Top spots for backpackers to find jobs
From organising tours to working on a pearling vessel, there's a variety of industries to consider on a working holiday in Australia.
A working holiday in Australia offers adventure, freedom and an exhilarating change of scenery. But it also gives your customer the opportunity to learn new skills in a wide range of industries. Jobs in retail, hospitality, tourism, agriculture and more are readily available for backpackers and working holiday makers, allowing them to make extra cash and gain real-world experience as they roam a country teeming with striking destinations and inspiring adventures.
Here are eight industries to take a look at:
Retail
Major regions: Australia-wide
Season: year-round, with additional jobs available before the Christmas holidays
Retail is a popular industry among backpackers, encompassing everything from shop cashiers to on-the-floor sales associates. With so many different shopping districts and boutiques, they could find themselves handling everything from designer dresses to electronics.
They’ll gain more than just customer service skills in a retail job; and also earn between AUD $19 and $25 an hour depending on experience. However, they don’t need any previous experience in retail to be hired. Often, they'll receive on-the-job training on the policies of the store.
While working holiday makers can find retail jobs available year-round, there are a higher number of roles available before the Christmas holidays, when stores are gearing up for the gift-buying rush. Suggest they increase their chances of securing employment by applying for retail jobs between September and November.
Hospitality
Limes Hotel, Fortitude Valley, Queensland
Major regions: tourist centres such as Sydney, Melbourne, Cairns, etc.
Season: year-round, with additional jobs available during popular travel times like Christmas and New Year
The hospitality industry is diverse and incredibly accessible for backpackers and working holiday makers. Hospitality jobs include baristas, bartenders and waiters as well as hotel managers and housekeepers. Because Australia is a popular destination for both domestic and international travellers, there are plenty of hospitality jobs to go around even if they don’t have any previous experience.
Entry-level hospitality roles like waiters or check-in staff at a hotel tend to earn about AUD $19 per hour, but wages increase the more experience they have or if they work overtime. Experienced bartenders and waiters can earn upwards of AUD $25 an hour.
In addition to working in stunning destinations and meeting other travellers, one of the perks of roles in hospitality is that they’re available all year round. Busy bars, restaurants and hotels need staff no matter the time of year, but some destinations offer an increased number of jobs during their high season.
If looking to travel to a seasonal hotspot like the snowfields of New South Wales and Victoria, which are most popular during the winter months (June to August), recommend applying for hospitality roles before the busy season begins. Also, for seasonal destinations, it's best to arrive a few months before the high season starts to be in the best position to land a role.
Reception and administration
Major regions: Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra and Brisbane
Season: year-round
If friendly, organised and able to multitask, a job as a receptionist or administrative assistant could be a great fit. Working holiday makers often enjoy the perks of reception and administration, like standard working hours and year-round availability.
While previous experience isn't required to score a job in reception or administration, it will be seen as a plus by potential employers. If they don’t have previous experience, they could consider adding a few skills to their CV, like PowerPoint and Excel.
Don’t forget that visitors on the Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417) and the Work and Holiday Visa (subclass 462) can only work for a single employer for six months, so it’s best they look for short-term and contract roles.
Construction and labour
Major regions: Australia-wide, more common in metropolitan areas
Season: year-round, though more common in the summer months in southern Australia
Australia’s cities are always growing, giving working holiday makers ample opportunity to work in the construction industry. While construction jobs typically require some experience, general labour roles are open to anyone. These jobs can range from landscaping to site cleaning and often pay around AUD $20 per hour.
Construction and labour jobs can be found year-round, particularly in cities with mild winters, like Perth and Brisbane. Australia’s bigger cities, like Sydney and Melbourne, boast the highest number of construction jobs, but they’ll see open positions in suburban and regional areas as well.
Farm work
Cotton harvest, Dalby, Toowoomba, Queensland
Major regions: Tasmania, Northern Territory, South Australia and northern Queensland as well as regional areas of Victoria and New South Wales
Season: year-round, with different harvest seasons throughout
If on a Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417) or Work and Holiday Visa (Subclass 462), your customer might discover that one year just isn’t enough. Completing specified work in certain areas of the country enables them to apply for an additional year in Australia, which is why farm work, fruit picking and agricultural roles are so popular among backpackers.
They don’t need any experience to snag a job in these industries; all they need is a good attitude and a sense of adventure. Apart from working in beautiful regional areas, they’ll also have the opportunity to earn money per bin of produce rather than per hour. If they work fast, they can receive around AUD $250 per day.
Farm work is available year-round across the country, with different harvest seasons filling up the Aussie calendar. In Queensland, help harvest bananas in December and January, citrus from April to June or cotton from November to March. New South Wales has several harvest seasons in full swing from February to April, with apples, grapes and pears being picked during this time. If they want to work on a winery, try securing a harvest job in Tasmania’s Huon or South Australia’s Barossa Valley from February through April. Western Australia’s Margaret River wine region harvests their grapes from January through March.
If interested in working with Australia's fresh seafood, they could consider a job on a different kind of farm. At oyster farms in South Australia's Coffin Bay, they can help harvest and shuck the state's premium oysters.
Fishing and pearling
Pearl lugger, Cable Beach, Broome, Western Australia
Major regions: coastal for fishing, Broome and Tropical North Queensland for pearling
Season: year-round for fishing, April to October for pearling
If they prefer to be on the open ocean to complete their specified work, then a job in the fishing or pearling industry might be perfect for them. They’ll find fishing jobs off the coast of almost every Australian state, with no special skills required to apply. Because Australia harvests a huge variety of seafood like prawns, fish, and scallops, they'll likely to find fishing boats operating year-round in different areas of the country.
Australia’s pearling industry is most active in Western Australia’s Broome, but the Northern Territory and Far North Queensland boast pearls as well. Although they may come across casual pearling jobs throughout the year, they'll find many companies hiring additional help before and during harvest season, which runs from April to October.
Earnings range between AUD $19 and $24 per hour and they should be prepared for irregular working hours. Some roles may require living aboard the boat, but they’ll be rewarded with the opportunity to spot incredible marine life and meet other travellers along the way.
Childcare
Major regions: Australia-wide
Season: year-round
Some jobs, like bartending, allow one to revel in the hustle and bustle of city life. Other industries, like childcare, offer an avenue into local life. Being an au pair or nanny in Australia not only means joining an Aussie family on their day-to-day adventures, but also offers a chance to be immersed in the Australian way of life.
Although it's possible to get a job in child care without previous experience, most jobs will require a Working With Children Check and current first aid training. These qualifications might cost around AUD $250 depending on the location, but they’ll be able to quickly cover the investment when starting the new role.
Au pairs and nannies typically earn between AUD $200 and $275 per week, and will likely include free room and board in the host family’s home.
Tourism
Yellow Water Billabong, Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory
Major regions: tourist centres such as Sydney, Melbourne, Cairns, etc.
Season: year-round depending on the activity
With so many different destinations to discover, visitors from all over the world come to Australia each year, which offers working holiday makers the chance to work in the tourism industry. Jobs might include taking bookings for a tour company in Port Douglas, driving customers to and from meeting points or even leading a tour.
For an entry-level role with a tour company, earnings are around AUD $20 per hour and offers valuable skills like customer service and administration. Depending on the job, they might even get to tag along on tours.
The availability of these jobs depends on the activity and the time of year. Jobs in the snowfields of Victoria are available in the lead-up to winter and throughout the colder months, while tours along the Great Ocean Road are more popular in the warmer months. Other tours, like day trips from Sydney and street art tours of Melbourne, operate year-round.
For the most up to date information on working holiday visas, visit the Department of Home Affairs website.
