Visas and volunteering in Australia

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship has updated it's website (current Feb 2010) where it concerns volunteers, below we have provided the latest information. Generally speaking if a person's visa allows them to do paid work then they would automatically be able to volunteer. The only visas that need checking are those visas where paid work is not allowed.

Volunteer work tourism schemes

In general terms, you may be able to work as a volunteer whilst on a Tourist visa if:

• Your main purpose in visiting Australia is tourism, and any voluntary work remains incidental to this.
• The work involved would not otherwise be undertaken, in return for wages, by an Australian resident.
• The work is genuinely voluntary and that no remuneration is received in return for the activities.

Note: It is acceptable, under the conditions of the Tourist visa, to receive meals, accommodation and/or reimbursement of out-of-pocket living expenses in return for voluntary work.

For further information, visit www.immi.gov.au

Some of the more uncommon types of visas are covered below:

• Tourist visas
• ETA Visitor (subclass 976)
• Working holiday visa
• Student guardian visa: Legislative amendment – people can work or volunteer up to three months.
• Student visas: Students during term time can spend up to 20 hours per week either volunteering or doing paid work or a combination of the two but during holidays and after graduation there is no limit.
• Temporary Protection Visas, fact sheet 64: As TPVs have 'work entitlements' this mean they do paid work which means they can also volunteer without any trouble.
• Assistance for Asylum Seekers in Australia, fact sheet 62: People can undertake paid work (see work entitlements).