In the BlazeAid camps across the country, a trend is emerging among international backpackers who’ve discovered through social media networks that, if they volunteer for 88 days helping communities rebuild after natural disasters, the Australian Government will give them a one-year visa extension.
Don’t be mistaken, the work is not a walk in the park for the foreigners.
Early starts, long days, extreme elements and hard labour are the trade-off.
From their base at Euroa Showgrounds, BlazeAid volunteers are helping landowners in the area tear down damaged fences and build new ones in the wake of the Longwood bushfire.
The Euroa camp has seen 623 volunteers through it since it was set up on January 19.
There are currently 60 volunteers registered, consisting of 45 in the field fencing and 15 support staff.
Ten of them are tourists.
While the average age of BlazeAid volunteers is between 54 and 65, most of the international volunteers are in their 20s.
Among the current crew are travellers from France, Italy, the United States, the Netherlands and China.
Four Chinese friends who met while working at the Euroa camp said the arrangement benefited both themselves and Australian BlazeAid volunteers in more ways than just labour in exchange for extended visas.
“Sometimes I’m working in the kitchen, sometimes I’m fencing,” 25-year-old C Qian, who has been at the camp for two weeks, said.
“I cooked some traditional Chinese dishes for the camp, like traditional Chinese fried rice. Yesterday, the Italian girls cooked pasta.”
Shelley Tong, 26, has been volunteering in the area for three weeks and said she would stay for several months.
She has a strong interest in land conservation.
“I’m very interested in forestation,” Ms Tong said.
“I saw the job on social media to help people rebuild fences after the fires and wanted to help.”
Chen Xu, 24, works a paid job in Shepparton and then returns to volunteer for BlazeAid when she’s off the roster.
“You get a fair go here and Australian mateship, so you want to come and help,” Ms Xu said, adding that she had experienced some depression before signing up to volunteer.
“The people are humorous and kind. On Chinese New Year, they sang Happy Chinese New Year to me.
“At Easter, when they had chocolate, they had jelly eggs for us. It’s really lovely. It’s the best way for me to experience Australian culture and festivals.”
Ms Xu said there were other means of paid work backpackers could engage in for visa extensions, but that they could sometimes find themselves in toxic work environments.
She recounted experiencing nastiness and racism in past employment.
“Here, everybody is kind and we are respected, and the work is fulfilling and meaningful,” Ms Xu said.
Another bonus for them, the women said, was to have a couple of retired school teachers at the camp willingly teaching them Australian English.
“Being in a camp like this, surrounded by kind people like this, is the best way to learn English,” she said.
“Each time I have a holiday, I’ll be back.”
To learn more about BlazeAid or to register to volunteer, visit the website.
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