KEEP UP TO DATE
The most recent news and developments from the backpacker and youth tourism sectors. All the information, guidance, and suggestions you need to keep up to date.
KEEP UP TO DATE
The most recent news and developments from the backpacker and youth tourism sectors. All the information, guidance, and suggestions you need to keep up to date.

BYTAP Industry Update August 2026
Dear Industry, Over the past two weeks, BYTAP has been working intensively on the critical issue of the government's pause on Working Holiday Maker (WHM) visa processing. The consequences for our sector — and for the regional communities and industries that depend on WHM workers — are significant and growing. ... Read more>

$10 strawberries, empty farms, and another hit for ELICOS: the Working Holiday visa pause
Australia’s migration system is increasingly looking less like a carefully calibrated policy framework and more like a series of ad hoc, knee-jerk responses to avoid dealing with a political problem. The latest move is another quiet decision by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke to effectively pause the processing of Working ... Read more>
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BYTAP Industry Update August 2026
Tenille Gore2026-08-26T20:37:23+00:00August 26th, 2026|
Dear Industry,
Over the past two weeks, BYTAP has … Read more>
$10 strawberries, empty farms, and another hit for ELICOS: the Working Holiday visa pause
Tenille Gore2026-08-24T06:46:30+00:00August 24th, 2026|
Australia’s migration system is increasingly looking less like a carefully … Read more>
TTF Calls for Federal Government Action on Working Holiday Visas
Tenille Gore2026-08-24T06:47:57+00:00August 22nd, 2026|
TTF is calling on the Federal Government to improve policy … Read more>
What you need to know about the working holiday visa pause
Tenille Gore2026-08-24T06:47:42+00:00August 19th, 2026|
The federal government has paused visa applications for working … Read more>
ARCHIVES
Labor quietly pauses working holidaymaker visas as stoush over backpackers brews
Tenille Gore2026-08-24T06:48:29+00:00August 14th, 2026|
Celebrating half a century of Working Holiday Makers in Australia
Tenille Gore2026-08-14T23:30:10+00:00August 12th, 2026|
Rising visa costs risk pricing Australia out of key visitor markets
Tenille Gore2026-07-13T01:31:41+00:00July 13th, 2026|
World’s priciest: Australia’s working holiday visa jumps 25% to $840
Tenille Gore2026-07-03T05:49:05+00:00July 3rd, 2026|
Winner announced of 2026 Tourism Australia Youth Sector ELITE Scholarship
Tenille Gore2026-04-29T00:40:25+00:00April 29th, 2026|
Tourism Australia/BYTAP/ATEC Youth Sector ELITE Scholarship 2026
Tenille Gore2026-03-24T02:58:01+00:00March 23rd, 2026|
$10 strawberries, empty farms, and another hit for ELICOS: the Working Holiday visa pause
Tenille Gore2026-08-24T06:46:30+00:00August 24th, 2026|
Australia’s migration system is increasingly looking less like a carefully … Read more>
TTF Calls for Federal Government Action on Working Holiday Visas
Tenille Gore2026-08-24T06:47:57+00:00August 22nd, 2026|
TTF is calling on the Federal Government to improve policy … Read more>
What you need to know about the working holiday visa pause
Tenille Gore2026-08-24T06:47:42+00:00August 19th, 2026|
The federal government has paused visa applications for working … Read more>
ARCHIVES
BYTAP Industry Update August 2026
Tenille Gore2026-08-26T20:37:23+00:00August 26th, 2026|
$10 strawberries, empty farms, and another hit for ELICOS: the Working Holiday visa pause
Tenille Gore2026-08-24T06:46:30+00:00August 24th, 2026|
TTF Calls for Federal Government Action on Working Holiday Visas
Tenille Gore2026-08-24T06:47:57+00:00August 22nd, 2026|
What you need to know about the working holiday visa pause
Tenille Gore2026-08-24T06:47:42+00:00August 19th, 2026|
Labor quietly pauses working holidaymaker visas as stoush over backpackers brews
Tenille Gore2026-08-24T06:48:29+00:00August 14th, 2026|
Celebrating half a century of Working Holiday Makers in Australia
Tenille Gore2026-08-14T23:30:10+00:00August 12th, 2026|
Rising visa costs risk pricing Australia out of key visitor markets
Tenille Gore2026-07-13T01:31:41+00:00July 13th, 2026|
World’s priciest: Australia’s working holiday visa jumps 25% to $840
Tenille Gore2026-07-03T05:49:05+00:00July 3rd, 2026|
Winner announced of 2026 Tourism Australia Youth Sector ELITE Scholarship
Tenille Gore2026-04-29T00:40:25+00:00April 29th, 2026|
Tourism Australia/BYTAP/ATEC Youth Sector ELITE Scholarship 2026
Tenille Gore2026-03-24T02:58:01+00:00March 23rd, 2026|
Winner announced of 2025 Tourism Australia Youth Sector ELITE Scholarship
Tenille Gore2025-06-04T00:49:19+00:00June 4th, 2025|
Tourism Australia/BYTAP/ATEC Youth Sector ELITE Scholarship
Silke Kerwick2025-04-29T05:32:12+00:00April 7th, 2025|
Visa rule change could spark backpacker ‘hierarchy’, amid record numbers
Silke Kerwick2025-04-29T05:32:20+00:00March 17th, 2025|
BYTAP’s response to supporting strong and sustainable regions Review of Regional Migration Settings discussion paper – June 2024
Silke Kerwick2025-04-29T05:32:21+00:00August 2nd, 2024|
Winner of Tourism Australia Youth Sector ELITE Scholarship
Silke Kerwick2025-04-29T05:32:22+00:00June 16th, 2024|
Thrive 2030 Strategy Submission – Youth Tourism
Silke Kerwick2025-04-29T05:32:23+00:00June 10th, 2024|
Tourism Australia Youth Sector ELITE Scholarship
Silke Kerwick2025-04-29T05:32:24+00:00May 14th, 2024|
BYTAP gives evidence at Federal Parliamentary inquiry into tourism & international education
Silke Kerwick2025-04-29T05:32:25+00:00March 1st, 2024|
Working Holiday Maker report to 30 June 2023
Silke Kerwick2025-04-29T05:32:26+00:00January 30th, 2024|
Are the backpackers back? Home Affairs data suggests holiday visas at pre-pandemic levels.
Silke Kerwick2025-04-29T05:32:27+00:00September 5th, 2023|
Restrictions On Working Holiday Visas Dubbed Reckless By Farm & Tourism Operators
Silke Kerwick2025-04-29T05:32:28+00:00August 3rd, 2023|
Australian Backpacker Visa Fees Increase By 25% | 7NEWS
Silke Kerwick2026-01-02T00:12:04+00:00June 29th, 2023|
Changes to Australia’s working holiday maker program for UK travellers
Silke Kerwick2025-04-29T05:32:31+00:00June 2nd, 2023|
Letter to NSW Tourism Minister John Graham
Silke Kerwick2025-04-29T05:32:33+00:00April 26th, 2023|
BYTAP Submission – Review into Migration, Pathway to Nation Building
Silke Kerwick2025-04-29T05:32:33+00:00February 11th, 2023|
BYTAP submission re Review into a Migration System for Australia’s Future
Silke Kerwick2025-04-29T05:32:33+00:00December 13th, 2022|
BYTAP submission to inquiry into Tourism & International Education
Silke Kerwick2025-04-29T05:32:33+00:00December 13th, 2022|
BYTAP advocacy ahead of Jobs & Skills Summit
Silke Kerwick2025-04-29T05:32:33+00:00September 4th, 2022|
BYTAP writes to the Hon. Alex Hawke MP, requesting an extension of the visa fee waiver for WHM’s.
Silke Kerwick2024-06-12T07:14:47+00:00March 15th, 2022|
Perceptions of Australia’s Working Holiday Maker Program
Silke Kerwick2024-06-12T07:14:48+00:00March 15th, 2022|
Youth Tourism Welcomes Border Reopen
Silke Kerwick2024-03-01T20:02:00+00:00October 15th, 2021|
BYTAP commends Working Holiday Maker visa changes to support tourism & hospitality in Northern & remote areas of Australia
Silke Kerwick2024-03-01T20:02:00+00:00June 23rd, 2021|
BYTAP Submission – Reimagining the Visitor Economy
Silke Kerwick2024-04-05T11:01:05+00:00June 18th, 2021|
BYTAP welcomes UK Working Holiday Maker visa changes
Silke Kerwick2023-05-10T02:17:22+00:00June 18th, 2021|
BYTAP wants the Australian government to establish a quarantine program to allow working holidaymakers back into the country
Silke Kerwick2023-05-10T02:17:23+00:00June 2nd, 2021|
BYTAP supports Victorian Parliamentary inquiry into the impact of COVID-19 on the tourism sector
Silke Kerwick2023-05-10T02:17:23+00:00May 13th, 2021|
Working Holiday Makers encouraged to work in tourism
Silke Kerwick2023-05-10T02:17:23+00:00May 13th, 2021|
Australia international border closure: Contiki domestic trips lure young travellers
Silke Kerwick2023-02-20T12:21:37+00:00April 22nd, 2021|
Full report on the youth tourism industry survey
Silke Kerwick2023-02-20T12:21:37+00:00March 22nd, 2021|
BYTAP nominated in The Global Youth Travel Awards
Silke Kerwick2023-02-20T12:23:03+00:00December 17th, 2020|
BYTAP supports the final report for the review into the Working Holiday Maker program
Silke Kerwick2023-02-20T12:23:05+00:00December 1st, 2020|
BYTAP supports recommendations made in the Interim Report of the Inquiry into the Working Holiday Maker Program
Silke Kerwick2023-02-20T12:23:07+00:00October 28th, 2020|
NFF is also working with the Backpacker and Youth Tourism Advisory Panel to develop a ‘COVIDsafe pathway’ proposal.
Silke Kerwick2023-02-20T12:23:11+00:00August 5th, 2020|
BYTAP Submission – Working Holiday Maker Program
Silke Kerwick2023-02-20T12:23:13+00:00July 24th, 2020|
WHM’s unable to take up visa’s due to COVID
Silke Kerwick2023-06-12T09:33:20+00:00June 30th, 2020|
‘Take action now’: Call to open borders to au pairs
Silke Kerwick2023-02-20T12:23:17+00:00June 29th, 2020|
BYTAP Ministerial Letter
Silke Kerwick2023-02-20T12:23:23+00:00June 18th, 2020|
Adventium Technology Correspondence
Silke Kerwick2023-02-20T12:23:24+00:00April 16th, 2020|







