Volunteering in Australia is a great way to save money, meet locals, and gain new experiences while travelling. Whether you’re on a Working Holiday Visa, tourist visa, or student visa, volunteering can enrich your trip — and sometimes even help you extend your stay!
In this guide, we cover the best platforms, types of volunteering, legal info, and practical tips to help you get started.
Table of Contents
Most Popular Types of Volunteer Work
You’ll find volunteering opportunities in many sectors, including:
| Type of Volunteering | Examples |
|---|---|
| Farm stays | Fruit picking, animal care, gardening |
| Eco projects | Tree planting, wildlife rescue, permaculture |
| Hostel help | Cleaning, reception, organising activities |
| House sitting | Pet care, watering plants, light chores |
| NGOs & community | Events, charity support, food banks |
🔧 Most volunteer hosts offer free accommodation and meals in exchange for 4–6 hours of work/day.
Why Volunteer in Australia?
Volunteering in Australia is a unique way to experience the country beyond the typical tourist trail. It allows you to immerse yourself in local culture, meet Australians and fellow travellers, and give something back while exploring.
For backpackers and Working Holiday Visa holders, volunteering is also a smart way to save money on food and accommodation, especially in remote or expensive regions.
Whether you’re staying on an organic farm, helping in a hostel, or supporting a community project, volunteering helps create meaningful connections and often leads to unexpected travel opportunities. It’s also a great way to build new skills, boost your confidence, and add a memorable experience to your journey through Australia.
You will be able to develop your network, because even if you work without pay, your hosts will undoubtedly know other people in Australia. You may be offered a paid job a few weeks later. Because yes, as elsewhere, networking is very important in Australia.
It is an amazing way to go to places you would have never visited if not for volunteering. In addition, you will live a unique experience, discover activities that you will certainly never have discovered before, sometimes with animals in remote regions and in areas that are surely not your favorite areas (painting, gardening , general work on the farm).
What is Wwoofing, HelpX and WorkAway?
WWOOF = World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms
What It Is: WWOOF connects volunteers with organic farms and growers. Volunteers work in exchange for food, accommodation, and the opportunity to learn about organic lifestyles.
How It Works: You typically work for 4-6 hours a day helping with farming and household tasks. In return, you receive free room and board. This exchange provides an immersive experience in sustainable agricultural practices.
Getting Started: To join WWOOF Australia, you need to sign up for a membership, which gives you access to a database of participating farms across the country.
HelpX
What It Is: HelpX is broader than WWOOF, connecting volunteers with various types of hosts, not just farms. These can include hostels, B&Bs, and even sailing boats.
How It Works: Volunteers or “helpers” exchange a few hours of work for accommodation and meals. Tasks can range from painting to reception work in hostels.
Getting Started: Sign up on the HelpX website to browse listings and contact hosts. Membership provides detailed information about each host, including reviews from other helpers.
WorkAway
What It Is: Similar to HelpX, Workaway offers a wide range of volunteering opportunities worldwide, including Australia.
How It Works: Workaway focuses on cultural exchange; volunteers help out with various tasks for a few hours a day (usually 4-5 hours, 5 days a week) in exchange for food and accommodation.
Getting Started: Create a profile on WorkAway, browse opportunities, and use the platform’s review system to find a reputable host.
Legal Info – Can You Volunteer on a WHV?
Yes — volunteering is allowed on most visas, including:
- Working Holiday Visa (417 or 462)
- Tourist Visa (short-term, unpaid volunteering only)
- Student Visa
Can volunteer work count to extend your Working Holiday Visa?
YES, but in some areas only.
Bushfire recovery work
You can count bushfire recovery work in declared bushfire affected areas as specified work. The work can be:
- construction, farming, or any other work in association with recovery or restitution of land, property, farm animals or wildlife
- support services or assistance to people living, working or volunteering in the affected areas.
Examples of eligible paid or volunteer specified work in bushfire recovery:
- re-building fences destroyed
- caring for wildlife
- demolition of buildings, trench digging, land clearing and earth moving
- residential and non-residential construction or renovation/repair, including of roads, footpaths, bridges, parking lots, fencing, railways, dams, irrigation systems, sewage and storm water drainage systems.
Natural disaster recovery work
You can also count work assisting in the recovery of natural disasters (floods, cyclones and other severe weather events) as ‘specified work’. The work can be paid or voluntary.
This applies to recovery work carried out from 31 December 2021 in areas affected by flood, cyclone or severe weather events.
Examples of eligible paid or volunteer specified work in natural disaster recovery work:
- general cleaning up, including wiping down items, moving and cleaning furniture and appliances, hosing out properties and outdoor areas or mopping floors and transportation of rubbish
- demolition of buildings, trench digging, land clearing and earth moving
- residential and non-residential construction or renovation/repair, including of roads, footpaths, bridges, parking lots, fencing, railways, dams, irrigation systems, sewage and storm water drainage systems
- work for charitable organisations assisting flood affected communities, including administrative, technical, and coordination support
- administrative support, including customer service and working in call centres providing flood recovery support
- transport support, including delivering food, medications or other essential items to flood victims
- caring for, transporting and managing affected animals and related equipment.
How to find volunteering opportunities in Australia?
| Platform | Description | Fee per year |
|---|---|---|
| HelpX | Large community, popular with backpackers | ~ €20 |
| Workaway | Cultural exchange-focused | ~ €44 |
| WWOOF | Organic farming & permaculture | ~ $70 AUD |
| Worldpackers | Verified hosts & reviews, app available | ~ €49 |
| Facebook Groups | Great for last-minute or local gigs | Free |
💡 Note: Most platforms don’t include insurance — travel insurance is recommended, even for volunteers.
Other websites
There are many sites dedicated to volunteering. The only downside is that many of them offer paid assignments. Here are a few examples:
- Www.volunteerworld.com
- Goeco.org
- Servicevolontaire.org
- Australianvolunteers.com
- Conservationvolunteers.com.au
Farms, hotels, private individuals… How to choose your Host?
Before “applying” to a future host, ask yourself a few questions:
- What jobs really interest me?
- Is the property not too isolated?
- What area am I looking to gain experience in? Rather in contact with animals or plants, or rather in the building or hotel industry?
- What are my physical labor limitations?
If there’s a host you’d like to volunteer for, contact them and offer your help. Schedule the days and hours you work with your host prior to arrival, to avoid surprises. You normally work 4 to 6 hours each day in return for all of your meals and accommodation.
As you can see, volunteering in Australia is not the same as staying at a hotel. The work is often physical and outdoors, so it’s not a vacation! Before you start the adventure, take the time to contact your host, discuss housing arrangements, working conditions … Unfortunately, there are people trying to abuse the system, so be careful! Before making an appointment with your host, seek advice from previous volunteers, ask questions, and rather choose hosts who publish photos of their property. Some people also claim they would be able to renew your WHV, which is not possible anymore – so be careful!
Tips for a Great Volunteering Experience
- Agree on hours, duties & inclusions before starting
- Be respectful of the host’s property and lifestyle
- Stay flexible — some hosts require a 1–2 week minimum
- Take photos & leave a review for future travellers
- Trust your instincts — don’t stay somewhere that feels unsafe!
Experiences as a volunteer in Australia
Alicia, Wwoofer all around Australia
“The type of work you are going to do depends on the hosts. At the farm or in the house, I did the house work and mowed the lawn. Luckily, they suggested a few more rewarding jobs, such as helping with the construction of enclosures, planting of seedlings, harvesting, as well as looking after and cuddling the farm animals. In hotels, you obviously expect to do more housekeeping, to welcome guests at the reception, and to fulfil administrative tasks.”
Claudia and Jeremy, Wwoofing in South Australia
“Seduced by a particular farm profile, we choose the town of Nairne in Adelaide Hills area. In this region, the offers for volunteering are varied. From homestay (missions in homes, usually in cities), to childcare, but above all a majority there are offers for work on animal and fruit/vegetable farms in the region. Our hosts are a family of 5. The mother is a photographer and the father, through successful financial investments, has fulfilled his childhood dream by becoming the owner of several farms.
Our missions are from the most classic for a farm (painting, maintenance of enclosures), to other more original ones (sheep shearing, cooking, transfer alpacas and lambs to enclosures, look for runaway chicks…).
During these 4 weeks, we meet the parents of our hosts who invite us to Brisbane. We also meet friends of the family. One of whom will give us discounts at the hotels he runs in Australia and Bali. We were offered tours in Port Lincoln and the Barossa Valley wineries. And all this in exchange for a few hours caring for lambs, chicks and other farm animals! Thanks to these few weeks of Wwoofing, we were given employer references that helped us find painting jobs in Queensland. So volunteering if always a good opportunity to meet people and create a network in Australia !”
Updated 19.04.2025
