Volunteers don't count for working holiday

Volunteering won't count for young visitors hoping to extend their stay in Australia on a working holiday visa.

The federal government is worried employers are exploiting young people by making them work for lower than minimum wages in farm, mining and construction jobs that qualify them to extend their stay by 12 months.

Under changes to be phased in over the next few months, the immigration department will require people applying for a visa extension to show pay slips proving they have worked a minimum three months.