Frequently Asked Questions

Do I meet the criteria?

Are you:

• Experienced or qualified in some facet of winery operation?
• Have good written and spoken English language skills?
• Interested or committed to the wine industry?
• Interested in discussing winemaking techniques with others from wine regions throughout the world?
• Curious about what life is like in Australia?
• Eager to include training at a premium Australian winery on your C.V.?
• 30 years old or less *

* Please contact us of you are over 30 because we may still be able to help.

Where can I go?

There are placements available in most of the wine regions of Australia.  Please visit Wine Australia to obtain more information about the wine industry.  Please note that many of the wineries in Australia are in very remote areas and are not close to large cities.  If you know of a winery in which you would like to receive experience, tell us and we will contact them to see if they will join the program.
 

When is vintage in Australia?

Vintage in Australia occurs mainly from January to May depending on region and seasonal variation.  You must attend an orientation seminar (Party) before you start at your winery.  Your placement information will give you start and finish dates and you will be able to make your travel arrangements around these dates.

How do I apply?

You will need to complete an application form.  Applications for placement should be received by Bibber as soon as possible, but no later than 30 November.  An early application will increase your chances of getting a placement. You will need to complete the application form, supply reference contact details, an autobiography, a copy of the photo page of your passport and photos as specified.  The application form, autobiography and resume can be faxed and emailed and the photographs can be mailed or scanned and emailed.  It is safer if you do not email your application form containing credit card details.

What are my chances of a successful placement?

If you have winery experience, references and good English language skills, then your chances are very good.  Of course this must be supported by a detailed, informative application, resume and autobiography. Every year we have had a few people who were not successful in getting a placement.  People who are not placed, receive a full refund of any fees that they have paid, unless they have opted for streamlined visa processing.

What is the process after I have applied?

Step 1. A summary of your application is prepared by us and circulated to wineries in your preferred regions.  If the winery is interested, they request a copy of your complete application.  At this stage they may contact you by telephone or email to discuss your application
Step 2. When your application has been accepted by a winery, they will complete a Placement Agreement which we will send to you.  This will outline what tasks you will be doing during your time there and will also provide information about accommodation, and start and ending dates.
Step 3.  When we receive this information we will email it to you for you to review and sign.  When this is completed, you will be asked to complete a copy of the 147 and 956 forms and also finalise your fees and insurance.
Step 4. You may also need to have a medical (see will I need to have a health check?) and we will send you information about the Doctor you should visit for this purpose.
Step 5. You will send the completed forms in Step 3 to us and we will submit it with a letter of invitation to the Immigration office here in Australia. 
Step 6. Immigration will process the visa here in Australia (allow 28 days for processing) and they will issue us with a letter of approval. If you are from an ETA eligible (Electronic Travel Authority - see www.eta.immi.gov.au/ETAAus1En.html) country, you can travel with this letter and receive your visa in your passport when you arrive in Australia (as part of the Orientation Seminar). Please DO NOT apply for an ETA because you may accidentally cancel your 416 visa!  If you are not from an ETA country, you may need to send your passport and the letter to your nearest Australian Consulate so that they can fix the visa label to your passport. We will let you know if this is required.

Will I need to have a health check?

All program participants from 'high risk' countries will need to have a Chest X-ray. To find out if your country is on that list please visit www.immi.gov.au/allforms/pdf/1163i.pdf
If your country is on this list, please find the doctor in your area that you need to see by visiting www.immi.gov.au/contacts/panel-doctors/index.htm. Please note that you cannot obtain this check from your own Doctor.  You or the Doctor will then need to send the X-rays and the forms to
Local Clearance Unit
Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs
Level 6, The Gateway Building
26 Lee Street
SYDNEY NSW 2000
AUSTRALIA

Please do this check as soon as possible because it can take up to two months to process.  Please make sure that you or your Doctor send the form and the films direct to Sydney. If the Doctor insists on sending it to the Australian Consulate in your country, please contact us immediately.  If the information is already in Australia, your visa will be processed quickly. Please contact us if you have any questions about this process.

What is streamlined visa processing?

The Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship have offered Bibber an option to commence processing of applications before winery placements have been finalized.  This will mean that the visa can be granted very quickly. The disadvantage of this option is that the visa application fee is payable as soon as the application is lodged.  If we take this option and no placement is available, then the application is withdrawn, however the application fee is not refundable.  You can also make the process faster by having your health check done before you have a placement, however the cost of your chest X-ray would not be refundable either.  It will be up to you decide whether you would like to take the faster option and risk losing the application and chest X-ray fees if we do not find you a winery. Any remaining fees paid will be fully refundable.

I have a working holiday visa. Can I still use Bibber for my Placement?

Yes, we can still help you with a placement and also provide support for you (with banking and taxes etc) while you are here. The cost for this service, including the three day orientation party, is $1550.  Before you apply for your working holiday visa, please think carefully about what you intend to do in Australia and how long you intend to stay.  If you plan to work for three months in a winery and then spend the rest of the year travelling and working in hotels and restaurants (not affiliated with wineries), then the working holiday may be best for you. If however, you are only coming to work in the wine industry, then you should consider using our 416 Special program visa.  The main reason is taxes.  If you come in on a working holiday visa (417) you will pay tax at 30% for every dollar that you earn (and there is no refund of this money later).  If you come on the Special Program visa you are taxed the same as an Australian resident. This means that the total tax will be about 15%.  This is a very large saving over three months of work – more than the cost of the Bibber program fees.  Please note that it is difficult to change to this visa from the 417 after you have arrived here. Many people ask us each year when they are very upset about the amount of taxes that they have to pay.

Do I need to attend the Orientation Party?

We are required under the conditions of the special program visa to give you a cultural introduction to life in Australia. For us this means a few days staying at the beach, having a BBQ and drinking good Aussie wine and beer with other winemakers from all over the world.  You will also visit wineries in the Barossa, see kangaroos and koalas up close (even to touch!).  We also teach you about the tax requirements, set up a bank account and generally try to make things easier for you when you get here.  Many past Bibbers have asked us to make it longer than the 3 days!

What is expected of me at the winery?

Placements are generally for a maximum of 3-4 months during the harvest season, typically between mid-February until mid-April.  The timing of your program ultimately depends on the actual harvest and can vary from 6-12 weeks in length.  Training will vary from winery to winery, but in general, you will participate as a cellar hand or laboratory assistant and in many cases—both!  Please note that it is unlikely that you will be working as a winemaker in Australia.  You will gain exposure to Australian winemaking techniques if you work hard and have a good attitude.

You must have a good understanding of the English language and should have experience consisting of at least one harvest.  This is a very busy time of the year for the winery and there is not a lot of time to be teaching detailed winemaking techniques or to deal with language barriers.  You will have opportunities to discuss new techniques, but you are primarily placed to receive “hands on” experience.

Please also remember that you are NOT there to teach but rather to learn.  There will be some winemaking practices that will be foreign to you and may also seem very strange!

What can I expect from the winery?

Bibber International, requires participating wineries to provide a good learning opportunity for the participant and to provide the trainee with payment for their work.  You will be paid according to the Laws of the State in which you are working.  You will earn approximately $10-16 per hour with time and a half if you work more than 40 hours in one week.  If your winery provides accommodation and or food, your hourly rate could be much less. The winery is also required to provide a safe working environment.

Can I work at more than one winery?

The visa paperwork is for one winery employer only.  There may be circumstances where you would need to change wineries, but this is very rare and generally not your decision.  You must not leave your winery without telling them, and Bibber.  If you leave your specified winery and try to seek work at another winery independent of the exchange program, we may withdraw our sponsorship and you will need to leave Australia. There are some opportunities to stay a little longer and spend some time pruning in the vineyard, however there is likely to be at least one month in between these two experiences where you could take the time to travel.

Can my friend and I work in the same winery?

Friends often do work in the same winery together and this is often arranged by the individuals rather than by Bibber.  It should be remembered that requesting two placements at one winery might limit your options.  It may be better to request placements close to one another so that joint housing can be arranged.  This way you can have the best of two wineries rather than one and twice as many new friends!  Please contact us if you would like to be placed close to another participant or if you have any other questions like this.

Are there Viticultural positions available?

The Exchange program offers mainly cellar placements because that is what is required by the wineries during the period.  There are however many opportunities for Viticultural exposure and many participants with viticultural training have had rewarding experiences.  Opportunities to learn about viticultural practices such as soil and pest management, irrigation and differing vineyard microclimates are available, though the work may predominantly be winery based.

Can I find my own winery?

You have two options when deciding upon the winery.  You can make contact with wineries independently or you can specify your needs to the Exchange Program and we will endeavour to find a winery that fits your needs.  The fees are a little less if you find your own winery.

Do I still have to complete all the forms and submit a Resume and Autobiography if I have found my own placement?

All application material must be submitted even if you find your own placement.  This is a Bibber requirement and may be used later to justify your presence at the winery. In some situations it may not be necessary to submit an autobiography, however this does not happen often.

Can I stay in Australia and extend my visa?

If your winery would like you to stay longer it is possible that you could extend your visa.  It can be extended for up to one year.  A fee of $475 applies. Initial visas are issued based on the dates given to us by the winery with a small amount of time to travel afterwards. There are options available for different visas and even a permanent stay if you meet the Immigration criteria. Please contact us if you would like more information.

Will I be paid?

Yes you will be paid, and it will be enough for you to live on, if you are not extravagant.  Wineries usually pay their trainees on an hourly basis (at $10-20 per hour) with “time and a half” for any hours over 40.  We strongly recommend that you do NOT compare placements simply by the amount you are paid.  There are many factors that contribute to a successful placement, not just the amount you earn.  As a general rule, the larger the winery, the more you will be paid BUT it is also more likely that your job will be less varied.

If you are coming only to make money, stay home.
This is a learning experience not a money making venture!

Do I need insurance?

You must be covered by health insurance and proof of such coverage must be provided in English to Bibber International prior your arrival in Australia unless you have insurance through the exchange partner in your home country.  The policy MUST be available in English and include a minimum of AUD$20K repatriation and $200,000 medical coverage (unless you are from a country with reciprocal health rights). Bibber offers insurance that meets these requirements and the Policy is available on the website. If you do not meet this requirement, Bibber will purchase the default insurance at your expense.

Will I have to pay tax?

In most cases, while you are working in Australia through this program on our 416 special program visa, you will pay tax as an Australian resident.  This means that although you may be taxed at a high rate during your employment, you will receive a refund of some of the money paid at a later date.  The amount of tax you will eventually pay will be around 12 –20%.

Other categories of visa may attract different rates of tax - up to 30% from the first dollar for a working holiday visa.  Please contact us for further information.  Bibber will arrange the tax and superannuation refunds for you, through a registered tax agent..

Will I need to buy a car?

Some of the wineries are in very remote locations and a car will be necessary to buy food and travel to and from work.  A reasonable old car (www.tradingpost.com.au) can be purchased for AUD$1,000-3000.  Fuel is around half the price of Europe and twice the cost of the USA.
Bibber has sourced a supplier of old but reliable cars that also come with 24hr Roadside assistance and a buy back option. Please visit www.boomerangcars.com.au . More information about this will be explained at the Orientation Seminar Party.

Will I need to get an International Driver’s licence?

Yes, an international Driver’s licence is a good idea and may help provide you with extra identification.

How much does it cost to live?

The cost of living in Australia is reasonable.  You can expect to pay around $120 per week for your share of some accommodation and about the same for a week’s worth of food.  Fresh food is plentiful and cheap.  If you spend a lot of time eating out, you will soon run out of money! 

Who can I turn to for help while I am in Australia?

We can be considered as your Aussie family while you are in Australia.  If problems arise, we will be here to help.  We will not however, hold your hand while you are here.  All participants are treated as adults and you are expected to be able to solve minor problems yourself.  You must also abide by local, state and federal laws or you will be terminated from the program and must return home.

How much does it cost?

The total, all-inclusive cost of the program is AUD$1875 (inc 10% tax and visa processing costs).  We understand that this sounds very expensive but please remember that this is a very personalised service. This includes:

Many of our previous participants are now our good friends and we encourage you to talk to them about their experience.  Please contact us for their details.  If you have found your own winery, the cost is AUD$1675.  If you are returning to work in Australia for a second time please contact us.

Airfares, airport taxes, travel insurance, passport application fees, and any other unspecified costs are not included in this fee.

When do I have to pay?

If you have credit card details on your application, we will collect a fully refundable application fee of $650.  The remainder of your fees are due when the visa has been granted. If you do not have a credit card, you must pay all your fees up front by bank transfer.  If we do not find you a placement, we guarantee to refund all your fees.

Can I get a refund if I change my mind?

If you do not obtain a job in Australia for vintage, all your fees paid will be fully refunded unless you have chosen streamlined processing for your visa. If your visa is refused by the Consulate you will be charged only AUD$475 ($250 is the visa application fee which we assume would not be refunded) unless it is due to something that you have neglected to tell us (like a previous criminal record).  If we find you a job and the visa letter has been prepared but not submitted, you will be charged AUD$475.  If you change your mind at the last minute without good reason, there will be *no refund of fees.  Please note that you must notify us in writing (by email or letter) if you wish to withdraw from the program at any stage.  Refunds will be calculated from the date of notification.

*In special circumstances you may receive a partial refund, however this will be decided on a case by case basis.

Important notes:

1.         You will be here to work, not just observe.  The hours will be very long and the work very hard!  Also, please remember that you are here to learn, not to teach.

2.         More and more wineries are testing their trainees for drugs.  If you are into ‘wacky weed’ or any other illegal substance, be warned!

If you have more questions that are not covered in this FAQ, please contact Bibber International on:

Telephone +61 8 82271955
Fax +61 8 82272699
email

You WILL have the time of your life!
Ask someone who has done it!