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For years, young French travellers like me moved to London to chase our dreams, or to the United States to get a taste of life on the other side of the Atlantic.
But with London’s sluggish economy fuelling anti-immigration sentiment, and the US increasingly isolating itself from the outside world, the “Australian dream” is rapidly capturing the attention of Gen Zs.
Clemence Sauvaget is a French journalist living in Australia.
To many young Europeans, Australia looks like a sunny land of opportunity where prosperity and work-life balance seem achievable.
On Instagram and TikTok, there are countless posts praising life in Australia. They show a tight-knit community of backpackers, a daily routine of surf and road trips, easy-to-find jobs and the promise of becoming “the best version of yourself”.
Department of Home Affairs figures show applications for working holiday visas from French nationals are surging. They reached 25,282 in 2023-2024, up from 21,764 the previous year. Visa renewals quadrupled to 5082.
The numbers reflect Australia’s growing appeal, perceived by many as a new El Dorado. And the attraction is real: spectacular landscapes, a sunny lifestyle and the promise of adventure continue to draw young French people more than 15,000 kilometres away from home.
Ultimately, the rise of the Australian dream reflects a generational shift: young people in France are increasingly seeking experiences abroad that combine economic opportunity, personal growth and lifestyle appeal.
French travel influencer Noemie Demiselle. “I don’t romanticise Australia, but everyone has to go through their own struggles.”Credit:
For most, the experience is fantastic, but for some, the desire to extend their trip can come with problems. To renew their visa for a second year, most young foreigners must complete 88 days of regional work in agriculture, hospitality, construction or environmental projects. Jobs are scarce and often precarious, underpaid and physically demanding.
“Like many others before leaving France, I scrolled through Instagram videos about working holiday visas in Australia,” said Elisa Vincent, a 22-year-old university graduate who arrived in Sydney 10 months ago. “Obviously, this fuelled my curiosity and my dream of a new life. I think you must stay realistic and prepare yourself psychologically to deal with disappointment.”
French travel influencer Noemie Demiselle, 27, said it was difficult to balance the optimism of a new adventure with the realities of living in a new country.
“I am committed to sharing positive experiences on social media,” said Noemie, who has 135,700 followers on TikTok and Instagram. “I don’t romanticise Australia, but everyone has to go through their own struggles and learn from them.”
Sadly, some unscrupulous employers have tarnished the Australian dream, creating a harsh reality for young foreigners and exploiting working holidaymakers, giving them feelings of isolation and a sense of discrimination.
Baptiste Richaudeau, 25, worked 10-hour nights in a Queensland mine without being paid. “After three weeks, I realised I would never see my wages. Exhausted and sleeping in a freezing prefab, I felt exploited,” he said.
Cases such as his prompted the hashtag #88daysaslave, which flood Instagram with stories of abuse and unfair labour practices. In 2018, the Fair Work Ombudsman warned foreign workers had been “virtually bonded like a slave” to some operators, which remain heavily reliant on foreign labour to staff regional areas.
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Despite the warnings, the positive messages still far outweigh the negative experiences on social media, driving a record 200,000 working holidaymakers to Australia in 2023/24.
Many are working on farms, in mines and in construction across the country.
So far, the Australian government has shown little appetite for greater protection for travellers who might have dreams of one day living in Australia, but who don’t now have a right to vote.
“That doesn’t mean the experience isn’t worth it,” said Noemie Demiselle. “Even if it’s fraught with pitfalls.”
Clemence Sauvaget is a French journalist living and working in Sydney.
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