PAYOur employers all pay AT LEAST according the Australian legal standard wage structure. Many are willing to pay very more, especially when they know you and you have proved yourself. The starting rate is taken from the Pastoral Award - Farmhand Level 1 wage structure.
These pay rates are the minimum you can legally expect for general farm work and these are the starting point for pay offered by the employers we work with. Many employers offer more depending on their job and your age, skills and experience. Most employers will want to verify your abilities 'on the job' before offering you a higher rate of pay. Fairwork is the organisation responsible for ensuring fair pay in Australia. You can verify these rates by checking their website. PAY EXAMPLE:
FARMHAND LEVEL 1 AGE 20+
Calculations based on 38 hours per week (the minimum required hours for a full time role) 1. Food and accommodation not included:
2. Food and accommodation included:
WHAT THIS MEANS
Your take home pay per week after tax and all deductions should be at least $484.30 If you are age 19 it will be 90% of this amount. If you are age 18 it will be 80% of this amount. WHAT YOU CAN SAVE
While you earn your second year visa, you have the potential to save: 13 weeks (88 Days) X $484.30 = $6,295.90* *This is the amount we can guarantee before knowing you or identifying a role for you. If you are skilled, prove to be a good worker, or are offered more hours by your employer you could save significantly more than this. Please note...
There are variations in pay rates between employers and jobs. Some pay more; some slightly less, depending on other benefits they may provide. Skilled, competent, committed and hard workers often get paid very much more because they are greatly valued. Hours available typically range from 38 to 50 or more. The cost to the employer is far more than the take home pay you receive, and ends up being approximately twice that figure, and far more when you consider the time spent showing you around, assessing your abilities, training you and monitoring your work. The employer is within his rights to ask you to make reasonable payments for other services he provides, such as electricity, internet, telephone and use of vehicles, but many rural and outback employers do not as they consider these things to be part of the package. Au-pair type roles are subject to different terms and conditions and sometimes may offer less pay than the rates quoted above. |
TaxTax File Number (TFN)
This is your official number for Australian Government Tax records and you will need to give this to your employer when you start work. Tax rates Tax rates are currently 15% for working holiday makers. The employer will deduct this from your pre-tax pay, plus any deductions for food an accommodation. These tax rates came into effect in January 2017. Prior to this the rate was 32.5%. For further information and details please see the ATO website, www.ato.gov.au YOUR EMPLOYMENT AND TAX STATUS You will have employed status. This means that the employer will pay tax to the Australian Tax office (ATO) for you. As a working holiday maker this is at 15% from the first dollar you earn, and this will be deducted from your pay by the employer. This rate can change for various reasons, and any money due to or from the ATO will be adjusted at the end of each financial year when you make your tax return. The financial year runs from 1 July to 30 June. You are able to reclaim this at the end of each financial year. To do this you will need to keep a good record of 1. Your employment agreement and contract 2. Your pay (on pay slips given to you by your employer each time he pays you) 3. Your expense receipts (for all expenses related to your work, which includes travel to your workplace, travel for work, (not daily travel to and from home), work clothing, tools and equipment, food when travelling with work) We recommend using a tax agent company to help you with this. It does cost you, but normally helps you to get the best possible amount returned to you. We have given links to several such companies at the bottom of this page. SUPERANNUATION – KNOWN AS ‘SUPER’ Super is 10% (rate will be increased in July 2022) paid into a special type of pension account for your future. It is extra to your pay. When you are employed it is a legal requirement for the employer to pay this for you. You can reclaim this (or most of it) when you leave Australia. We recommend using a tax agent company to do this. We have given links to two at the bottom of this page. ADMIN AND PAPERWORK To be correctly registered for tax you will need
We recommend that you take paper copies of all your documents, and also make digital copies. Email them to yourself, and store them on a USB, on your phone AND in the cloud. INSURANCES Your employer should also provide you with workcover insurance. This give you some protection and financial benefits if you are injured and unable to work while you are recovering. You will also have your own ‘work and travel’ insurance. This covers you for the costs of medical treatment if required, and also for repatriation to your won country. This is essential. TAX AGENTS There are many of these available. One of the most experienced in working with working holiday makers is Taxback.com. They can help you with annual tax return, tax refunds, and superannuation refund after you have left Australia. It will help you to quote reference XXX as they have agents who are familiar with our programme. However you may prefer a small company with personal contact. In this case we recommend YYY. RECORD KEEPING To get the most back from your tax and super reclaims you will need to keep good records. EXPENSES We suggest keeping a spreadsheet (google sheets) list of your expenses with the following headings. Keep it up to date every day, or at least every week. Also take photos or scan all you receipts on your phone. If possible add them to the spreadsheet. Save them in a folder, clearly named and in date order, both online and in the cloud. |
PAY
You will also need to keep a good record of the pay you receive. Ideally this will also be in a spreadsheet so you can track the totals. You can take the information from your payslips.
It will also help to make / keep copies of the statements from your Australian bank account to prove the amounts you received.
You will also need to keep a good record of the pay you receive. Ideally this will also be in a spreadsheet so you can track the totals. You can take the information from your payslips.
It will also help to make / keep copies of the statements from your Australian bank account to prove the amounts you received.
Superanuation (Super)Super / Superannuation = Pension payments
Superannuation is a payment that an employer is required to make on your behalf to a pension fund. It is normally 9.5% of your wage. There are many different companies who provide these funds. Your employer may have a Company which they prefer to use, or you can choose and set up your own or with your bank. You may be able to reclaim some this money after you've left Australia. We recommend that you consider using the services of a tax reclaim agency to help you with this. You will need to keep the contact and account details of the fund that your employer sets up for you so you can contact them when you leave Australia. |
