Join our family in our forest home in Melbourne, Australia

Details

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  Description

  ** We are looking for someone to do gardening (mowing, whipper snipping, wood splitting and weeding mostly) and house cleaning. Message us if that is good for you. **
  
  We have a great opportunity for a fit, organised and motivated helper to stay in our lovely, forest house on the outskirts of Melbourne (1 hour from CBD) with easy public transport.
  
  We are a friendly family (a professional couple, 2+ kids, 2 big gentle playful dogs). We are welcoming, open minded and well travelled. We have been hosting for 9+ years.
  
  The lifestyle here is wonderful. We live in the forest, but if catch a bus from our front door, in 6 minutes you will be in the township with with it's metro train station, and all shops and amenities (including cinema, supermarket, library & swimming pool). We are surrounded by mountain hiking trails, a freshwater beach, rainforest... there are lots of gentle Australian native animals to see near us.
  
  We are looking for WorkAways who can step in and keep our garden and house clean and tidy, who are self starters with heaps of initiative while who also love our back to nature lifestyle. We also welcome workaways with special skills like yoga teachers, carpenters, or mud brick rendering.
  
  We have the children during the week and roughly half the weekends during school term time (and for half of school holidays). When the children are here it is very peaceful during their school hours - but can be busy and loud when they are home (Eg 7-9am and 3.30-9pm week days). When the children are not here, we (the adults) relax, and occasionally let our hair down with small parties in the evenings.
  
  We value clear two-way communication and welcome feedback during your stay (including things like needing an extra blanket or turning sound from movies etc down). We want you to be comfortable and happy with us.
  
  We love it when our guests do the dishes and thoroughly clean up the kitchen after dinner, when they are around. Apart from that you can schedule your hours as you like.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  We enjoy having travelers stay and in the past have helped them to find local kangaroos, point out the echidnas in the garden, driven them up the mountain to the tree-fern gardens, and invited our guests to join us in activities such as waterskiing, ecstatic dancing and bush walking. We are busy but love to talk about your country and life and share about ours.

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  Projects involving children

  This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

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  Help

  We seek help with heavy gardening, cleaning and odd chores! Possibly a bit of childcare or dog sitting sometimes.
  
  Gardening: We have a steep block of approx 1/3rd of an acre, which is grassy and has trees and other plants. The grass is growing quickly now, and needs to be cut back with a whipper snipper and electric mower. There is also cut wood that needs to be moved up the slope and loaded into the wood shed in preparation for winter. There is always weeding, collecting fallen sticks and bark, raking leaves, pruning and mulching to do too. The weather is variable but often absolutely gorgeous at this time of year, so being outside in the fresh air and sunshine is delightful.
  
  Cleaning: On rainy days, we would like your help with cleaning inside. Like tidying up, removing cobwebs, wiping windows, cleaning bathrooms etc. And after dinner, doing the dishes, wiping the table and cleaning up the kitchen.
  
  Odd jobs: Odd jobs might include something like helping to dismantle or build a shed, or clearing the gutters.
  
  We will usually have a project or two to focus on during your time, so that you have a sense of accomplishment by the end.
  
  When you reach out, we can discuss what work you most enjoy and are willing to do, and what help we need at that time. We can usually find a good fit! If you have a special skill that you like to share, please let us know.
  
  You just need to be naturally clean and tidy, organised and motivated. A good level of physical health and fitness is necessary.
  
  You can do your work at times that suit you, though we do appreciate you doing the dishes and cleaning up the kitchen immediately after dinner, or soon enough, if you are at home.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent

  This host offers a language exchange
  This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
  You can contact them directly for more information.
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  Accommodation

  We have a amazing mud brick house on the edge of the forest, looking into the valley.
  
  You will have a small, private room to yourself. It has a single bed, desk, chair, heater, fan, internet and own entrance. This room is separate from the house (toilet is in the house), so it is quiet and totally private.
  
  You can make your own breakfast, lunch and snacks from the food in the fridge and panty: we can also add foods that you need, just tell us.
  
  During the week we often cook an evening meal for the whole family that you can share with us if you are at home. We love to try new food so if you have a particular dish you like to cook, we will buy your ingredients and you can cook.

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  What else ...

  We live in the forest on the edge of Melbourne. Great for connecting with nature. Still only an hour or so to Melbourne CBD by train.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  We have a good fast (by Australian standards!) unmetered broadband internet service

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  Space for parking camper vans

  This host can provide space for campervans.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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  Hours expected

  5 hours a day, 5 days a week

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