A grass-roots group called “Melbourne Working Holiday Girls” is hosting its first ‘Friend-Making Social’ on 22 October 2025 at the Duke of Wellington rooftop. The AUD 22.50 ticketed event is capped at 25 participants and offers newcomers a chance to build social networks, share housing leads and swap job-search tips.
While informal, the event fills an often-overlooked gap in settlement support for Working Holiday (Subclass 417/462) visa-holders, who receive limited official orientation. Organisers plan to rotate venues monthly and are exploring partnerships with hospitality recruiters facing persistent staffing shortages.
Employers in tourism and food services—sectors that rely heavily on backpacker labour—may find the group a useful outreach channel. HR teams can also reference the network in pre-arrival guides to improve employee experience and retention.
The social coincides with recent policy changes allowing working-holiday makers to stay up to three years if they undertake specified regional or critical-industry work, making community integration increasingly important to assignment success.
While informal, the event fills an often-overlooked gap in settlement support for Working Holiday (Subclass 417/462) visa-holders, who receive limited official orientation. Organisers plan to rotate venues monthly and are exploring partnerships with hospitality recruiters facing persistent staffing shortages.
Employers in tourism and food services—sectors that rely heavily on backpacker labour—may find the group a useful outreach channel. HR teams can also reference the network in pre-arrival guides to improve employee experience and retention.
The social coincides with recent policy changes allowing working-holiday makers to stay up to three years if they undertake specified regional or critical-industry work, making community integration increasingly important to assignment success.
