From Backpacks to Bonds: Australia Celebrates 50 Years of Working Holiday Makers
Australia’s Working Holiday Maker program is turning 50, marking five decades of backpackers trading short-term jobs for long-term connections – and helping to strengthen Australia’s ties with 50 countries across the globe.Australia’s long-running post-pandemic migration boom is rapidly unwinding, with new Australian Bureau of Statistics figures showing net overseas migration has fallen to about 305,000 people in 2024–25 – a drop of around 30 per cent from its recent peak – as tighter visa rules curb new arrivals and departures surge to their highest level since borders reopened.
Australia is celebrating a major milestone in its migration story, with the Working Holiday Maker program marking 50 years since it was first launched in January 1975 as the “Work and Holiday” scheme for young travellers from Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom and Australia. What began as a small cultural exchange initiative has grown into a global network, now covering reciprocal arrangements with around 50 partner countries and two visa subclasses that allow eligible young adults to work and travel in Australia for up to 12 months.
Assistant Secretary for Immigration Engagement, Pacific and Major Events, Brett White, says the anniversary highlights the program’s enduring role in connecting Australia with the world, describing it as a way for young people from different countries to “learn from and about each other” and to build lasting friendships across borders. Over the decades, millions of working holiday makers have experienced Australia’s history, landscapes and communities first-hand, while contributing energy and skills to local industries, particularly tourism, agriculture and hospitality in regional and rural areas.
The program operates on a simple model: visitors come primarily for an extended holiday, but are allowed to take on short-term work and study to support their stay, while Australians enjoy similar opportunities in partner countries under reciprocal agreements. Officials say this approach not only supports seasonal and hard-to-fill roles, but also deepens cultural understanding, with many former backpackers returning home as lifelong advocates for Australia’s people, places and multicultural values.
As the Working Holiday Maker scheme enters its next 50 years, the federal government says it remains committed to welcoming new generations of travellers, strengthening regional economies and showcasing Australia to the world in a period of broader migration reform. Young people interested in a 12-month working holiday adventure can find detailed eligibility criteria and application information on the Department of Home Affairs website under the Working Holiday Maker program.
“Source: Australian Department of Home Affairs – © MAN TV / Multicultural Australian Network Television.”
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