The Federal Government has unveiled temporary changes to working holiday visas which it says will make it easier for backpackers to help rebuild fire-ravaged communities and stay in Australia longer.

Key points: Regional employers will be able to hire backpackers for a year under the changes — up from six months

Regional employers will be able to hire backpackers for a year under the changes — up from six months Volunteer work helping rebuild fire-ravaged properties and businesses will also be counted in the visa scheme

Volunteer work helping rebuild fire-ravaged properties and businesses will also be counted in the visa scheme BlazeAid's president believes the changes will help accommodate a flood of young volunteers from overseas

Under the current working holiday maker visa rules, employers can only hire the same working holidaymakers or backpackers for six months at a time and volunteer work is not counted in the system.

To be eligible for a second-year visa, backpackers must complete 88 days of work in regional Australia. For a third year, visa holders must work for an additional six months.

Under the changes, Acting Immigration Minister Alan Tudge said employers would be able to hire the same backpackers for up to a year in fire-affected areas.

Voluntary work in disaster zones will also count towards the required days for second-year or third-year visas.

Volunteer group welcomes 'win-win-win' changes

Mr Tudge told ABC Radio Melbourne organisations were crying out for volunteers, with about 30,000 people each year working in a regional area to make themselves eligible for a second-year visa.

The president of volunteer-based organisation BlazeAid, Kevin Butler, told ABC News he was "ecstatic" and the arrangement went together like "peaches and cream".

BlazeAid is a volunteer-based organisation that helps rebuild communities after natural disasters. ( Eliza Rogers )

"We've been wanting this for about two months," he said.

"It's the most wonderful thing, it's a win-win-win for backpackers and for farmers.

"We're going to have many, many young people from all over the world who have their hearts and minds set on helping Australia."

Mr Butler said there was limited paid work on farms at the moment, but many volunteers were needed to help rebuild rural fences.

Volunteers for BlazeAid are provided with four to five meals each day and a place to sleep when they volunteer.

Backpackers struggling to find work

Taylor Unger is from Oregon in the United States and is in Australia on the second year of her working holiday visa.

Ms Unger said she and her partner called "hundreds and hundreds" of farms during their first year in the country before they landed work.

She said the changes would hopefully make it a lot easier for backpackers.

"Any opportunity to stay a little bit longer is always welcomed," she said.

"I have several friends who haven't found work yet and if they are fed and given accommodation they would definitely like to volunteer somewhere and help."

Ms Unger said if the changes had been announced earlier she would have jumped at the chance to help the country.

Minister defends reported loan delays

Mr Tudge was questioned on reports that only one of almost 300 loan applications around the country had been approved by the Federal Government.

He told ABC Radio Melbourne he knew there were a number of applications in the system and he "certainly" wanted them to be "processed as quickly as possible".

"Of course, you do have to go through the right checks because it is a large amount of money handed over," he said.

"In the meantime, there is an enormous amount of work that needs to be undertaken."