Wineries - Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bibber all about?
This program provides a life changing experience for enthusiastic wine industry personnel from all the winemaking regions of the world. It not only provides a visa for legal work in Australia but also a comprehensive program of support and mentorship during the participants stay. It is not a source of cheap labour for wineries, but rather a true cultural exchange where the winery staff and families benefit as much as the participant. Bibber is associated with a global network of partners, all of whom seek excellence in the quality of the services they offer, to both the participants and the hosts. Bibber is the biggest (and best!) program of its type in the world.
How does it work?
Step 1. |
Applications from participants are received from all over the world. |
Step 2. |
An ‘available Bibber list’ is posted on our website and you have access to it 24 hours a day 7 days a week via a secure login. This list is updated weekly. If anyone looks interesting, all you need to do is click on the link and it will take you to comprehensive information about the applicant including CV Autobiography and references. There is also a short YouTube video for applicants to tell you about their experience and to demonstrate their English abilities. |
Step 3. |
If you find someone you like, we prepare a placement agreement and it is signed by both you and the ‘Bibber’ |
Step 4. |
We send this placement agreement to Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) with a letter of invitation offering to sponsor the applicant for the time he is in Australia. We also send several visa forms, info about the applicant and some visa fees. The visa process usually takes less than 28 days, however it can take longer for applicants from Higher risk countries. For this reason we sometimes lodge the visa application before they have a winery, because Immigration need extra time to process these applications. |
Step 5. |
The ‘Bibber’ arrives in Australia prior to your desired start date and attends a three day ‘Welcome to Australia’ party/orientation seminar. Attendance at this event is compulsory and certainly helps the Bibber cope in the first few weeks. The seminar provides general information about living in Australia and also wine industry specific information. We also apply for the tax file number and activate the bank account during this time. They also get the chance to make friends with other Bibbers and often this leads to long term relationships (we have had a couple of weddings!) You and all participating wineries have a standing invitation to attend the many functions we have during Mad Season! |
Step 6. |
The Bibbers usually travel directly to their winery following the seminar. If vintage is late, they may travel before starting with you. We make sure that they stay in touch with you if they decide to do this. |
Step 7. |
They will work for as long as you need them before leaving to take a holiday or return directly home. If you want them to stay longer we can help with this if they can extend their visa, and if you want to keep them forever, we can help with that as well! |
Step 8. |
Both you and the Bibber are sent a feedback form, which enables you to evaluate the experience, the program and the services offered by Bibber. |
Step 9 |
The Bibber returns home (sometimes after a brief holiday) and you can forward all their mail to us for on forwarding to the Bibber via email, fax or post. After the 30 June each year, we coordinate the collection of payment summaries and arrange to lodge the tax returns through a partnership with a good accountant. We help with the super refunds as well with the help of the ANZ and ING. |
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If I register my winery do we have to take someone?
No. Registration is completely obligation free. If you don’t like the look of anyone we have or you get your staff sorted by some other means, that is fine.
Who is eligible to come to Australia using this program?
A suitable participant:
- Is under 31 years of age *
- Has some experience in the wine indusctry
- Often is studying or has completed tertiary winemaking, science, food Technology or viticultural qualifications. May have also studied WSET or worked in wine service
- Has a good command of the English language
- Has references that can be verified
- Is committed to and enthusiastic about the wine industry
There are other options available to people over 31, however those people would require employer sponsorship rather than Bibber Sponsorship. Please contact us if you have a direct applicant who is over the age limit.
Why should we use Bibber instead of going directly to DIAC?
I guess that it depends on how much you like paperwork and stress! It is now very hard to sponsor young winemakers to come to Australia, unless they come from a country that has rights to a Working Holiday Visa,-they do not require any sponsorship. Unfortunately many winemaking countries do not enjoy access to this visa.
If you decide to sponsor a winemaker and intend to have them work for you on a regular basis for 4 years (or vintages), then the 457 Business Long Stay Visa would certainly be an option. Unfortunately this visa cannot be used for cellarhands as this is not an occupation on the list. The minimum salary is currently $51,400 pa. the processing time for this visa is usually around 8 weeks depending on Immigrations’ workload. The visa fee costs are around $900 and if you use an agent the costs would be anywhere between $4000-$7000.
How much will it cost me?
The best thing about this unique time saving service is that it is such great value for money. The placement fee is $300 +GST per person. A percentage of the fees you pay, fund a Memorial Scholarship in memory of a German Winemaker who died tragically in a road accident while she was working in Australia in 2004. For more information about this Scholarship please visit the scholarship page. The funds generated allow an Australian winemaker to travel to Germany for vintage and we also soon hope to fund a German Winemaker to come to Australia.
How much do we have to pay them?
One of the conditions of this program is that participants are paid on a casual basis according to the wine and spirit award of your state. If you do not already have this information, visit the Federal and State Awards and Conditions of Employment website at www.fairwork.gov.au The participants shall be paid overtime according to the relevant award and, because they all will have some experience, should be paid at a level higher than the entry/training level, that is at least level 2. They will expect to be paid around $15-18 per hour as a basic wage. Please note that this program is not a source of cheap labour!
Can I choose a specific nationality?
If someone at your winery speaks a foreign language or has an interest in a particular country, then it is fine to specify a nationality. Please remember, however that it may limit your choice of available participants.
Do I need to provide transport?
There is no obligation to provide transport for a Bibber, though it has been known for wineries to lend them a bicycle or an old ute! Please remember that many will arrive without the funds to go out and buy a car as soon as they arrive, so assistance with transport in the first instance will be appreciated.
Do I need to provide accommodation?
There is no obligation for you to provide accommodation. However if the winery is in a remote location, any assistance provided would be much appreciated. It is the cause of a lot of worry for many of the Bibbers that they don’t know where they will be living so if you can help out with a bed or couch even if it only for a few days, they will be much more relaxed from the outset.
If I do provide accommodation, can I pay them less?
If you provide accommodation, you can of course charge rent or board for this service. It is a good idea though to keep the wages and rent separate and make sure that all the transactions are transparent, to prevent any misunderstanding.
What about tax?
Participants will usually pay tax as a temporary resident and this results in a tax rate of approximately 5% -10%. Bibber has received verbal information from the Tax Office which indicates that 416 Special Program visa holders who come through an exchange program and are working for one employer for the duration of their stay, are entitled to pay Tax as Australian residents, rather than paying the 30% (from the first $1) charged to working holiday makers. Bibber has also outsourced a registered tax agent and financial advisor to assist participants with lodging their tax return and we also help them obtain a refund for their superannuation contributions.
How long can I employ them for?
The visa can be issued for up to one year, however most Bibbers are employed just for the vintage period only. You can extend it if you both agree and we can even explore options for keeping them on permanently if you are interested. We also get many 'Boomerang' Bibbers who come back for several years in a row for the vintage period.
What else do I need to provide?
It really goes without saying that you must provide a safe working environment that complies with all relevant State and Federal Laws. This includes the provision of safety equipment and any training specific to your winery. Having a good sense of humour is always good as well!
What about medical insurance?
If the Bibber is injured while at your winery, he or she is covered by Work Cover. If he or she is injured when away from work, he or she will be covered by a medical/travel insurance policy that is a compulsory element of the Bibber visa program.
What happens if we don’t get on?
If there is conflict between you and the Bibber, please let us know. We will make every effort to resolve the problem via phone calls, site visits and if necessary mediated meetings. Because the employment period is for a short term, it is hoped that good communication will reduce or remove the problem.
If you have any further questions about registering with Bibber , please don’t hesitate to give us a call or email us on the details below.
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