As an Aussie country girl who grew up on a farm out west here in Queensland, I'm appalled and embarrassed by your story. Please know that we're not all like that. Anyone who suffers abuse by farmers, PLEASE 🙏 make a formal complaint to the authorities and put the word out and why. If they're called out officially and publicly, they'll have no seasonalworkers and their crops won't make the harvest, therefore, no money. They deserve to be punished. End of story. It's important to note that like any 'business', there are always some arseholes among many good and decent people......and there ARE many more good and decent farmers in Australia who treat seasonal workers very well. Some seasonal workers will say a particular farmer is bad, yet others will say the same farmer treated them well. While there maybe some less than desirable farmers around, there's always 2 sides to every story.

@sorchahonorine6329

4 ай бұрын

We did. My husband and I as newlyweds were working on a broadacre apple and stone fruit farm while travelling around the country. This one was in NSW. We came from agricultural backgrounds and we were no strangers to manual work. The farmer did not provide toilets while on site and expected us to go "over there". Water was provided via a dirty pipe (part of the irrigation system) and the water was bore water. Transport was via a rusty old trailer on the back of his 4WD carrying all 14 of us and he was just a ****. 40C+ heat. Four days in breaking our backs and putting up with this farmer's and his son's bs, I was like, fk this. We were then told if we left we'd not be paid. Husband had a few words and we were paid but he docked us for "leaving early". Now we're Australian. The rest of the crew were all overseas backpackers - Asia and South America mainly. We worked places in Qld, NSW and NT. A good 70% were opportunists looking to take every advantage off the agri worker (including sexually - one farmer kept sending off my husband to do fencing while I did his domestic chores and wanted me to act like the wife...it was crazy weird and we got outta there quickly) and we kept detailed notes. We lodged a detailed complaint complete with photos of the environment, conditions etc and all we got was crickets. Politicians don't care. Media outlets call us Aussies bludgers because farmers are having to "import workers" to work their farms. Bottom line is this: you have the national romantic notion of the farmer being the hero of the nation, growing the food, feeding us all blah blah blah. It's all bs. They don't give a toss about the people, only the millions that pour in via grants, subsidies and profits. We were paid a pittance and we were docked the full tax rate. Put up with abuse, sexual innuendo and just really shitty conditions. I earned more working retail. THAT'S WHY Australians refuse to work for farmers. God only knows what foreigners experience. I shudder to think.

@dubbula

4 ай бұрын

Yea I'm an aussie and working on farms out western Queensland was just bullying and harassment

@safeinhisarms337

4 ай бұрын

Wow! Sorry about your experiences in the hands of brutes. Thot these evils happen only in Africa. Reminds me of how the Aboriginals, the original owners of Aussie land, were dealt with, killed and their land taken over from them, forcing those that survived to go hide in the bushes, according to stories I've heard.

@ceeceety2320

4 ай бұрын

@@sorchahonorine6329 WOW! These farmers are the lowest of the low! I hate that anyone had to go through what these so called MEN put them through. It's an absolute shame.

@axiom1509

4 ай бұрын

Abusive employers are all over that so called developed world. They abuse the migrants and the slaves in particular. Illegal migrant is a slave. But the governments are responsible for that. In addition governments are responsible destruction of agri markets trough subsidies what destroys agriculture around the world producing migrants.

You know we have strict workplace health and safety laws in Australia? These scumbags need to be reported. I can't stand to hear people being treated like this, absolutely sickening. Pity we don't have decent people in parliament that would take this more seriously.

@zed4225

9 ай бұрын

The farmers sound like Mick Taylor off the movie Wolf Creek, but manage to not kill the backpackers. Nice people, not. I 100% agree with you, more farm workers need to complain to #Worksafe.

@unarmedblackguy

8 ай бұрын

Im an Aussie and I worked fruit picking while I was road tripping and I only did it for 4 hours because I figured out I was only getting paid $4ph for picking pears. I complained about it to the proper authorities and literally nothing happened. Farms get away with it because the farmers are selling to big companies like SPC. back packers also don't care because they only do it to satisfy their amount of days to get to stay longer. I spoke to back packers about it and they literally didn't care how much they were getting paid.

@milamber319

7 ай бұрын

Yeah but most Aussies know that those laws often have loopholes and poor enforcement when it's out of people's line of sight. I live in Melbourne and i remember at the start of the COVID lockdowns the farmers representatives getting on the radio and saying "we are going to have food rotting on the vine because we can't get people from overseas and we can't get Aussies to work for us". To which there was a barrage of calls of Aussies telling him where to stick it because we all know what working for Aussie farmers are like and that maybe if they were actually paying decent wage and conditions they might get some Aussie labour once in a while.

@unarmedblackguy

7 ай бұрын

@@milamber319 funny you mention Melbourne cause that's where I was and this was during COVID. Those farmers had workers willing to work but we just weren't willing to work for $4 an hour. Those farms just like to cry wolf. They love getting sympathy because the government will bail them out. That's why farmers don't care about paying us properly, cause they know they will always get bailed out. It upsets me to think that this is the way our Aussie farmers act. (I know there are good farms out there because I've worked them but it's very rare you'll find a good farmer these days)

@NinoNiemanThe1st

7 ай бұрын

They have strict laws in Australian on health and safety, and abuse, but the problem is that under their last right wing government, influenced by the farming lobby, they were never enforced. See the hundred of articles and even comments here on this issue. There were so many of these shocking farmers that they undercut and even forced out of business the decent ones: the rules were just not applied. I hear the government is thinking of cancelling the whole visa class: there was just too much abuse in the farming industry by these wicked people who always vote in politicians (National Party) to serve their selfish interests, and bugger everyone else. Aussies won't work for these farmers because they know they will be ripped off, if not abused. Farmers need to put their prices up or be less greedy, and stop supporting lobbyists who they pay to whinge about the fact 'Aussies are lazy and won't do the work', let alone complain about fruit rotting on the vine because they want 3rd world working conditions in a 1st world country. The stories of the victims are horrific.

0:21 I'm an Aussie, I have migrant workers. I have picked up and driven them home when their cars break down, helped them english with applications for courses, helped them move house. They are here, young and brave but exposed, it's my obligation to help and protect them. In return I get loyalty, respect, friendship and a hard day's work out of them. When I was young and travelling, others did the same for me, now it's my turn to give back. We're not all bad. Good luck mate.

@nataliesadler5902

4 ай бұрын

Aww you're a star 😊

@wilhelmuskruize9681

4 ай бұрын

good on you mate, I have never had an abusive person in Innisfail, I married in south Johnstone and have lived in north Queensland for the last 50 years.

@sorchahonorine6329

4 ай бұрын

You're right, not all farmers are bad and I only wish I'd come across you when I out there working. Good on you. I appreciate the fact that you're out there being decent.

@stevemichael8458

4 ай бұрын

Too many employers don't understand that your way is not only the decent way, it's also the way to get the best from your employees. Respect them and they will respect you. It also makes everyone's lives better. Great to hear that you get it :)

@guyanderson6484

3 ай бұрын

All the best mate! Hopefully you can return to Australia one day and have a much better time of it too. Story of sheer bravery yours is 💪💪💪

Couple of years ago we heard of two girls that had done some farm worker. After working on the farm for three months, they were dismissed and paid their wages. But the farmer deducted accommodation expenses, a paid them each about $350 for three months work!! We accommodated them for a week and gave them $1000 each to get going again,and make up for the disgraceful treatment by the farmer. We feel nothing for farmers whining they can't get pickers or other seasonal workers. Treat people right you won't have a problem.

@jonsimmons4150

3 күн бұрын

wage theft is rife in the industry.. damn criminal.

What a great story, and as an Aussie myself I think those banana farmers were real pricks to be treating backpackers like that. It's criminal.

@williamshafer3199

9 ай бұрын

Because John Howard etc have systematically undermined wages for Australian workers, and set up "working visas" to facilitate that process.

@Rufan-yy7rn

9 ай бұрын

@@williamshafer3199 At any given time there are 3 million Australians working in London alone which constitutes 12% of the Australian population so it all swings in roundabouts.

@colleenrichards5662

9 ай бұрын

I’m an Aussie too, I live in N.S.W….👍🇦🇺

@karenharrison885

9 ай бұрын

Yeah, nah, the convicts just sought retribution on a pom, 200 years later.

@tomsmith6513

9 ай бұрын

@@karenharrison885 Karma

My husband got cellulitis and was sent to hospital for treatment . Long story short , three days later I was called to say that he had passed due to complications with his kidneys . Please take everything seriously because sometimes you might not get to go back to your loved one's. So glad you're okay now 🇦🇺

@783342

4 ай бұрын

Every story is worse than the one before, I'm so sorry to hear of your experience. Doesn't even sound like Australia, BUT IT IS. Parlliament needs to be told as well as Councils and all politicians YOU MIGHT HAVE A CASE AGAINST THE HOSPITAL. SOUNDS LIKE REMDESIVIR WAS GIVEN AS IF HE WERE A COVID PATIENT. REMDESIVIR DESTROYS KIDNEYS.

@defeatSpace

4 ай бұрын

I hope you're doing okay.

@colinsace1

4 ай бұрын

@infin8ee I had it and nearly lost my life it ravaged my body especially my arm and hand. And the drugs/treatment are horrible to they make you ill on top of everything else. I hope you’re ok 💙

@infin8ee

4 ай бұрын

@@colinsace1 I'm so sorry that you went through that but am wildly pleased that you came out the other side and are here now. All the very best for the coming year and beyond

@colinsace1

4 ай бұрын

@@infin8ee that’s so kind thank you Wishing you a happy and better new year for you 🙂💯

Cost of living here is getting worse every year, just getting to and from work costs me $250 per week, food is $500 per week thankfully I don’t have a mortgage but I have family who pay upwards of $500 per week for a crappy 2 bedroom flat, Australia was once the land of dreams but it’s been ruined by ridiculous tolls, taxes, regulations, just 1 pack of 20 cigarettes in Sydney will set you back $40+, it’s becoming the worse country to live by far, seems like no amount of money you earn is enough

@chrisb3189

15 күн бұрын

Cigarette taxes subsidise everything else

@JoolsUK

7 күн бұрын

Negative geared housing and tax rorts

Wow, glad to have you on our side of the Tasman! The main reason why I am self employed is that I worked for years for abusive and narcissistic people ; Never again. No one deserves to be in a place where they are treated poorly. Hope you have a long and happy life here 😃😃😃😃

@avivabillington5514

3 ай бұрын

100% well said!! In my experience, I've suffered work bullying & it includes when you do jobs you aren't paid for too sadly.. I'm now self employed too & very happy - I tried starting jobs working for others but it never worked out so being self-employed does ❤️😊

@user-zm6zw5by3s

3 ай бұрын

You are wise not to return to Australia...see the attitude of courtneymacgregor, criminologist degree, country girl from a west queensland farming family, an investigator...quit, lives on the beac...farming too hard for her

@avivabillington5514

3 ай бұрын

@@user-zm6zw5by3s 100% agree, people with degrees & say they've grown up on a farm don't necessarily know what it's like as other people who've actually worked on a farm?

@carlosbah4623

2 ай бұрын

Tasman? Weren't they exterminated by the British?

As an Australian, I am very sorry to hear this. That's terrible. I wish you all the best, mate

Bro I had to comment. As an Aussie who travelled around picking fruit for a few years - probably more for the backpackers than the work - I hear you. I witnessed so much abuse over the years, from farmers targeting certain guys to pick on, to sexual abuse and intimidation of the girls which was sadly very common. You brought back a lot of memories. Thanks for the story and best of luck to you mate.

@Mayfrancisxavier

8 ай бұрын

I think every backpacker needs to report this. I'm so ashamed of our Australian farmers who have behaved this way!!

@ionejeandsilva7343

8 ай бұрын

Glad you're okay!

@pepelemoko01

7 ай бұрын

@@ionejeandsilva7343 The growers are always complaining they can't get workers .

@duprie37

7 ай бұрын

@@pepelemoko01 Yep. And calling on the government to force those "lazy dole bludgers" to work picking fruit. Not for actual pay of course. No, we'll just keep paying them the dole & call it a "training program" 😡

@Gma7788

7 ай бұрын

Cause Australian women never approach men to start a conversation. 100% of women. So, it's not entirely men's fault things are happening.

Thank you for sharing your experiences. So glad you’re doing better. I contacted MRSA from a prison that I worked at but much better today. ANYTIME you ever get cut on a farm you should immediately go to see a doctor because the knife that cut you is most likely crawling with diseases.

@michaelleeannspringer3247

3 ай бұрын

If a person gets cut, it's very important to see a doctor right away. Here in America, a person usually gets a Tetanus injection and put on an antibiotic.

@kevinbarker359

3 ай бұрын

how long were you in hospital for? or you are just Mrsa is a very deadly disease , Did it get in the bloodstream or just some sores on your skin ?

I'm a local and I have to say it's a national sport this sort of thing. *Never respect people that command it. Respect is earned. Self confidence is a good counter to this sort of thing. The way to deal with people like this is to stare them straight in the eye and say something like, "Go to hell you nobody. Who do you think you are, Nobody?" When they respond, you have to stay calm and respond slightly arrogantly pointing your chin at them and looking over or down your nose, "So it's fine when you're dishing it out is it?" Treat them like a child, by saying, "No I'm not playing this stupid game, do you want me to keep working or am I leaving - let's work this out now, staying or going make your mind up, I need an answer now?" The thing is, they need you bad. You have the power not them. All they're doing is playing power games with you because they can. You have to stop them quickly and clearly and in front of other workers if possible. Remember power is like a see-saw. If one tries to unbalance it in the workplace you need to quickly and decisively rebalance. *Never ever jump when they say jump if it is an unreasonable request. The moment you jump to an unreasonable request you will never gain your power back. You've lost it and with it any hope of happiness in that workplace. Your employer has his/her see-saw end on the ground with you up in the air and you just allowed it to happen. Unfortunately people like this inhabit every crack in society in this country. It's called narcissism personality disorder, where they see the workplace rules not applying to them. You see it more in rural areas than cities for sure, just because these types are more visible. In cities they blend in. I'm a truckie. At a rural location I was screamed at to move a rolled up 15m long 350kg wet canvas tarp, which was impossible by myself. I said calmly, "Either come over and help me or get a forklift." You see it wasn't my tarp, it was theirs, only I had used it on their trailer carting product for them. I folded it up as instructed but couldn't move it as it is far too heavy for one man to move on his own. I told them it was wet and it needed airing but they told me to do as I was told. Fair enough. I folded it up and after that, that was when the trouble started because they told me to move it 30m across a warehouse on my own. After the aforementioned suggestions of help or a forklift, I just said, "No, that is an unreasonable request and I refuse." Then the screaming, the ranting the raving. They threatened the supervisor. I said, "Yep you better get him but I still won't move it - just so you know." He came out told me to move it, I explained, he didn't listen then I said, "No," then the branch manager - same story and I repeated, "No." At the end they're all standing there opposite me. I can see they're at a loss of how to deal with me (since it isn't about the tarp). I couldn't resist and taunted them all by saying very calmly and with a smile on my face (I'm taking the piss but they're too arrogant to understand), "Look it's like this, you can take me to the High Court of Australia and if they tell me to move the tarp I still won't move it. Ring my boss, ring the police, do whatever you have to do and I still won't move the tarp. Get me sacked I really don't mind in fact I couldn't care less." (which is true because there's a severe shortage of truck drivers). 18 months later the bloody tarp is still sitting exactly where I rolled it up. Replacement cost for that tarp might be $8-$12,000. It will be rotted. I don't care it's not my tarp. My boss doesn't care either. I still go there and never have any trouble, in fact they get me in and out quickly. This is how you have to be.

@Bob-zs3ro

Ай бұрын

Good to see comments that support your Endurance, that you still maintain that Stiff upper lip, stayed calm and carried on is CREDIT to you and your race ,unbelievable 😮😮😮😮

Hi mate, I'm an Aussie from Brisbane and spent 6 months in Tully (north qld) banana farming. It was truly hard work, but the backpacker hostel was too much fun. The locals are unsophisticated and abusive. I quit many farms and found some nicer smaller family owned ones. Sorry to hear about your scary health problems. Glad you survived to tell your story. EDIT: Not all the locals were unsophisticated and abusive. Some of the locals were amazing people. One terrible experience I had was working on one farm, in which the farmer took a disliking to me. After a long, hot day working in the banana fields, I was super thirsty and asked the farmer for some drinking water, he pointed to a tap. I drank loads of the water as it was nice and cool. 24 hours later, I felt really off, started vomiting and felt like I had been hit by a bus. Went to hospital and had a stomach bug from bacteria. Was really sick for 2-3 days. The farmer knew too well that tap was straight from the creek/river. Bastard made me sick. The reason he took a disliking to me was because he was talking about one of the British girls on the farm, really dirty, and I would not engage in his disgusting conversation, I'm a gentlemen when it comes to repspecting woman. He was a dirty local and instantly disliked me for that reason. I survived, so all good in the end.

@CreativeDee

4 ай бұрын

Yes, I am sure there are very few horrible Farms like he experienced. The smaller Family owned Farms are much nicer. He should report the abuse to Australian Department that actually act on these matters.

@rivergladesgardenrailroad8834

4 ай бұрын

unsophisticated eh, that's being polite...

@friendlyghostkinda

4 ай бұрын

5:07

@muma6559

4 ай бұрын

too many narcissists in queensland, as soon as they abuse you once take your leave, never put up with their shxt

@friendlyghostkinda

4 ай бұрын

@@muma6559 that’s a blanket statement. Too many dumb tourists falling for traps and men not walking away.

That's appalling! The worst thing is....our greedy government have allowed this to happen for many, many years. It's basically slave labor, and non of these psycho farmers are ever brought to pay for their abusive ways at all. And, the main population of Australia, have no idea that this happens. They know that backpackers go work on farms, but they think it's all fun, and laughter and partying. Nothing could be farther from the truth. It's disgraceful, and it's a blight on our country.

@WTF00007

4 ай бұрын

File a criminal complaint under the modern slavery law - complain to the attorney general office (state and commonwealth), also complain to the international bodies watching for modern slavery

@user-lr2jr6fq6o

3 ай бұрын

Australia is in Recession according to Deutsche Bank, 2 trillion dollars foreign debt so International students and these working visas are simply slave work and exploitation by scumbags Australian farmers and businesses. Overseas students and foreign workers are moving the Australian economy. A big Ponzi scheme. Glad you saw it through. I saw some comments about lodging complaints. It goes nowhere. Australia is a very corrupt country. Australia still remove Aboriginal children in mass. All hidden. Watch “In My blood it runs” documentary. Shine lawyers suing Australian Government for “modern day stolen generation “.

I went to Australia to teach , on a teacher Commonwealth exchange. My experience was hellish. Within a week of arriving in Australia, after exchanging my house in Scotland for the Australian teacher’s home, I was. Told “This house is up for sale. You have to get out” . This was the man friend of the lady teacher. My wife and one year old child spent three months trying to find accommodation. To our horror, the school where I taught thought our difficulty was none of their concern. We were so glad to return home after six months of uncertainty, not knowing which piece of accommodation we would find, and which had to be paid. My advice : Go to Australia for a holiday, if you have friends there. Keep in mind : if you come upon bad times, and have no one - you will suffer !

@sammyd7857

3 ай бұрын

So why didn't you just go back to your house and kick the others out

@vikingdrive

3 ай бұрын

Unbelievable!!! They really don't appreciate teachers here! I'm not one , but u vaccinated teachers were stood down....now they can come back ( if they still want to), but get paid less than a regular teachers wage for doing so.

@jeffpinner1772

2 ай бұрын

WE ALL SUFFER CAUSE THE GOVERNMEBT MAKES AUSSIES HOMELESS AND PEOPLE FROM OVERSEAS ARE BUYING THEM IR BEUNGING THEIR FAMILY TO MOVE IN. WHAT U EXPERIENCED WAS THE PEOPLE FIGHTING BACK. SORRY FOR YOUR EXPERIENCE.

@LilaBear

Ай бұрын

To be fair, no employer I ever had in the UK would think it's their problem if I couldn't find somewhere to live.

@Randolph1233

Ай бұрын

@@LilaBear , the accommodation was reciprocated by both teachers. Paperwork was signed to make the teacher exchange run smoothly . The teacher coming to my school in Scotland , on arrival, said she wasn’t interested in my accommodation(after completing the documents to confirm that she is moving into my home, and likewise my wife and I into her home in Australia).

Although this was posted 11 months ago, I feel it's still worth sharing my personal experience in Australia. So, I am 24 years of age; I moved to Australia back in 2022 when I graduated from uni in Lebanon. I was genuinely so excited as I've been in Australia before on a holiday and fell madly in love with the people, sceneries, culture and how generally the country is. So when I moved here, I had a huge slap on my face as to how abusive and condescending my boss was (just for context: I was working in a corporate environment in Sydney). In a country where mental health is often spoken about and how important it is to be maintained, I was utterly shocked at how rough and merciless the bosses and co-workers can be. The meanness and rudeness experienced were unbelievable. I know this doesn't apply to all Aussies, but the trauma that you can develop in a foreign country where its people may fail to fathom the other different person is mind-blowing. Now, in your case you did have the choice to go back home and then head over to New Zealand, whereas mine I simply have no choice due to the daunting situation in my home country of Lebanon. To end this comment on a positive note, though, I am grateful for Australia as a country as it is my safe haven, and I only hope that things will get better with me and every grappling migrant because, truth be told, IT IS NOT EASY!

@mariasnow-hinkson6631

20 күн бұрын

that is terrible! Did you report staff interactions to HR? and, I hope you have found a better position since then.

@moirapettifr7127

10 күн бұрын

I worked with a few Aussies here in the US. Let's just say - it was not ideal.

@JoolsUK

7 күн бұрын

Melbourne work life way less stressed than Sydney try moving cities

@bradnorman7535

6 күн бұрын

Move to Melbourne - a whole different cultural mindset. Many Sydneysiders almost believe they are in LA or New York and are way higher up the food chain than anyone else. I have seen this shit first hand having worked for an organisation with two main offices one in each city. A large cross section of the Sydney Office believed themselves to be our management even if they were doing the same roles. So yeah I think their water still comes in lead pipes or something.

@Jacob_the_Dabbler

4 күн бұрын

Straight away I thought that just sounds like some Sydney bullshit. There's your first problem

You don't have to work on a farm to encounter work-place psychopaths in Australia. Very few of the many companies I've worked for had effective policies against workplace abuse or for weeding out workplace psychopaths and, if you're not prepared when you meet one of these individuals they can BS you into doing yourself all sorts of harm just for jollies. And, yes, these guys really do work hard to make the workplace as dangerous and unhealthy as possible so I'd recommend, at the minimum, reporting the farmer in question to the OH&S regulators in Queensland and see what happens.

@aflaz171

4 ай бұрын

Nothing will happen!

@jamesbanda7069

4 ай бұрын

This what a lot of migrants in the UK and elsewhere Go through

@rumpa09

4 ай бұрын

@@jamesbanda7069 no they dont, and dont speak in the name of "a lot of migrants", you know f'all

@MudHut67

4 ай бұрын

@@jamesbanda7069 What do you mean by "migrants"? There's a very big difference between an immigrant legally entering Australia and illegal economic migrants (mostly men) pouring in from countries not at war and not suffering famine, and then expecting and getting free accommodation, healthcare, education, transport etc.

@laimutekazuliene7306

4 ай бұрын

Work on the farm should not be that brutal, why people make it so hard. Why ?

I never knew this as an Australian. This video needs to be sent to our politicians. This is unacceptable what happened to you in our country.

@evanburrows1697

4 ай бұрын

You're blaming politicians for him getting a staph infection?

@OhManTFE

4 ай бұрын

Point 2 - Removal of Farm Work Previously it was a requirement to do 88 days of specified work to be able to apply for a second year visa , then 6 months of specified work for a third year visa. From July 2024 you will be able to get three separate visas with no specified work. ^ They're changing the law everyone. Hopefully old mate's story is the last one we'll have to hear. Thanks for sharing your story mate.

@carrier6517

4 ай бұрын

@@evanburrows1697 No she isn't blaming anybody - I agree that this treatment of overseas and Australian workers on fruit farms SHOULD be addressed and brought to the attention of the local and federal Government so changes can be made to improve conditions - THAT is what she is saying.

@TheFalshGordon

4 ай бұрын

@@evanburrows1697 Only stupid person can ask that!

@chrisphillips2025

4 ай бұрын

Please send it if you are Australian thank you

It’s really amazing that you are alive to talk about this. The bad luck of all of it is crazy! Glad you made it.

@jimbo43ohara51

2 ай бұрын

Just another winging Pom. Good riddance to bad rubbish.

Wonderful storytelling! I am so sorry for your dreadful experience. Thankful that you have lived to share it with all of us. I will subscribe to hear more about your journey and experiences.

Since 30 years ago, I am saying 30 YEARS AGO when I was in my early 20s at college, it's been well known how abusive it is to work at farms on Aussie working holiday visa. It includes abusive labor, and sometimes sexual abuse whether you are male or female. It seems like nothing has changed since then.

@fenderOCG

4 ай бұрын

Yeah even working in Japan 20 years ago on a working holiday visa was super sketchy, I was lucky to get out alive and like you say the sexual abuse is not limited to one gender.

@muma6559

4 ай бұрын

Aw! Terrible

@kathleenbrowne1376

4 ай бұрын

what oh no. what horrible experience for the workers

@Ad-Lo

4 ай бұрын

Exactly.

@jimdavis8391

4 ай бұрын

​@fenderOCG Hazing. It hardly surprises me that it goes on, all cultures indulge in some form of it.

I'm an Aussie, and I'm familiar with the dark side of the ever-friendly Aussie character and this describes it too a tea. Poor guy! I'm sorry on behalf of all Aussie's for the disgraceful way you were treated by those bloody, bitter and nasty farmers.

@someguy2972

4 ай бұрын

"rodriguez"...

@Heimrik01

4 ай бұрын

@@someguy2972 So ?

@remedialmassagetreatment9618

4 ай бұрын

⁶

@celestewarren8548

4 ай бұрын

The dark side of the ever friendly Aussie character? Way to paint an entire country! Ffs

@cranegantry868

4 ай бұрын

Very likely he just wasn't up to the hard work, that's all.

I came to Australia from the UK as a backpacker in 2000 just before the Olympics. At the time, the cut-off age was 25 and there was no option of doing a 2nd year - that farm work thing was introduced later. I never actually did any farm work but I did a lot of other different jobs, most of which involved being abused in some way so like you I have bitter-sweet memories of a fun party life punctuated by trauma. Anyway I ended up staying, and here I am, almost a quarter of a century later and I've lived more than half my life in Australia now. Your story was very gripping! You can always come back to Australia for a short break - it's only a short distance away now you're in New Zealand. If you have a short holiday here you'll experience it in a totally different way without all the stress and hardships. Good luck to you and enjoy your life in NZ.

@philshen1899

3 ай бұрын

The year 2000 was Sydney at its absolute best. It's far from that now :(

@noxiousdow

3 ай бұрын

@@philshen1899 Yep, it was amazing

@marcK599.

29 күн бұрын

Why?

@noxiousdow

28 күн бұрын

@@marcK599. a nasty combination of successive governments that have actively set out to kill off the nightlife, in keeping with its wowser history (it's nothing new). In modern times it's taken the form of extra layers of bureaucracy and prohibitive legislation like RSA, lockout laws, etc. Covid came along and didn't help. In addition, Sydney housing has priced young people out of the market and would-be partygoers have been forced out to regional centres or Brisbane/Melbourne if they can afford it. This has left Sydney full of whingey white boomer NIMBY types who get venues shut down if they make slightly too much noise for residents nearby. Outside those white boomer deadzones are vast areas of suburbia full of fast food joints and immigrants who have no interest in going out drinking because they're too busy taking drugs and hooning around in P-plated cars. As venues in places like Kings Cross and Darlinghurst have closed their doors, greedy developers have moved swiftly to turn each building into glassy apartment blocks for both ageing boomers and rich immigrants. That kind of "planning" has killed the city. It has seen its best days and there's no going back now.

@ksc743

10 күн бұрын

​@@marcK599. maybe because a city is always at its best when it hosts the Olympics? I remember the same euphoria in London in 2012. People are elated, excited, leading up to the Olympics. Governments spend millions upgrading the city wherever it may be. It's just a magical time. Maybe every large town or city in the world should host a type of Olympics every year to make the world a happier place🤸🏼😄

I'm sorry all that happened to you at once, its the kind of thing that happens to me, but I'm glad to hear you are still with us. You also have perfect story skills you didn't drag the story out, you gave enough and made me chuckle, but that's only because I could see you were OK lol, but I would like you to retell your story with the gruesome picture, I'm sure I'm not the only one 😊

I'm Aussie and I've had MRSA twice ending up in hospital for weeks at a time. This story hit home so hard - all he best bro, no one really understands how hectic it can be

Sorry to hear about your experience bro! I'm a Brit & I did my regional work in Bundaberg which was also brutal. Got paid $2.50 per bucket for picking Zucchinis. Definitely feel the Australian Government should do more to make sure those on working holiday visa don't get exploited

@graduke1

7 ай бұрын

I did those as well in queensland and you had to wear gloves as the skin has a chemical that gives you a rash. I hardly made any money on some farms...I think the only time I made any money was picking peppers by the bucket! A lot of farms didn't have big crops so I was working 3 days a week sometimes...barely enough to pay the rent!

@lellamas2778

7 ай бұрын

I picked mangos in Bundaberg! Had 2 things happen: 1. a fellow picker deliberately picked a mango a sprayed the juice in my eye 2. was picking mangos on top of the tractor thing - my legs got whipped with mango branches - got some sort of allergic reaction. Had to leave after that :(

@j.kapiris

6 ай бұрын

You get exploited for the benefit of all Australian citizens so no one will ever want to fix it

@GoldCoast85

5 ай бұрын

Should have gone to Fair Work. Easy.

@wolfthequarrelsome504

4 ай бұрын

It looks like a working visa isn't covered by labor regulations or unions. Anybody know?

You're an incredibly engaging story teller. You had me hooked start to finish.

Australia is a country where no matter what job you do you are at risk of being abused by your coworkers/boss, sometimes its best to tough it out, other times you need to pay attention to the warning signs and move on. Sometimes when you get hired by a business you will notice that most of the employees are fairly new or the business is understaffed, this is because the old employees all got the shits and left. For many people life in Australia is hard, but for others like people in specific trades or with a niche skill and lots of experience life tends to be pretty easy.

@SP-free

Ай бұрын

Garbage

I'm Australian and as someone who had zero money I also decided to do the Australia backpacker farm thing and I saw a lot going on out on the farms that was hard to believe, it's another world out there.

@rawforyou5514

9 ай бұрын

i wish it would be more known!!!

@kristinapace

9 ай бұрын

I use to clean the backpackers accommodation it was pretty rough I must say that's in Victoria but the bosses are lovely noy like the banana farms and no crazy infection

@kristinapace

9 ай бұрын

Man oh man go to baccus marsh victoria or peninsula or Mowbray in VICTORIA

@kristinapace

9 ай бұрын

Also backpackers in Victoria some are luxurious

@kristinapace

9 ай бұрын

BACKPACKERS PLEASE DO YOUR FARM WORK IN VICTORIA WA OR NSW

As a Kiwi living now in Australia for 33 years I think NZ should be very proud to have such a decent, caring and humble person as you. When you described your conversation with your Mum whilst in hospital, it really moved me. I wish you every happiness in NZ. I hope one day you will return to Oz. 😊

Ohhh you poor Vegemite!!! What a tale of physical horrors wonderfully narrated. You had me on the edge of my bed, not the chair😀. I regret deeply and I am ashamed, and appalled at the treatment from a farmer in QLD. So sad and sorry to hear. I am glad you found your spot in NZ, Kiwis are fair dinkum! God bless you and look after your health🙏❤️

I first lived in Auckland and then in Sydney. I have a New Zealand passport but am not New Zealand born Professionally I’m a psychiatrist. I’m pleased you are able to share your story as a narrative. The traumas you experienced are severe. I’d be surprised if you didn’t experience PTSD. I used to consult on medical and surgical wards at the hospital I worked at in north Sydney. Both the cellulitis and the staph infection could have killed you. Let alone the abscess on your back. Horrible horrible to hear of this terrible time in your life. I’m pleased to hear that you sound happily settled in the beautiful Wellington. I need not tell you to simply take care/ look after yourself. May you never have to experience such traumas again. And thank you for also remembering to thank the medical and nursing staff. As a doctor I always express my thanks and praise to the nursing staff without whom we could not operate hospitals effectively. Thank you for your channel and your uploads.

@robkit6681

8 күн бұрын

🇷🇺👊

I’m sorry to hear about the farmers!! But I’m glad you’re here in New Zealand! We love having you here ❤️✨

@PeterJohn-hl3ox

6 ай бұрын

New Zealand is Brit infested - no shep you love having him there.

I live in Australia and have worked on farms. It can be a nightmare. It just depends on the farmer. So sorry for your experience. Bless you. The government should look into stuff like this. Bless ya.

Thank you for sharing your story with us.... So sad what happened at the banana farm .... And the horrific incident that happened to you 😮... And all what you went through..... 🙌🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 I found your story sad and joyful at the same time.... Great vlog... Greetings from South Africa 🇿🇦

I've visited Australia (NSW) only once, and will be happy not to go back. The culture of mateyness and bluntness is enough to put me off. Their habit of starting a spoken sentence with "Look. ..." is MORE than enough to keep me away!

@maximillianford9301

2 ай бұрын

Come on mate. Your decision is your decision, but as an Australian this is a pretty silly reason not to go back. There are good people everywhere, good food everywhere, good beaches in many locations that you'll encounter, and if you manage to find a backpacker hostel then you'll have a blast of a social life with similar like-minded travellers

@sharonozvenom

Ай бұрын

Look…. 😂😂😂

@jenniferpierno6108

12 күн бұрын

Perhaps a trip to Pakistan or the Congo might be more your cup of tea

@ghostthattheotherscantsee5651

6 күн бұрын

I wish people treated me in a matey form because I almost got no friends.

I love your tale of the prikish Innisfail banana farmers (I live down the road in Townsville). The truth is, is that there is absolutely no need for them to behave like that towards their laborers, and they only do it because they have gotten away with it over the years. The covid pandemic was a time of reckoning for them, because the backpacker labor force disappeared, and no Australians wanted to come and work for them. I was getting all these job notifications telling me how great it was to come out and work in 'harvesting', the government was actually paying people to go out there, and farmers were having to recruit among students and grey nomads to fill the void.

@dws84

9 ай бұрын

Yeah, those scab farmers got found out when their supply of slaves dried up during covid. Some good ones out there, but majority are pieces of shit!

@Mrderbyavenue

9 ай бұрын

The people were actually being PAID, what story's. You loose your nail polish to sir/they/them/he/she

@Mag0Lag

9 ай бұрын

@@Mrderbyavenue U mad bro?

@Mrderbyavenue

9 ай бұрын

@@Mag0Lag yep we all are out here, expecting hard workers from💋

@Igloo3471

8 ай бұрын

​@@MrderbyavenueThere's exhibit A of inbred, stupid Queensland farmer! Absolute simpletons.

I have been living here in Australia since 1996, I have a hell of a story of the demise of Australia and it's many ego driven people.

This sounds horrible! I'm so sorry this happened to you. You seem like a very kind, caring, and optimistic person and I hope you never endure this again. All the sickness on top of the abuse. Just awful

So ooooh sorry to hear of the tough and dreadful experience you went through...Hope you are well now 🎉🎉🎉

My friend I just sent your video to the Australian Minister for Immigration and suggested he apologise to you for the harms his predecessors in the office exposed you to. Yours is a well researched and documented problem. It’s well known that this kind of industrial abuse is common place in Australia. Unfortunately we’ve had years of red necks and their lobbyists running this country. It was a great video btw.

@maralfniqle5092

4 ай бұрын

Well done, yes we as Aussies need to step up and report this abuse.

@DiscoDrew

4 ай бұрын

Just an average day’s work for some people.

@Abe-rz1nm

4 ай бұрын

Nice but good luck our politicians are paid to not care.

@conniem2394

4 ай бұрын

Waste of time. politicians shaft all people

@veenacriddle1207

4 ай бұрын

Good on you

Hey mate sorry to hear about your experience. It's unfortunate no one warned you about the tropics. Unless you are born there or are from Indonesia or another tropical area, the body takes a massive hit. For any backpackers from Europe/UK I'd recommend finding a dairy farm in Victoria or Tasmania.

@mariawatts4115

9 ай бұрын

Better work in Victoria and Tasmania.

@tropicaussie4572

9 ай бұрын

Horrible climate though . Much better up here .👍🏝

@sue8370

9 ай бұрын

Too cold in Vic and Tassie, too hot North Qld, South Australia is the best weather lol

@smokescreen2146

9 ай бұрын

Work like a slave or get your visa revoked. Work for the dole or get your welfare abolished.

@deborahcurtis1385

9 ай бұрын

@@tropicaussie4572 Infection can happen easily in a tropical climate. The bed bugs situation can happen anywhere but piled on top...a clusterf*k of a situation. truly sorry again.

this was heart wrenching to hear - i;m SO glad you lived!! SO glad you told the world, TOO. I hope i live long enough to tell about my story which is also appallingly heart wrenching tho very different - involving mafia w/the longest arms in the world - harrowing, dumbfoundingly evil and openly brazen people - way beyond the law. Thank you for listening, son!🙏💔🙏

These popular KZreadrs are so unrealistically positive in relation to their experiences abroad. Plenty of serious negatives about moving to Australia, you're making it out to be some kind of heaven on earth. Everything is brilliant and amazing, seriously the fakeness is nauseating.

What a story! As an Australian, I'm sorry to hear that you had a tough time on the banana farm. Kudos to you that you remained so positive and upbeat throughout all of your experiences.

I was hospitalized for 31/2 months for MRSA sepsis. I’ve made a full recovery, but it took about 3 years before I felt normal again. I almost had my leg amputated. Glad you’re ok!

Aussie here - I'm glad to hear you're alright now. You probably have a case for recourse with the banana farmer but even if you dont want to go down that path, I think you should at least make a complaint with 'fairwork' about the abuse you received which would likely make them investigate, hopefully preventing this from happening to others. However, im still glad to hear that you enjoyed most of your experience here. Although im not familiar with the details of the visa system, I would have thought that there would be some type of medical exception that you could do to extend your visa to allow you to finish it. Again, im not sure if thats the case, but could be something to look in to. Also, your aussie accent of the 65y.o man in the hospital is probably one of best I've heard.

Great video! Glad you recovered and are happy in your new lifein New Zealand👍😊👍

So brilliantly told! You’re a great story-teller.

@bevhowell7665

Жыл бұрын

Omg. That’s terrible, can’t believe your troubles in Australia

As an Australian born and raised in Sydney city, I’m sorry you had to put up with aggressive farmers. There are so many stories of working tourists being treated like dirt by farmers. The entire labour force in Australia is filled with aggressive people who feel like screaming and shouting at people turns them into better workers.

@michaelirish1445

4 ай бұрын

Yes its really sad its not talk about in the media. The MSM talk about mental health but avoid the elephent in the room.

@catatafish22

4 ай бұрын

I don't understand why such a large part of our culture is so nasty. This isn't just exclusive to farms... I experienced it working at a supermarket as a kid/young adults, I hear about the same shit from every tradie, I hear about it from chefs. We just have a nasty culture... spose you could chalk it up to the fact that we descend from criminals, but that's no excuse. I really wish we had more compassion as a whole... We're such a privileged country, but we squander it because of a handful of cultural norms. That nasty, hater sentiment is rife. We're also extremely adverse to progress and change. Like we produce so much skill, many people come up with so many ideas for inventions and businesses but our venture capitalists only invest in ore and housing for the most part. No one wants to take any chances because they're so allergic to change and innovation. Allasian for instance, we lost them to the USA. They could've put us on the map in the tech world and would've been amazing for our economy. We need to incentivise people to invest in industries which aren't just mining and housing. There's so much we could do in the energy sector, also I.T. - Like anything tech related is where you'd be wanting to focus your incentives if you're a smart policy maker.

@michaelirish1445

4 ай бұрын

I think Australia is summed up by the saying "hard times produce strong men, strong men produce good times, good times produce weak men. There is no real adversity now in Australia, most avoided it and the lack of suffering produces a lack of compassion.

@wolfthequarrelsome504

4 ай бұрын

Scream and shout back. Don't let yourself contract PTSD. you think you can't?

@GoldCoast85

4 ай бұрын

Sydney's even worse. What a robotic shite hole

Thanks for sharing. Gosh that's awful what happened. Glad you're in NZ and you're loving it. I was a governess in the outback a few years ago and felt really uncomfortable at times. Some of the family members were just odd and quite aggressive at times..! I just made it through a few months. I had one governess friend just suddenly kicked out randomly one day (on another property) and then one guy had to go to hospital after a few days of getting an infected leg. His manager wasn't too helpful about getting him the right treatment straightaway and told him to wait for it to get better even when he was in so much pain and limping, he carried on back to work on the farm! He could have got sepsis!

Man you have been through a lot, you're a talented storyteller and you kept us engaged with your story. Unfortunately, some of the temporary visa holders fall for some bad employers who abuse their situation and need to extend their visas. Australia as a country is an amazing place and I have been lucky to move here 8 years ago with a PR visa. As for your story, you were meant to end up in New Zealand and it seems to be the right place for you at this time.

I followed the blog of a young couple who spent 2 years travelling around the world. Australia was one of the places they visited. The young woman got a job working at horse stables in a very isolated rural area, the owner of the place wasn't interested in hiring her partner who got himself a job elsewhere. The woman was really keen on the job as the owner had promised her free riding lessons. He made her work extremely long hours mucking the stables and started to act inappropriately. Her partner dropped in to see her, the owner wouldn't let them spend time together (he gave the guy a 'job' mending the fence in a distant field, even though he was just visiting for the weekend) and wouldn't let them spend the night together, because he didn't want them to have sex at his place! The result: the young woman ran away from the farm with her boyfriend at the end of the weekend. She was a bit unsure as to the intentions of the farmer, but her partner was adamant that he wanted to f*** her and that it wasn't safe for her to stay there another week. All in all, she spent 2 weeks there.

@Rampart.X

4 ай бұрын

That rings perfectly true. See the movie "Wake in Fright" - should seem familiar.

@dredrotten

4 ай бұрын

@@Rampart.X You should have reported it to the local police so they know what this guy is like for future reference.

@ahill4642

4 ай бұрын

Yikes. 😳

@beverleypettit3577

4 ай бұрын

@yehmen29 Heck That is scary / dark / disturbing / UNACCEPTABLE ! The abuser should be exposed. Thank goodness she fled from that weirdo.

@indiathylane2158

4 ай бұрын

@@Rampart.X Brilliant movie, but there's been a lot of changes since then. That's like expecting the poms to live like people in the dark ages.

I’m a doctor working in compensation in Aus. I hope you consulted a lawyer (it should be covered by work insurance) about a lump sum payment for that work injury, or at least took the farmer to court for the abusive behaviour. I’ve never met anyone so horrible or even heard of it! This is not normal. Neither are bed bugs, that’s such terrible luck! Stay at a luxury hotel next trip!! Most Aussies are fine (from a NZ who lives here).

@dws84

9 ай бұрын

You're right. He should be eligible to a work injury compensation claim. Some years have passed now, so not sure how that might affect matters, but temp working VISA workers have more entitlements than what's commonly known.

@nataliehilton1537

9 ай бұрын

Let’s be real. There’s no support anywhere here. The entire system is corrupt from the top down. So many people take their lives because of the hell work cover subjects them to.

@craigalexp

9 ай бұрын

It's why they often hire backpackers over locals. Most don't know they have work rights in this country.

@livingadamman7994

9 ай бұрын

If it indeed was the case, you have to make a claim within 3 years, and you have to be able to prove it. A dramatised winge on YT doesn't cut it. You can be an overcomer or a victim, it's all lifes lessons, we live and learn.

@journeyman6752

9 ай бұрын

STOP WHINING YOU LAWYER CREEP.

I'm amazed that you are OK and it is a miracle! I wish you would've shown the pictures tho. I've literally seen someone's skull cut off on here as part of a skull replacement surgery.

I am married to an Australian whom lived with me for many years in Canada.. we have moved to Australia and as an older person I am shocked at all of the bullying and harrassment by bosses and business owners have towards their employees.. I joined the SES and a few social clubs and even in the volunteer and social clubs bullying of those you supervise is very common and I feel part of the culture.. This disrespect is common in politics and even in professional and amateur sports.. Australia is a beautiful country but the bully culture is not so great.

@jeffpliskin

3 ай бұрын

The attitude of every tradie or blue collar manager iver ever worked under in small to medium business from landscaping and building to warehousing.

@L1623VP

2 ай бұрын

About 25 years ago, I met an Australian man who had moved to America. When I asked him why he moved, he told me he wanted to get away from the Australian "pecking order" behavior. He also wanted to get away from what he called the "tall poppy syndrome" in Australia. He said in Australia, you can be successful, but not "too" successful. Once a person reaches a certain level of success, he said the public and press will turn on you as if to say, "Who do you think you are to be so much better than the rest of us?" He said the unjust criticism is what cuts the "tall poppy" down to size so it's back in line with everyone else. He said he was tired of that kind of cultural resentment of success and wanted to be in America where the success of others is not seen as a threat but celebrated and used as an inspiration for one's own success. I never knew Australia had that kind of resentment of success and bullying attitude running through their culture.

@jeffpliskin

2 ай бұрын

@@L1623VP Sounds like nonsense to me and live here in Sydney was born here. If this "tall poppy syndrome" stil existed do you think we'd be acting like a 51st state of the UsA with the same celebrity cringe culture e.g when Taylor Swift come here the mainstream mass couldnt stop going on about and she's american as apple pie. If there was tall poppy sydrome then no one would brown nose celebrities either because celebrities are seen as the ultimate level of acheivement and income in western society. Many celebrities in Australia get the same hero worship they do anywhere if not more so, including those like Elon Musk.

@jeffpliskin

2 ай бұрын

@L1623VP A Class based pecking order exists i assure you Australia has elite private schools and elite universities by our own standards to prove it, elite enough for large portion of asia to pay big bucks to come and study on our campuses anyway.

@L1623VP

2 ай бұрын

@@jeffpliskin I don't care about Taylor Swift, and your response doesn't make much sense. That's exactly what he said to me. Like it or not.

I can identify with your story. I'm a Kiwi and was picking vegies up in FNQ. The owner of the place ripped me off. Next thing I knew, all of the workers packed up and walked off. Irish, Scottish, English and Kiwis. Solidarity in friendship. That was about 1990. Workers rights haven't changed much since then, unfortunately.

@lisasommerlad1337

10 ай бұрын

I am sorry you went through that. It is not fair. Workers need to be treated well. I hope we up our game, as we do need the workers.

@stubru16

9 ай бұрын

Same in Europe workers are exploited for cheap labour. Even tho there is workers rights but Europe still likes to exploit Eastern Europeans

@lucasgroves137

9 ай бұрын

That's appalling of course. The only thing missing is an old fashioned picket line, and SCABS getting bussed in by the bosses, a la "When The Boat Comes In." 😅

@anthonyxuereb792

9 ай бұрын

Some farmers are having to change their ways because they can't get enough labourers.

@CanberraProtest-dm6hu

9 ай бұрын

@@stubru16 I got paid a cheque after working on a strawberry farm in Ireland. The cheque bounced 🥵

Ive never heard of this. You are doing a great service to travellers in Australia.. They need to know about these goings on and the farmers need their behaviour to become well known and to be honest they do not deserve the help they are getting. Thank you for the video.

@wolfthequarrelsome504

4 ай бұрын

Need to know is one thing. Getting justice is another.

@someguy2972

4 ай бұрын

lol based on one man's story...

This is honestly disgusting, as a local, im really sorry that this was your experience in australia, weird that there are bed bugs in melbourne, over my 13 years if living, ive never seen any, i hope you never have experiences like this ever again in your life

@vikingdrive

3 ай бұрын

I second that!

I'm appalled to hear of this and am very sorry your experience in my country was so horrific. I hope you are doing better now and am glad you found a good life in NZ. Live well!

Well, more precisely, the moral of the story is not don't go to Australia but rather don't work an on Australian farm. Thanks for the tip, bro. Glad you're okay.

@Mantras-and-Mystics

4 ай бұрын

Well thank God not everyone is agin us! 😂

@kparker2430

4 ай бұрын

don't work for farmers - crooked people living in a bubble - they have a certain look, they dress a certain way, the big hat spells trouble. Hello Barnaby Joyce.

@Christmas-fv1jc

3 ай бұрын

All this small farms are goin to be gobbled up by big corporation

@WellRaverOfficial

3 ай бұрын

Also never go to Australia after Thailand otherwise it'll ruin Australia!

@kparker2430

3 ай бұрын

@@WellRaverOfficial cannabis australiana is very highly regarded

You are quite delightful & a great story teller. You had me on the edge of my seat each time you said "But"! Glad you are well & thriving

That's just an amazing story ,gosh you went through so much ,but your really brave.

I've lived in Australia for 30 years now and it's literally in my blood too. Melbourne docs are so good because Poms keep staggering out of the outback.

@zayzaymorinov1934

3 ай бұрын

This is the truest thing I have ever read on KZread.

I'm 57 now used to pick fruit and veg when I was younger. Worked my butt off but the wages were so low I had to supplement it with benefits just to get by. By the sounds of it it hasn't changed. Most Aussie farmers pay very low wages often below minimum. I'm Australian

The irony is, if you get NZ Citizenship you can come to Australia without a visa and have working rights!

@carolynh8866

9 ай бұрын

I was just thinking the same lol

@jameson566

8 ай бұрын

Like half of NZ has done already.

@lancehobbs8012

8 ай бұрын

Hhhhaaa yeah exactly kiwis passport, straight to Australia. Automatically get a bouncer job in kings cross

When I worked in Australia with other backpackers I worked at fairs selling food, the people in charge spoke to us in such a disgusting manner and it was so aggressive and unnecessary. I handed my apron back and walked out, saying on my way out the door “I’m not being spoken to like this, it’s basic verbal abuse.” She was shocked that I left.

@user-lr2jr6fq6o

3 ай бұрын

Australia is in Recession according to Deutsche Bank, 2 trillion dollars foreign debt so International students and these working visas are simply slave work and exploitation by scumbags Australian farmers and businesses. Overseas students and foreign workers are moving the Australian economy. A big Ponzi scheme. Glad you saw it through. I saw some comments about lodging complaints. It goes nowhere. Australia is a very corrupt country. Australia still remove Aboriginal children in mass. All hidden. Watch “In My blood it runs” documentary. Shine lawyers suing Australian Government for “modern day stolen generation “.

Glad to have seen your video BEFORE going to Australia! Won't be making an error!

I’m so sorry you went through this. There should be a class action against evil work conditions for backpackers on banana farms

@783342

4 ай бұрын

Not jst banana farms.

@wolfthequarrelsome504

4 ай бұрын

What's wrong with those people who won't do that?

@aussiehillbilly

4 ай бұрын

go research who owns banana farms. NOT Australians

@indiathylane2158

4 ай бұрын

@@aussiehillbilly Mostly it's the farmer who owns the farm, his family members or direct employees (like a foreman) who set the cracking work pace and deny breaks and entitlements. Not foreign companies.

@mandyaustinbadart5814

4 ай бұрын

it's not just banana farms in Innisfail; believe me i am an early childhood teacher and never experienced anything like it .

First off, I'm sorry to hear about your experience and your treatment at the hands of my fellow Queenslanders. Aussie here, born and raised in Brisbane Queensland, blue collar worker my entire 20+ years in the work force and I'd never do rural farm work. . For what the work demands and what they pay is it's disgusting and nothing short of exploitation. As we saw during Covid, when all the cheap backpacker labour was shut down due to the covid restrictions and lock downs, they all of a sudden couldn't get workers to slave around on their farms because no Aussie or anyone who wasn't chasing their second year working VISA will do that work in the POW conditions for the money. So I have no respect or sympathy for the scab farms out there. Not every farm is horrible like that, but it's a total crap shoot if one will score a good one. average one, or hell. An English friend of mine managed to score her rural time working at a remote hotel, so she avoided the farms all together. This would be my recommendation for anyone chasing their 2nd year working VISA. On the other hand, I'm very proud of my country and the high standard of medical care we are able to provide a tourist on a temp working VISA at little expense to them.

@briancrowther3272

9 ай бұрын

ONly because we get the party in that this farmer would be opposed to.

@NinoNiemanThe1st

9 ай бұрын

Agree with you totally. I would tell tourists to steer clear of farm work if they can, and even go to hospitality (which can also be exploitative, particularly if dealing with ex 3rd world Chinese or Indian bosses). Rural politicians (more right wingers like the National Party) love the existing system and their exploitative farmer donors, and have a lot of power in that country as they tend to win most of the rural elections.

@williamshafer3199

9 ай бұрын

@@NinoNiemanThe1st Yeah NP controls Libs, they hate workers and would ban unions if they could get away with it :(

@Threadbow

7 ай бұрын

UK and oz have reciprocal agreements re health care I had great health care in oz. Loved it there, wish I could do it all again.

@NinoNiemanThe1st

7 ай бұрын

@@Threadbow Reciprocal health care arrangements between first world countries with similar social health care systems are a fantastic thing! It means visitors from countries with good systems can be assured of decent healthcare when they travel. But it will always be unavailable if you are coming from places like India: in that case, costly 1st world insurance policies are required (and usually on visa stipulations) and it can get very expensive, because you can't compare their health care systems.

Good to see you're in a happy place now Bro. You're presentation was quite captivating and I knew I had to listen until the very end. You really have been in the wars! I'm amazed that you didn't get bitten by a nasty snake, because they are out in summer; or a spider. I'm also appalled by the behaviour of the farmer for whom you worked for. The Aussie Government needs to step up and stop the abuse to workers, right now. There should be a regulatory body who monitors this type of situation, workplace conditions, etc. All I can recommend to anybody going outside the Australian cities into the country areas is to learn First Aid practices (carry a kit), take fresh drinking water and protect all of yourself from the harsh sun. Even beaches, waterholes, lakes and rivers can be dangerous for some people. So preparation is always helpful and advantageous.

In 2002 I worked on a tobacco farm near Bright, Victoria for 3 months. It was owned by an Italian family, Angelo and Pat were the father and son. They were fantastic, we drank grappa every morning, made us pizzas, went shooting deer. Had a great time, will never forget it

@lh7325

4 ай бұрын

Bright is beautiful. Hoping to visit again this year.

@Mantras-and-Mystics

4 ай бұрын

​@@lh7325 Autumn in Bright .. 🍂 .. Was there as a child .. 😊

@jhfearon1052

4 ай бұрын

Sadly most (if not all) the tobacco farms in that part of Victoria are gone now. Some of them have been replaced by hops growing. Bright is truly stunning in Autumn and a very popular holiday destination for Melburnians.

@jenniferpierno6108

12 күн бұрын

You are probably a good worker with an optimistic attitude.

As an Aussie I am upset that there are people in this country who treat workers like that. I wish our government would do more to target businesses who abuse their workers and to make it easier for workers who are being abused to make a complaint to the authorities (including being protected from visa penalties if they come forward and blow the whistle)

So sorry to hear you had this atrocious experience. Hopefully you are restored to full health now.

I’m Australian, 54 years old, and I can remember jackarooing out longreach and Windorah way, treated like shit carting timber fence post on my shoulder outer the scrub, been ripped off more than a few times, they tell you your useless so you don’t leave, killing the confidence of young bloke that still effects me today. Always full of self doubt. Yes they are not all like that, but a lot are. I have had great bosses as well. But one good thing that come out of, I never tell a kid they can’t do anything, always encourage them to keep trying, and I’m a better dad for it.

What a crazy chaotic story Curls .. So glad you made it through in the end, and are happily enjoying our NZ way of life down under. We are thrilled to have you here, love the video content and the way you tell the stories.

I love the way that even though you were in a total panic, you didn't want to wake your mom up for your call ❤

@ksc743

10 күн бұрын

And he didn't want to worry her by telling her this may be the last conversation they may ever have. That was an incredibly selfless act. I can say honestly say if it were me I'd have been sobbing down the line and saying I'm catching the next flight home!

My goodness you have been through a horrible ordeal with everything that happened to you! i hope your all good now 🙏

Dude, I could listen to you talk all day. Your storytelling skills are fantastic.

Im an Aussie and live in North Queensland. I worked on the mango farms in NQ 25 years ago, and it was hard work back then, except the pay was good back then. You're right, its intense work and I wouldnt recommend it to anyone actually. My daughter also nearly died from a staf infection in her bone. She had 2 operations to save her life, she was 7 years old. Ive also received care at that Innisfail hospital! So i guess Im telling you all this, cause I know about some of the things you went through, and Im really sorry you went through any of it. Sounds horrendous! Im glad all that is behind you! Its stupid we are putting travellers through this. Im really sorry. Good on you for sharing your experience. How that farmer treated you was bloody wrong. From an Aussie.

@theosteknion6219

9 ай бұрын

@EurekaElephant2417 how sweet!!

@AD-fq9ir

9 ай бұрын

The only reason australia would do this to travellers is that its racist

@julianpetkov8320

9 ай бұрын

I used to work with English and Irish backpackers in Labour Hire. We did the worst and the illegal jobs at construction. Jobs the building companies would not put their own workers through. We had Aussies, New Zealanders and even Islanders, here and there. Some privileged people say - Australians are lazy, there should not be any benefits paid, because there are jobs for everybody. Yes there are about a billion third world jobs in Australia waiting to get filled. There is no bottom at how low one can go. I usually tell those people to try doing some hard yakka before lecturing the public.

@chriswilson8757

9 ай бұрын

⁠@@AD-fq9ir, please explain re racist attitudes of some Australians ? Unfortunately we do have our fare share of Racist A......holes but in this instance I fail to see we're that fits in here ? Regards 🦘🇦🇺🪃 FNQ

@inthecloudjim1133

9 ай бұрын

@@chriswilson8757 you being English will not get it, try getting locks for wearing burkas, or redneck Aussies not letting you park, Australia doesn't like or respect foreigners very much like Japan its a fact.

I totally agree with your statement about doctors and nurses I was in hospital for 5 weeks after having a cyst removed from my brain and I now have a total appreciation for the work they do especially nurses they have to do some pretty gross stuff but do it with a smile. Very special people that’s for sure

@alanw2036

Жыл бұрын

Nurses do an amazing job. It makes me sad when nurses say they get sworn at every day by patients.

@andreandrews571

Жыл бұрын

@@alanw2036 so true they do all the hard work are under paid and still get abused

@bobdillon1138

Жыл бұрын

They are worth there weight in gold!

@lachlanbrown409

9 ай бұрын

Only for surgery and Emergency. Most surgeries are scams to male money for surgeons. Doctors, aside from necessary surgery and emergency, are just pill and unnecessary injection pushers.

Omg, you’re lucky you’re got through all that without long term trauma I reckon. Cellulitis is certainly not trivial: my work buddy had it in the leg like you and my wife had it in her face and its rapid development was frightening! Best of luck to you for the future. BTW, you tell an engaging story very well 👌🏼 All the best from a Scottish hiker.

I'm glad you are alright. I'm also surprised that you never mentioned anything about Australian spiders in this video.

There are many stories like this. If you want to work on a farm in Australia, stay away from Rizzato's orchards in Stanthorpe. They will make you stay in their own accommodation and pay a fortune for it as well as pay for transport to and from the workplace and treat you like shit.

@briancrowther3272

9 ай бұрын

Yes!!!!!! YOU named a shamed them, well done!!!!

@wot4922

9 ай бұрын

Thank you for naming. You would have saved many people thinking of working there 🙏

@patkelly6349

7 ай бұрын

Get the authorities onto these greaseballs

@Threadbow

7 ай бұрын

​@@patkelly6349 Yes. Write to whoever makes this rules system for backpackers. Get a petition Next one might die and that's bad 🌎 wide press for an otherwise great country. ❤ Australia ❤

@TravellingNowhereFast

6 ай бұрын

I was in Stanthorpe 7 years ago, and even back then Rizzato was to avoid!

Nobody should have to put up with abuse in the workplace… Glad you survived it and found NZ…👍

@Will-nb8qk

9 ай бұрын

lol

@peterdahl9884

8 ай бұрын

Hope the bludger stays there.

@griswald7156

7 ай бұрын

There’s a lot of abuse in England too….but its all stealthily done…so its difficult to prove…you dont really get gross abuse like has just been explained..since very long ago…but ive left jobs because of outright rudeness in England..it must go on all over the world……

@Jim-yk9zw

6 ай бұрын

​@@peterdahl9884Why's he a bludger?

@GoldCoast85

5 ай бұрын

F NZ, absolute shite hole of a place.

Wow, what a story! Im glad you made it out okay and are doing well.

I came 2007 to australia and australia was the biggest nightmare in my life and I walked away from it ..... and came back ..... My worst experiences I had was in NSW, Sydney, Blue Mountains, I met a australian woman in europe and came with her to australia, who stole 500.000 dollar from me. send me 2 killers I barely survived, got rassistic abused from the police and normal people, had in social environment bogans, got tricked with cars and boats, got cheated, life was a nightmare. After 8 years such a life I said never ever anymore Australia. Why I'm back? I moved before my trip back to europe to Queensland. And when you come from NSW to QLD, from Sydney to the Fraser Coast, that is like from hell to heaven. After 2 years europe thinking what to do with my life that got ruined from and in Australia, I thought I would try it again in Queensland. And that was a break through. Queensland is the best place in Australia, there are the best people in Australia, and life is great here. I'm at home and happy now in Queensland and still when I do a trip with my caravan I never cross the border to NSW. I always stay away from NSW. NSW and Sydney area left his footprint in my life.

Moving from one climate zone to another can sometimes throw up some odd medical problems. I moved from the Mediterranean climate of Perth to the sub-tropical climate of Brisbane and for the first 12 months, I caught everything that was going. Multiple bouts of flu, throat infections, nasty rashes in nasty places to have a rash and so on. Eventually, I became acclimatised and got over all of my niggling illnesses and began to enjoy myself. I must have - I lived in Qld for 23 years and 16 of them was in the tropics of FNQ!

@roberthaynes8830

9 ай бұрын

When my family decided to come to Australia to live, from the UK, we first lived in the North-West of Western Australia. Coming from a cold climate and suddenly we were in an environment that was hot and full of nasty insects. I remember we went to the beach and came home with insects bites all over my legs. For years afterwards I suffered insect bites and wore my legs raw with rubbing them on the bed sheets at night, to ease the itches. While we moved down south over 36 years ago I'm glad I don't suffer the insect bites like I used to - it's so much better down here. I've also been diagnosed with Crohn's disease, and I often wonder if that's something that was set off by the environment here, and the rising allergies. My wife moved here, she's Filipino, 28 years ago and developed almost constant hay-fever and problems with regular hives, sometimes affecting her whole body. I've also since been diagnosed with asthma. These problems still affect us both. I don't think it's something we'll ever get over though.

@olivegrove2615

9 ай бұрын

Your on point, add drinking and partying on top of that he's going to struggle. It's incredibly dangerous to turn up to work on a banana plantation without a good night's rest. Boozing up is a big no no also, it's going to cause mistakes and misinterpretations.

@karenharrison885

9 ай бұрын

The same happened to me. I left after 16 years. Couldn't handle the humidity. It's my age too. So now I'm in lovely dry Perth. Couldn't be happier. I did do Melbourne for 12 years. Horrible experience overall.

@katec9893

7 ай бұрын

That reminds me of when I went to India and got Amoebic Dysentery and had to go on a drip to recover, then I got giardia and bitten by about 200 sandflies soon after! It was a bit rough. The locals build up a tolerance to the climate and insects whilst newcomers can get extremely ill.

What a series of events in Australia! As an Australian was so sad to hear about the banana farm episode and your health issues. It for a long times seems that some farmers have been exploiting tourists and getting away with it. There needs to be a board for tourists on visas to report to and expose farms for unfair treatment, conditions and abuse. And it needs to be taken seriously. Sounds like some farm owners are not conforming to fair conditions such as a safe workplace, harassment and abusive treatment of workers. This needs to be investigated immediately and a questionnaire filled in by each worker on their experience, treatment and conditions at the particular farm of employment. Glad you are happy in New Zealand it looks like gods country by the pictures I have seen and would love to visit and learn about the Maori culture.

A bunch of young people in a hostel is kind of like an army barracks. There are so many cleanliness rules in a barracks for just this reason.

What an horrendous experience and worry for you. You survived it all, got the T shirt. And you're back to normality. All the best you cheers 🍻

Thank you for sharing your story with such warmth and watching it is like hearing from a long time friend. Sad indeed that you were treated so badly. It was nice to hear you are now happily settled in in New Zealand. Wish you all the very best and God bless.

I remember a few years back-the politicians complaining about the unemployed and wanting them to go out on farms for 3-6 mths. I thought to myself, I wouldn't go, and I wouldn't let my kids go either. [having heard some horrible stories of mistreatment]

DONT FORGET TO SHUT THE DOOR ON YOUR WAY OUT 🤣

Great story and very eye opening to what actually goes on. I was on the farms too and I can see where he’s coming from. Stay safe travellers and never forget your worth 👍 and just walk away !

You have such a great attitude and are so fair minded about everyone I was lucky enough to visit New Zealand 7 years ago and loved it. Glad you’re doing ok that was quite the story ❤🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Makes me remember.. somewhere in Greece, camping « Europa », director of the camp site an ex military but a real psychopath, all tourists were under his orders.. everybody had to eat together at same time and under his very aggressive voice. Crazy unusual situation.. I left before the bad argument ends badly..

You are one awesome person. I'm sorry for it all and am so connected with your humanity. Greetings from a Brazilian American

Damn, I'm sorry you had to go through that man. Very glad to see you're doing well now!

Young people in a foreign country on an isolated farm are easy prey. Because they soon leave and don't have funds to sue, they are likely to be grateful the abuse is behind them and move on with their lives. Their stories won't be heard so the abusers can just be nasty to the next batch if victims. The internet may change all this. Your story is harrowing and will help to warn others. So glad you survived!

@nerdyali4154

4 ай бұрын

@@rossevans1774 How naive. The farmer knows exactly who he is hiring and he does it to take advantage of mostly young, inexperienced people who will put up with anything to earn their visas and work for peanuts.

@SilverSunPublishing

4 ай бұрын

Why are you making excuses for ABUSE? ABUSE is always unacceptable! @@rossevans1774

@SoulHero777

4 ай бұрын

As a Cairns local I confirm this to be true

@moorediane7831

4 ай бұрын

Name & shame those employers who abuse visa workers.

@deeta2866

4 ай бұрын

@@SoulHero777 l.p.