Safety Training
Safety is of the utmost importance in our Regional Placements Program. Before Farmaroos begin working on their host farms, a specialised OH&S training booklet must be read and a quiz completed. In Australia, Farmaroos will be provided with additional on-site safety training designed around farming practices.
The Application Process
Applying
When we receive your expression of interest (which can be lodged through this site) we will contact you. We can discuss the program together to see if it is a good fit and then send an application form for you to complete.
Acceptance
Once you have been accepted, we will send you a welcome pack which includes further travel information enabling you to book your flights and apply for your necessary Australian visa. At this point you will be required to sign a contract and pay for the program.
At this time we will be matching you with the perfect host farmer and checking proposed accommodation.
Arrival in Australia
After you arrive at Melbourne airport you will make your way by bus or train to Swan Hill. We will then provide you with all the necessary information for you to set up an Australian bank account into which your pay will be deposited, provide all tax forms and help you get appropriate phone service.
You will be inducted into the Dodgshun Medlin Regional Placements program by co-ordinator Allison Lane, who remains available in the region throughout your placement to answer any questions you might have. You will also be provided with your specific safety training.
Once your Regional Placement is completed
When you have completed your placement you are free to travel and explore Australia at your leisure. You are legally entitled to find further work anywhere in Australia to help fund your travels.
If the season demands and you are interested, you may have the opportunity to participate in further short-term Regional Placements within our program, at different stages throughout the year, for minimal outlay.