5 ways to get a job on your Australian working holiday
A working holiday in Australia is sure to serve up once-in-a-lifetime travel experiences, but also unique work opportunities. Here are five ways to get a job on your Australian working holiday.
From mixing cocktails in a glamorous city bar and rounding up cattle on a 10,000-hectare (24,000-acre) farm in Queensland, to crewing on a dive boat on the Great Barrier Reef, there are literally thousands of jobs open to you on a working holiday in Australia.
Here’s how you can secure work while on holiday in Australia.
Use a working holiday support program
If you’re looking for a lot of support to help you on your working holiday journey, a work program might be ideal. Providers of work programs, such as The Global Work & Travel Co., Work N Holiday and Alliance Abroad, provide guaranteed work opportunities for working holiday makers throughout the duration of their stay. The program might include airport pick-up, an induction to help you get established, and social activities. They may also help you set up housing, provide training and even help you set up your bank account and Tax File Number (TFN).
Pineapple Express, Brisbane, Queensland © Tourism and Events Queensland
Meet potential employers face-to-face
If you’re comfortable beginning your job search after you arrive in Australia, meeting potential employers face-to-face can be a great way to secure work, especially in the hospitality industry. Hit the streets and stop into bars and restaurants that may need bar tenders or servers. Keep in mind that anyone responsible for serving alcohol in Australia needs to complete Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) training and receive an RSA Certificate.
Visiting hostels, hotels, shops and restaurants might be time-intensive, but it’s also rewarding when you get to chat with the locals, meet other travellers and settle into the Australian way of life.
Tumut River Brewing Co., Tumut, Snowy Mountains, New South Wales © Destination NSW
Conduct a job search online
There are several powerful tools – online and otherwise – that can help you secure a job on your working holiday. Several online search engines in Australia showcase open positions, including Seek, Indeed, Jora and Career One. You can also search the Backpacker Job Board and The Backpacker List, which list jobs specifically for backpackers.
When using these online job boards, it may be helpful to limit your search to short-term or contract roles, which are more likely to hire applicants on a working holiday visa. Some job listings will even mention their relevance to working holiday makers, particularly in administration and hospitality.
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Enlist a recruitment agency
If you’re looking for some help in your job search journey, a recruitment agency can be a great resource. A recruitment agency can help you search for jobs that relate to your skill set, apply for roles and secure employment. Some agencies, like The Kingsmen, focus specifically on jobs for travellers and working holiday makers.
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Sydney Harbour YHA, Sydney, New South Wales © YHA
Get work along the way
One of the best things about a working holiday is the freedom. If you have a sense of adventure and you’re keen to move around Australia, then it’s possible to find work as you travel. Leads could come from anywhere, so keep your ears open around your hostel and keep an eye out for job postings.
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Note: Tourism Australia is not the Australian government visa granting authority. The visa granting authority is the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs. For up-to-date information, please refer to their website: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-finder.
The content on this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Please consult with an Australian qualified immigration lawyer or migration agent if you are seeking legal advice.
