Household help in exchange for life on beautiful Phillip Island

5.0

(6 reviews)6

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The experience

Help out in our relaxed family home with laundry, meal prep, dog walks, light gardening, and the occasional pantry/fridge tidy. Cleaning is covered weekly. Stay in a comfy caravan with deck, bathroom & kitchenette. Suits solo females, couples, or friends. About 4 hrs/day, flexible. Warm, welcoming vibe, great references, and shared meals sometimes too. Ideal for independent, reliable travellers.

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What you offer

20 hours of help per week

Pet Sitting: Taking care of and looking after pets.

Housekeeping: Help with changing the bed linens and general housekeeping.

Cooking: Choose the menu, pick ingredients and cook delicious dishes.

Gardening: Help grow plants and cultivate gardens

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What you get

2 days off per week

Private Room: You will have a bed in a private room. In other words, a room just for you.

Tent: You will sleep in a tent at a camping site.

Bikes at your disposal: You can use our bikes any time you want.

Pick Up: We will pick you up when you arrive, and take you to our property.

Use our equipped kitchen: Feel free to use our kitchen and make your own delicious food.

Fast Internet Access: High-speed internet for you to work remotely

Dedicated Workspace: Specific space for you to work remotely

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Requirements

Fluent English

Welcomes solo volunteers, couples, and partners of volunteers

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What's not included

Flights, Travel Insurance, Internal Transportation and Visa

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Program Details

We are a local family of four living in Cowes, Phillip Island, within walking distance of the bay beach, shops, cafés, and main township. Our home is a relaxed, lived-in family space, and we enjoy meeting people from different places and sharing everyday life with travellers.

We offer private accommodation in our backyard caravan in exchange for help around our home. Just a few metres away is a covered deck area with a bathroom, small kitchenette, and outdoor seating, giving guests their own comfortable, independent space while still being part of our household.

Our family includes two parents and two young adult children, and our home is usually busy with work, study, and everyday life. Like many families, we have ongoing household projects and routines, and we enjoy having extra help so we can also make time for our own interests and community activities. Hosting travellers allows us to balance these things while meeting interesting people along the way.

We usually offer two support roles: one focused more on indoor household tasks and one focused more on outdoor tasks, with some overlap depending on needs and skills. Although there are two roles, we only host one person or one pair at a time in the caravan.

This opportunity suits travellers who enjoy being part of a real Australian family home, are comfortable managing their own time and space, and are keen to experience life on Phillip Island beyond typical tourist experiences.

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Activities & Shift

Activities may include:

Laundry (sorting, folding, putting away)

Basic meal preparation and tidying after meals

Dog walking

Light gardening and outdoor tasks

Occasional organising of pantry, fridge, or cupboards

General household help as needed

Tasks vary from day to day and are shared fairly depending on priorities.

Shifts & Time Off:

Around 4 hours per day

Usually 9am–1pm or 3pm–7pm

Two days off per week (usually consecutive where possible)

Scheduled around family routines and work commitments

We aim to have someone at home when helpers are working inside the house, for everyone’s comfort and clarity

Personal & Guest Areas:
Guests have private use of the caravan and outdoor deck area during their stay. We ask that this space is kept reasonably clean and tidy and left thoroughly cleaned and well-presented on departure, similar to a good hotel standard, ready for the next guest (or for family use).

We aim to keep expectations clear and reasonable, with open communication if plans change.

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Rules

To keep our home safe, comfortable, and respectful for everyone, we ask guests to follow these simple guidelines:

No smoking, vaping, or drug use on the property

Please keep noise low late at night

No unapproved visitors on the property

Maximum of two guests at any time (as agreed in advance)

Please respect other people’s belongings, privacy, and shared spaces

This is a family home, and we value a calm, clean, and tidy environment

Guests should be comfortable spending time independently and managing their own space

For safety and privacy reasons, we don’t allow outside visitors unless discussed and agreed beforehand. We are always happy to talk things through — clear communication helps everyone feel comfortable.