Three Sunshine Coast mothers are facing disruptions to their childcare, businesses and household finances as Working Holiday Maker (WHM) visa delays continue.
Tamsyn, Sophie and Morgane had changed their childcare and work arrangements in preparation for their au pairs, but are now uncertain when, or if, they will arrive.
“We just want answers,” they said.
Applications for Working Holiday Maker visas from 24 countries have been paused, while the Department of Home Affairs has confirmed offshore applications may take several months to be finalised.
“The Department recommends that applicants do not book flights or make travel, work or study commitments until their visa has been granted,” a department spokesperson said.
For local business owner Tamsyn, the uncertainty has already affected her work.
“I had to push out an important client launch because of the gap in childcare,” she said.
“That’s not a small thing. That’s months of work and a relationship with a client put at risk because of a visa delay nobody warned me about.”
Sophie, managing director of a digital marketing agency, said the uncertainty was limiting her ability to take on new work.
“I’ve put blood, sweat and tears into growing my business,” she said.
“I’m at a point where opportunities are coming my way, but I genuinely don’t know whether I can take them because I don’t know whether I’ll have childcare.”
Morgane, a Sunshine Coast professional and mother who previously came to Australia from France as a backpacker, said the delays were affecting her family’s finances.
“This situation has had a very real impact on my family,” she said.
“The uncertainty around the visa is now directly affecting my ability to work the hours I need to keep my job and earn an income.
“And this isn’t simply an inconvenience. If I can’t work, we can’t afford to pay our mortgage and put food on the table.”
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Morgane said her family had invested in converting part of their home into a studio, given notice at daycare and left their coworking space in preparation for the au pair’s arrival.
“Those decisions were carefully planned and financially calculated,” she said.
“Now, with no visa outcome, no clear explanation and no timeframe, we are left facing a childcare crisis with no solution.”
The women are calling for clearer information about processing times and the reasons for the delays.
Sophie said applicants needed greater certainty before making major financial and work decisions.
“We are asking for transparency,” she said.
“If processing times are going to take three months, tell us.
“Don’t leave families making major decisions about their businesses, childcare and finances with absolutely no idea what is happening.”
A Department of Home Affairs spokesperson said the 2026-27 Federal Budget included reforms intended to better control demand for the Working Holiday Maker program.
“The number of WHMs in Australia is currently at a historically high level,” the spokesperson said.
“In response, the government is taking a range of measures, outlined in the 26-27 Federal Budget, to place downward pressure on net overseas migration, better manage demand for the WHM program and support a fairer allocation of visas.
“These actions will be rolled out progressively to ensure the long-term sustainability of the WHM program while continuing to support the tourism economy and workforce needs particularly in regional Australia.
“Further detail on processing times is available at Global visa processing times.
“Processing times are a guide based on recently finalised visa applications.”
The Department said it was prioritising onshore Working Holiday Maker applications, meaning offshore applications could take several months.
Last names have been withheld at the families’ request to protect their privacy.
