Carlson Hotels: Gold Elite status membership are yours automatically without having to fulfil 20 paid stays or 35 nights per year i.e. 30 nights or 10 stays.
You can expect to pay between # 10 - 15 pernight in hostels, though prices may rise steeply in certain areas at certain times of the year — i.e. Sydney on New Year's year — i.e. Sydney on New Year's Year's Eve.