BECOME A WWOOF HOST FARM
Get help on your Farm with access to 1000s of Volunteer WWOOFers.
What is
WWOOFing?
An opportunity for you to have willing volunteers on your farm to live and learn your organic practices, while helping for *4-6 hours daily.
Mission Statement:
WWOOF is a worldwide movement linking volunteers with organic farmers and growers to promote cultural and educational experiences based on trust and non-monetary exchanges, helping to build a sustainable global community.
*4-6 hours per day maximum, a maximum of 38 hours in any 7 days
What’s in it
FOR YOU?
Teach others your skills
Show travellers the local secrets
Access to 1000s of volunteers
Website and Mobile App membership
Join a 4,000+ online Community
Membership features …
Website Profile
Create your own unique Profile, showcasing your property, your family and your techniques.
Follow Volunteers
Found a potential Volunteer? Save them to your Favourites to make it easier to find them again.
Instant Messaging
Contact Volunteers in real time with Instant Private messaging, as well as Discussion Forums and a Notice Board.
Images
Showcase your farm with your own image gallery
Map Search
Use the intuitive Map Search to find Volunteers nearby your location or anywhere in Australia.
Online Reviews
WWOOFers leave Reviews for Host Farms. Hosts can leave Reviews for Volunteers.
Help & Support
The WWOOF Australia office is open 5 days a week, available via phone and email.
Connect via Website and Private Messaging
Take full advantage of our Website to search for Volunteer WWOOFers to help you on your Host Farm.
Being a Host Farm ...
Teach others your skills and improve your property, finish those tasks that you thought would never get done, show travellers the local sights, enjoy companionship, and foster cultural exchange.
WWOOF hosts must:
- Grow or produce organic products, but not necessarily be ‘Certified Organic’.
- Provide experiences to WWOOFers in sustainable land care: organic, bio-dynamic or permaculture techniques.
- Provide all food and clean comfortable accommodation to WWOOFers in exchange for 4 to 6 hours maximum of volunteering daily (Maximum 38 hours in 7 days).
- Be an ‘Ambassador for Australia’ and provide a safe haven for WWOOFers.
- Treat WWOOFers with respect and consideration.
Opening your home and your heart to travellers from all over the world offers the potential for amazing cultural experiences, new ideas, new foods and lifelong friendships.
WWOOFers live and volunteer with their hosts in the same way that relatives and friends do when they visit. Your best WWOOFers will become part of your family. If you travel overseas one day, they may well return your hospitality!
Join in 3 Easy Steps!
1
Sign Up from $30
Certified Organic (non-certified memberships also available).
2
Create Your Profile
Showcase your property to potential volunteers. Use images, maps and calendar.
3
Find Volunteers
Use the website to search for and communicate with volunteers.
Select WWOOF Host membership
WWOOF Host Memberships
Payment via: Credit Card, Paypal or Direct Deposit
Invite WWOOFers to stay, help out and learn about organics.
Host Farm
Certified Organic
$30
Organic Certification required
12 month membership.
Host Farm
Non-Certified
$65
Non-Certified
12 month membership.
Host Farm
Concession
$50
Health Care Card Only.
12 month membership.
FAQs & Legal Stuff
WWOOF host farm information plus some history and background information.
WWOOF Hosts must:
• Grow or produce organic products.
• Provide experiences to WWOOFers in organic farming/gardening techniques.
• Provide all food and clean comfortable accommodation to WWOOFers in exchange for 4 to 6 hours maximum of volunteering daily (Max 38 hours in 7 days).
• Be an ‘Ambassador for Australia’ and provide a safe haven for WWOOFers.
• Treat WWOOFers with respect and consideration.
1. WWOOFers provide photo ID and proof of membership on arrival. The WWOOFers profile in their WWOOF App or website is their membership proof. Hosts should arrange membership for non-members online at wwoof.com.au or by calling WWOOF.
2. Hosts keep a Guestbook for WWOOFers to sign and record their Membership user name, visa type and dates of their visit. Please download this sample Guestbook page. If required the WWOOFer agreement should be signed by host and WWOOFer.
3. The most important experience for WWOOFers is learning about your farming/gardening techniques. Please be patient and available with them whenever possible. Demonstrate how tools and equipment work to avoid breakages and injuries.
4. Provide a variety of tasks, even if very basic. Include WWOOFers in the whole routine of your property. Do not isolate them: being alone for hours can be boring and lonely.
5. WWOOFing is a voluntary, non-monetary exchange. Explain daily patterns so WWOOFers can organise their time. They will expect to volunteer for 4 to 6 hours in exchange for living and learning. Flexible hours allow WWOOFers to have free days, discuss hours and types of tasks, conditions, days off, etc. on initial inquiry to avoid misunderstandings. 5 days volunteering in 7 days is preferred, a maximum of 38 hrs per 7 days.
• Hospitality work, waitressing and child-care are not accepted as WWOOFing .
• WWOOFers should keep their living area tidy, clean up themselves and help with meals or washing up, but housework should not be the primary tasks they are asked to do.
6. Most Hosts provide accommodation in a spare room in their home. WWOOFers eat with the family and share in the chores. A caravan, cabin, tent or a self-contained dwelling are acceptable alternatives. Make this clear in your profile and at booking. Ask about special diets on initial inquiry, if you cannot cater for this, ask WWOOFers to bring any special food.
7. Accommodation and food preparation areas must be adequate and hygienic. Food and bedding should be clean and warm. Food should be fresh and organic where possible.
8. Hosts are Ambassadors for Australia. In the spirit of cultural exchange treat WWOOFers as members of your family and assist them to receive suitable medical treatment if necessary.
9. Many WWOOFers use public transport. Picking WWOOFers up from the nearest bus or train by arrangement is helpful. Always exchange mobile numbers in case of problems.
10. We recommend inviting WWOOFers for short stays initially, negotiating longer stays if you are both happy. If WWOOFers don’t abide by your ‘house rules’ or follow the WWOOF Guidelines you may ask them to leave. Facilitate this by offering internet or phone access to find another place to stay and offer a lift to the bus, town or the nearest Hostel if needed.
11. Abusive language, inappropriate behaviour and sexual harassment of any kind will not be tolerated, this includes swearing or yelling at a WWOOFer or intentional unwelcome touching of any kind, including hugging. If we receive complaints of this nature, your WWOOF membership may be cancelled, at our discretion.
12. WWOOF reserves the right to refuse to list a Host or to remove a Host profile as we see fit. We will edit profiles as necessary.
13. WWOOFing is strictly voluntary. Hosts must be fully aware of the different regulations governing holders of Working Holiday, Student and Visitor (Tourist) visas.
14. Hosts must not allow WWOOFers to use chemicals, i.e. herbicides/pesticides, etc
You are solely responsible for complying with the relevant rules and laws in your jurisdiction (if any) especially with regard to tax and insurance and you must comply with Work Cover Legislation and Occupational Health and Safety Requirements, including the provision of all Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
WWOOF reserves the right to amend/update these guidelines as required.
NOTE: WWOOF P/L cannot condone the breaking of State and/or Federal laws. WWOOF P/L reserves the right to cancel a Hosts registration immediately if we believe the Hosts' actions may bring the name of the WWOOF P/L program into disrepute.
WWOOF Pty Ltd has operated in Australia since 1981 and has become a smorgasbord of Australia’s organic farms, permaculture and alternative lifestyle properties, offering travellers from Australia and overseas a taste of rural life.
Host Profiles include contact details, a detailed property description, work to be done, and meal and accommodation arrangements, availability calendar, location map and messaging links. WWOOFers search the website or their App, choose Hosts to contact, and arrange a mutually agreeable time to visit.
WWOOFers live and volunteer their time with Host families just as relatives or friends do when visiting. The minimum stay is 2 nights (to prevent WWOOFers eating, sleeping and leaving the next morning), the maximum stay is up to the Host and WWOOFer.
We receive so much positive feedback from our WWOOF Hosts about their wonderful experiences, but there can also be problems, as WWOOF Hosting is not for everyone.
Carefully consider the following issues BEFORE deciding to become a Host as you may need to deal with them if they arise.
- WWOOFers are generally unskilled.
- some have never left their home country, or the city.
- some have never completed tasks outside.
- WWOOFers sometimes book in, then don’t arrive.
- cultural, lifestyle, personality and language differences can lead to misunderstandings.
Good communication between Hosts and WWOOFers is essential. With patience, understanding and compassion, it can be a worthwhile and memorable experience for most WWOOF Hosts.
Please read the Host Guidelines and Obligations carefully. You can apply online to become a Host and set up your own profile. It is important to be totally up-front with the information about your property to prevent surprises and complaints. Many of our Hosts are very unusual, and this adds to the diversity of the WWOOF Program, so don't be shy about the things you offer that set you aside from 'the norm'! Your Host profile will be on our website and on the WWOOF App.
To find WWOOFers, post regular advertisements in our Notice Board on our website, or search on the Map search for nearby WWOOFers. Please keep your profile accurate and up-to-date. WWOOFers search the website and WWOOF App for hosts, so be sure to include key words in your profile rather than generalisations. For example, rather than "we have many different animals", "we have pigs, horses, goats, chickens, ducks, bees and sheep" will ensure your profile comes up in many different WWOOFer searches.
There are important visa regulations regarding work that WWOOF Hosts need to be aware of.
The Australian Department of Home Affairs (DHA) allows visitors to Australia to WWOOF on Student, Visitor (formerly Tourist visa) and Working Holiday visas.
Work is defined by DHA as, "an activity that, in Australia, normally attracts remuneration". This means any activity that normally attracts payment, irrespective of whether you are paying money or giving some other kind of reward, (eg food and accommodation) it is still deemed to be work, particularly on a commercial farm. Volunteering is not considered work by DHA if it is for a not-for-profit entity, such as a hobby farm.
If you are going to offer "work" as defined by DHA you must ensure the WWOOFer has a visa that entitles them to "work". You can check this by ensuring their visa/passport is stamped appropriately. If they possess a Working Holiday Visa (WHV), 6 months is the maximum time they are allowed to work at any one establishment.
If you need to check on a WWOOFers visa there is a free, online facility, VEVO, that allows an employer to check visa entitlements of a non-Australian passport holders' visa. You need to register to use VEVO and will need the WWOOFers permission to check their visa details. You will need their: name, date of birth, passport number and passport country of issue.
IMPORTANT NOTE: DHA change the rules from time to time about what activities are allowed on visas, it is important to confirm with DIBP that the type of visa your WWOOFer holds does allow volunteering in exchange for food and accommodation.
Visitor (Tourist) Visas and Student Visas
- Visitor Visa - Tourist Stream (subclass 600) *see note below
- Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601), *see note below
- eVisitor (subclass 651),
- Student Visa,On Visitor visas any work must be genuinely voluntary and must be work that would not otherwise be undertaken by an Australian resident and MUST be done for a Not-For-Profit entity, such as a Hobby Farm. If WWOOFers are entering Australia on a Tourist visa it is essential that they have Tourist style accommodation booked for their first few days, and have plans for tourist activities, WWOOFing must not be the main reason for their visit to Australia.WWOOFers on Tourist visas who prearrange to stay on Commercial Farms can be refused entry to Australia as their visa conditions DO NOT permit work. If WWOOFers do prearrange any WWOOF Host visits, they must be Hobby Farms.In most cases WWOOFers on Tourist visas want to be doing something useful, learning about organics and permaculture and getting to know some real Australians.This is much better suited to the pace and lifestyle on non-commercial WWOOF Host properties, where they are generally treated as part of the family. They still have all of their meals and accommodation but the hours are generally less formal and as the property is not generating an income the Hosts are far less likely to be paying someone to help around the property.
There are a large number of non-commercial and hobby farm WWOOF hosts to choose from and the list search allows WWOOFers to select hobby farms when they search for a host. WWOOF Hosts can assist WWOOFers by ensuring they have selected the correct farm type on their WWOOF Profile.
Home Affairs say this about Visitor Visas - Tourist stream:
This visa lets you:
- visit family or friends
- be here as a tourist, for a cruise or for any purpose except business or medical treatment
You can study or train for up to 3 months in total on this visa. But if your main reason for travelling to Australia is study, a student visa might be more appropriate.
You can't work*.
*Volunteering is not considered work by Home Affairs, who define volunteering as follows:
Volunteer work is work that:
- is unpaid (you can be provided with meals, accommodation or out-of-pocket living expenses)
- would not otherwise be done by an Australian for pay
- is short term
- is incidental to your visit to Australia
- is done for a not-for-profit organisation
- benefits the community
The Visitor visa does not offer the wide scope of options that are available to those who are holders of First or Second Working Holiday or Work and Holiday visas which both permit paid work as well as volunteering.
WWOOFing (Volunteering) IS allowed on ALL Working Holiday Visas
The Department of Home Affairs say: “In recognition of the many legitimate and worthwhile agencies that employ volunteer workers to deliver valuable community services, Working Holiday visa holders will still be able to perform volunteer work should they wish to do so. The work will simply not count towards eligibility for a second visa.”
For details, see:
STUDENT Visas
Student visa holders may volunteer for not-for profit (hobby farms) as for Tourist visas, or they can volunteer on commercial farms for up to 40 hours per fortnight as part of their paid work allowance.
For details see:
IMPORTANT NOTE: Home Affairs change the rules from time to time about what activities are allowed on these visas, it is important to confirm with Home Affairs that the type of visa you apply for does allow volunteering in exchange for food and accommodation. WWOOF does NOT have any influence over Home Affairs, and they do not advise WWOOF if they alter the Rules, the most current information is always on their website homeaffairs.gov.au
For more information, see the WWOOF visa PDF
COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE
We rely heavily on feedback from all members to maintain the integrity of the WWOOF program. All complaints must be in writing, with names, membership user names and dates. We verify the identity of a WWOOFer or host making a complaint, but treat this information as confidential.
If we receive a complaint, we will contact the member about whom the complaint was made to follow up the issues raised. We will require the member to provide us with contact and membership details of other members they have hosted or visited.
Failure to provide these details will result in the member’s registration being cancelled.
We are aware that many problems arise due to personality conflicts and we always take this into account when dealing with complaints. We also take into consideration the length of time a member has been in the program and the number of WWOOFers they host, or hosts they visit.
GENERAL COMPLAINTS
For complaints about unsuitable accommodation, food, inaccurate Host profiles, unreasonably long working hours etc., we will ask for details of other WWOOFers who have visited the host. We ask these WWOOFers about their experiences with the Host.
First complaint: We inform the member of the complaint, discuss the issues raised and request a reply in writing, and contact other members who have visited the host or hosted the WWOOFer for their feedback. If the complaint is verified, we will discuss changes that will need to be adopted by the member and, if appropriate, alter the member's profile for accuracy.
Second complaint: we inform the member again, discuss why this issue is still a problem and what can be done to resolve the problem, and warn the member that a third complaint will result in the membership being cancelled.
Third complaint: we will cancel the membership immediately.
SERIOUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING HEALTH AND SAFETY OR SEXUAL OR OTHER FORMS OF HARASSMENT
If we receive any serious complaint about health and safety or inappropriate behaviour, including sexual harassment, verbal or any other type of abuse, we will contact the member to inform them of the complaint and advise that their membership has been suspended pending resolution of the complaint.
The members profile will be immediately removed from the WWOOF Website and App. This may seem harsh; however, when there is a concern raised about health and safety or sexual harassment or abuse of any sort, we must err on the side of caution, as we have a duty of care towards our members.
At our discretion, we will contact members who have messaged the member to ask about their experiences with the member in question. If there are no messages in the members profile, the member will be required to provide a written statement of their version of events along with details of other members they have visited or hosted. We will then contact these members and ask about their experiences with the member.
If similar concerns are raised we will cancel the member’s registration immediately. If the complaint is resolved to our satisfaction, the membership will be reinstated.
If we receive a second similar complaint at any time in the future, the membership will be cancelled immediately.
NOTE: WWOOF cannot condone the breaking of State and/or Federal laws. WWOOF reserves the right to cancel a Host’s or WWOOFer’s registration immediately if we believe the Host’s or WWOOFer’s actions may bring the name of the WWOOF program into disrepute.
Hosts Obligations
When registering as a Host, you agree and confirm that:
You are responsible for your own account security and you will not share your account details with any other person;
You will use your real name, address and contact details;
All other information you provide will be accurate and true;
Any WWOOFer you accept will genuinely benefit from the cultural exchange.
Treat all WWOOFers with consideration and respect.
As a registered Host, you acknowledge that:
You are using WWOOF Pty Ltd entirely at your own risk and we expressly exclude all liability for any loss or damage you, your family, your reputation, your business or your property may suffer as a result of using WWOOF Pty Ltd.
WWOOF Hosts must comply with the relevant rules and laws in your jurisdiction (if any) especially with regard to tax & insurance, Workcover, Occupational Health and Safety legislation, including the provision of all Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
WWOOF is a worldwide movement linking volunteers with organic farmers and growers to promote cultural and educational experiences based on trust and non-monetary exchanges, helping to build a sustainable global community.
WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) started in England in 1972 when the first WWOOFers spent a weekend helping on an organic farm in exchange for their keep. The organisation was initially called Working Weekends on Organic Farms, but was changed to Willing Workers on Organic Farms after people asked “why only weekends?” Gradually WWOOF groups around the world changed this to World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms.
Today there are over 55 WWOOF groups all over the world. All WWOOF groups are independent, but operate in a similar way, by putting people into contact with each other. Throughout the world the WWOOF philosophy is the same; WWOOF hosts provide food and lodging to travelers and students in exchange for between 4 and 6 hours volunteering per day.
Lionel Pollard began WWOOF Australia in 1981, he retired in 2000. WWOOF remains 100% Australian owned, managed and operated. The WWOOF Office is located in W Tree in the foothills of the Snowy Mountains, East Gippsland in Victoria and currently has a Team of four, two in the office as well as a Webmaster and App developer.
WWOOF Hosts all over Australia were originally listed in the Australian WWOOF Book, which was updated and printed twice each year from 1981 until 2017. The WWOOF Australia App was launched in August 2015 and gradually replaced the WWOOF Book, with the final edition being printed in July 2017 due to a lack of demand.
The App provides host contact details, profiles, the volunteering to be done, skills that can be learnt, meal types and accommodation. WWOOFers simply browse through the hosts or search for a specific interest and location, choose a place they would like to go and contact the host to arrange a mutually suitable time to visit.
The choice may be based on geography (close to a route they are travelling); philosophy (such as bio-dynamic farming practices); cultural (many of our hosts speak other languages as well as English) or it may just sound like an interesting place to visit. WWOOFers live and volunteer with the host families in the same way as relatives and friends do when they visit.
In October 2017 the WWOOF Website platform was launched with Host and WWOOFer Profiles, Messaging, Forums, Noticeboard, Map and List searches and Availability Calendars for all members. In April 2018 an upgraded WWOOF App was launched to reflect the features of the WWOOF Website, allowing WWOOFers to also search for Hosts while they are off line.
For contact details of WWOOF groups and information about WWOOFing in countries without a WWOOF Group, see WWOOF International.
Are WWOOFers paid?
There is no monetary exchange between hosts and WWOOFers.
Hosts and WWOOFers undertake to support each other, as friends and extended family do.
WWOOF is a network of large and small organic, bio-dynamic and permaculture host farms and volunteers who help them.
How do I pay to Join WWOOF as a Host?
We offer payment by most credit cards, PayPal or Bank Deposit (EFT).
If you pay by credit card or PayPal, your Account and Profile are active immediately.
If you pay by Bank Deposit (EFT), your access is restricted until your payment clears.
Does WWOOF Australia screen members?
We do not perform background checks, although we do reserve the right to. WWOOF Australia is a fantastic organisation that has been around for over 37 years. It is the leader in linking volunteers and hosts, enabling lifetime experiences and education for both parties.
Can I search for WWOOFers (volunteers)?
Yes, hosts can search for and contact WWOOFers by skills and location. WWOOFers can advertise for hosts on the Notice Board.
What if things don't work out?
Upon signing up as a host you agree to our terms and conditions and must adhere to the WWOOF Guidelines.
Either party has the right to end the relationship if things are not working out. It is important to understand that many WWOOFers come from countries with different cultural ideals, so when you make contact with a potential WWOOFer, be sure to communicate very clearly what you would like the WWOOFer to do during their stay with you.
Sometimes, for whatever reason, the visit may not work out as expected. It may be miscommunication or unreasonable expectations from either party. Be honest and gracefully explain that it's just not working out and remember that the WWOOFer might need transport to a train station or bus stop, or need time to find another host. If you don't feel right, act on it immediately. You are not required to keep the WWOOFer on if it's not working out, but please assist them to move on and try to part on good terms.
WWOOF Australia has a Complaints Procedure which we take very seriously. Any arrangement or agreement you make is your responsibility. Please make sure you make the arrangement clear so that the WWOOFer has a good understanding of your expectations before they arrive.
What if WWOOFers have a pet with them?
If a WWOOFer contacts you who is travelling with a pet, and you have animals of any kind on your property, it is important think very carefully before you agree to Host them.
It is perfectly acceptable for hosts to stipulate No Pets in their Host Profiles and refuse to take WWOOFers with Pets.
Always advise the WWOOFer that their pet is entirely their responsibility while on your property. They must ensure it is kept under control at all times, and they must always have a Hosts permission to bring their pet onto the property.
We have had an incident on a farm when a WWOOFer travelling with a pet dog allowed it off the leash and it was attacked by a working dog. This resulted in the pet being injured, unexpected vet bills, as well as the Host, the WWOOFer and the pet all being traumatised by the experience. The pet will recover, but this may have been avoided if the host had insisted the pet be kept on a leash and not had it in the same area as working animals. Pet dogs have also been known to chase chooks and cause grief for the Host and WWOOFer.
If you do not have any animals on your property and are happy to host WWOOFers travelling with a pet, this is perfectly fine as well, just be very clear about setting ground rules to ensure everyone is clear about what is and isn’t ok. Make sure you warn the WWOOFer of any potential dangers to their pets, such as snakes, crocodiles, kangaroos who love to lure dogs into dams and drown them, etc.
How long is my host membership for?
Your host membership lasts for one year from from the date your joining fee is received and can be renewed each year. We send out a renewal reminder 60days , 30 days and 7 days prior to your expiry date.
How do membership renewals work?
Privacy
WWOOF Pty Ltd. has embraced these principles as part of standard operating procedures. This means that all personal information received by WWOOF Pty Ltd. is dealt with in a uniform manner and with the highest regard for maintaining its security at all times.
If you are concerned our organisation may have handled your personal information inappropriately, please contact our Privacy Officer on (03) 5155 0218 or by email.
Full Privacy Policy
Select WWOOF Host membership
WWOOF Host Memberships
Payment via: Credit Card, Paypal or Direct Deposit
Invite WWOOFers to stay, help out and learn about organics.
Host Farm
Certified Organic
$30
Organic Certification required
12 month membership.
Host Farm
Non-Certified
$65
Non-Certified
12 month membership.
Host Farm
Concession
$50
Health Care Card Only.
12 month membership.
