Help us by the sea in St Leonards, Victoria, Australia

Details

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  Description

  Hi,
  
  We are excited to welcome Workawayers from March 2025 to November 2025! Our home is just a short walk from the beach, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to swim and explore the local area. We begin with an introductory week to see how we all fit together, and if things go well, we can discuss extending your stay. If you’re looking for a home away from home, we’d love to offer you that experience.
  
  We’re a blended family, and as near-empty nesters with our youngest finishing high school in 2025, we value creating a warm and welcoming environment for our guests. Our home is situated in a small bayside village about 100km from Melbourne. Conveniently, there’s a ferry just 10km away that can take you across the bay to the city.
  
  Having hosted travelers from all over the world, we’ve cherished the enriching experiences that come with sharing our lives and home. After taking a break while our children were in high school, we’re eager to open our doors again.
  
  We’re looking for a traveler who can lend a hand with various projects around our home, particularly interior painting and gardening. We’re a hands-on, DIY family, always working on something to improve our home and make it more eco-friendly. Many of our projects reflect our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint, and we’re always learning and adapting to be more environmentally conscious.
  
  We offer a private bedroom with a shared bathroom, providing you with a comfortable and cozy space to relax after a day of helping out.
  
  
  We provide all daily meals for our Workawayers and welcome you to join in with meal prep and clean-up, just as you would in any family. We enjoy music and have various instruments around the house, so if you’re musically inclined, feel free to join in, but there’s no pressure if it’s not your thing.
  
  In exchange for 20 hours of help per week, you’ll receive accommodation and meals. Whether you come with a wealth of experience or are just eager to learn, as long as you have a positive attitude and a willingness to help, we’d love to have you.
  
  We’re located near The Great Ocean Road, and there are plenty of opportunities to explore the surrounding area. There are two nearby ferries that travel between Geelong or Portarlington and Melbourne city, making it easy to reach us from Melbourne. We’re happy to pick you up from Portarlington if you arrive by ferry.
  
  We’re flexible and supportive of any plans or outings you’d like to undertake during your stay. Communication and a willingness to help out are key to making everything run smoothly.
  
  We also offer guidance and advice based on our experiences and those of our previous Workawayers. We’ve even helped some travelers find affordable cars for their journeys.
  
  We prefer to start with a one-week stay to see how we all get along before committing to a longer arrangement.
  
  Looking forward to hearing from you!
  
  We prefer inquiries from singles.
  
  Wishing you happy travels!

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Help with Eco Projects

  Teaching

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance

  Help with Computers/ Internet
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  You'll have the chance to live in a beautiful part of Victoria, right on the shores of Port Phillip Bay, with access via public transport to stunning surf beaches, scenic local walks, and abundant cycle paths. There are countless day trips within reach, including visits to Torquay Bells Beach, the You Yangs, and Geelong. Nearby, you can catch a ferry from Portarlington to Melbourne or from Queenscliff to Sorrento, offering affordable and convenient ways to explore more of the region.
  
  During your stay, you'll have plenty of time to explore these areas, and we provide access to a bike, snorkeling gear, surfboards, tennis rackets, camping gear, and more—all the usual family items that can enhance your adventures.
  
  Your time with us will involve hands-on help around the home, and you'll get to interact with both ends of the age spectrum. As a busy, self-employed family, we juggle work and family life.
  
  Staying with us means experiencing a lively household where a variety of activities and events keep life interesting. You'll gain a sense of our day-to-day life, sharing in the joys and challenges of a typical, yet dynamic, Australian family. In turn, you’ll enrich our lives with your unique perspective and cultural background.
  
  Clive moved to Australia from the UK at 23 as a backpacker, eventually finding work, love, and a life full of adventure, living in diverse places like Darwin, Aboriginal communities, New Zealand, and Victoria. If you're on a similar journey, you'll likely find much to relate to in Clive's story.
  
  Sandy, a first-generation Australian, brings her own rich history to the table. With German roots, she has traveled extensively, including a year-long exchange in America, and years spent touring with bands on the East Coast of Australia. Both Clive and Sandy have a deep love for music. While Clive plays various instruments (modestly claiming he's not very good, though others would disagree), Sandy enjoys singing along whenever Clive picks up an instrument. Clive and Sandy perform in the local community and facilitate a once a month community open mic event which might be of interest too.

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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

  Help Requested from Workawayers:
  
  Home Improvement Projects: Assist with various DIY projects around the home, particularly interior painting and gardening. We’re always looking to enhance and improve our living space, with a focus on eco-friendly practices.
  
  Gardening: Help us maintain and improve our garden, contributing to our ongoing efforts to be more environmentally conscious.
  
  Meal Prep and Cleanup: Participate in meal preparation and cleanup as part of our daily routine, just like a member of the family.
  
  General Assistance: Be ready to lend a hand with whatever tasks may arise, approaching each with a positive attitude and a willingness to learn.
  
  In exchange for your help, we offer:
  
  A private bedroom with a shared bathroom.
  All daily meals provided.
  A warm, welcoming environment in a beautiful bayside village.
  Plenty of free time to explore the local area, including nearby attractions like The Great Ocean Road.
  We look forward to welcoming you into our home!.

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  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent

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  Accommodation

  A private bedroom with a shared bathroom.

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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

  For digital nomads, we understand the importance of staying connected. Rest assured, we provide reliable WiFi to keep your online business running smoothly while you enjoy your stay with us. Whether you're working from your private room or a cozy corner in our home, you'll have the connectivity you need to manage your work seamlessly.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  We can accommodate vans, not caravans. There are no parking restrictions where we live, so you can park your campervan either in our guest driveway or if this is already in use by our bnb guests you can park it on the street right outside our property.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  One

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