Finding accommodation in Australia

Free room and board with WWOOF, HelpX or WorkAway

Your funds are running low and you need to stretch your budget? Volunteer for room and board! You will work for a few hours a day and you won’t have to pay a cent for accommodation and meals. For non-native speakers, it’s also a great way to practise your English before entering the job market.

The main three volunteer work networks are:

• WWOOF (homestays on organic farms)
• HelpX (with more work options, such as volunteer opportunities on farms, backpacker hostels, lodges, horse stables, etc.)
• WorkAway (like HelpX, a wide range of opportunities)

Not all volunteer opportunities will be on remote farms in the Outback, especially with HelpX and Workaway. You could be asked to supervise children, help a senior citizen, help renovate a house, share your designer or web developer skills, perform the daily housekeeping in a hostel, work as a landscaper, manage studio apartments, teach a language, tutor kids after school… So, there are plenty of options if you’d rather stay in a city or a suburban area.

Tip: if you’re looking for an urban setting, use the keyword “inner city” when you’re searching for opportunities.