Frequently Asked Questions

A bed with mattress will be provided in your room.

Please bring the below items:

• Bedding including pillows, sheets, duvet/sleeping bag.
• Towels and toiletries
• Food items
• Bike or scooter if you have one (great way to see Port Fairy)
• Bike lock (if applicable)
• BYO safe or lockable storage (for valuables left in room)

Basic kitchen items such as cutting boards, knives, pots and pans, crockery, cutlery, fridge, oven and microwave are provided in the communal kitchen facilities. If you use the communal facilities, such as crockery and cutlery, you must wash, dry and put away these items after use. You are welcome to bring your own crockery and cutlery and store in your room if you choose.

It is the responsibility of the employee to pay for accommodation costs.

Room configuration options:

• Private room: 1 worker per room for $175 per week, worker can bring 1 guest.
• Twin share room: 2 workers per room for $87.50 each per week, additional guests prohibited.

*Limited rooms available.

Rooms can be booked privately or twin shared with a maximum of 2 workers per room. Room or site sharing arrangements can be negotiated with your employer.

Communal kitchen, recreation, lounge and bathrooms.

Free Public wifi

Please refer to the first question on the employee section for accommodation cost.

Your employer is your first point of contact.

So much! We recommend visiting the Port Fairy Visitor Information Centre to find the adventures that are right for you. You can connect with the visitor information team and view their suggested itineraries at @IAMPORTFAIRY or www.iamportfairy.com.au or email vic@moyne.vic.gov.au

A quick Google or Google Map search of Port Fairy cafes/bars/restaurants/pubs will help you to start connecting with potential employers.

Need a hand connecting with employers? Commerce Moyne has a connection service that will put you in contact with employers looking for summer workers. However, to avoid disappointment you can also target the businesses you would like to work at directly.

Workers need to eighteen years or older to take part in the Work and Play program 

If your business is based in the Moyne Shire your businesses is eligible for this program. Preference will be given to Port Fairy visitor facing businesses such as hospitality and tourism attractions, as this program aims to improve the visitor experience over summer by aiding the visitor economy to fill staffing shortages and extend their opening hours.

You, the employer, will hold the license agreement with Moyne Shire Council. Please refer to your license agreement for responsibility breakdown.

Payment of the weekly accommodation fee will be made by the employee.

Complete and submit the Accommodation Request Online Form. The form will ask you to provide information about your business, the employee/s you wish to accommodate, the dates required, and a copy of the license agreement. Once the application has been assessed we will be in contact to let you know if you have been successful. If your application is successful the Parks Coordinator will confirm the booking with you.

Please contact:

Greg Fitzsimmons
0438 020 824

Refer to the License Agreement for more details on costs associated with damages.

Please advise the parks caretaker if you require more than one key. If any key/s are lost by your employees there will be a $50 fee per key which will be invoiced to you.

Please contact Greg Fitzsimmons 0438 020 824

Any associated charges with the call out fee will be invoiced to the employer.

Register for Commerce Moyne’s Connection Service here to gain access to a secure database of prospective workers. If you’re already signed up for the Make It Work connection service, please note that this separate program and database, and you will need to register separately for it.

Q: What is a Working Holiday Maker?
A Working Holiday Maker (WHM) is a person on a subclass 417 or 462 visa. They can work while travelling in Australia. Many farm employers engage WHMs for the 3-month (first-year visa extension) or 6-month (second-year visa extension) periods.

Q: How long do working holiday makers need to work on my farm to qualify for their visa extension, and what accommodation options are available?
Under the terms of the Working Holiday Visa (WHV), in the first year the period required to work in a qualifying business is 3 months/88 days and 6 months in the second year. This means that WHV holder will have to seek accommodation elsewhere before or after 1 December – 26 January Work and Play period. In the past workers have extended their working holiday by finding accommodation at the Port Fairy Youth Hostel, or the employer has accommodated them. There are also some subsided powered and unpowered campsites available at the Moyne Shire Caravan Parks (tents/caravans not supplied).

Q: Do I need to register with the ATO before employing them?
Yes. If you employ WHMs, you must register with the ATO as an employer of working holiday makers before making their first payment. You must already be registered for PAYG withholding. Registration is done online via the ATO’s Working Holiday Maker Employer Registration Form.

Q: What tax rate applies?
If you are registered: Withhold 15% on the first $45,000 of income. For income above $45,000, apply foreign resident rates. If you are not registered: Withhold 30% on every dollar up to $135,000. Higher foreign resident rates apply above $135,000. You may also face penalties.

Q: Do working holiday makers need a Tax File Number (TFN)?
Yes. If they don’t give you a TFN, you must withhold tax at the top rate.

Q: What about superannuation?
WHMs are entitled to superannuation in the same way as other employees.

Q: How do I check their visa?
Use the government’s VEVO service (Visa Entitlement Verification Online) to confirm they hold a valid 417 or 462 visa and have work rights.

Q: What records or reporting do I need?
Include WHM employees in your Single Touch Payroll (STP) reporting. If their visa status changes mid-year (for example, they move to a different visa), you may need to issue separate payment summaries for each period.

Q: Anything else I should know?
A High Court ruling (Addy v Commissioner, 2021) means some WHMs (such as from the UK) who are Australian tax residents may be taxed like Australian residents. Make sure you issue proper payslips, follow Fair Work requirements, and provide safe working conditions – this is especially important for agricultural jobs used toward the 3- and 6-month extensions.

👉 Next step: If you’re planning to hire WHMs, register with the ATO before making any payments: ATO Registration Form.

Click here for the application form