The Hike Collective, Perth, Western Australia © Tourism Australia
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.
Use a working holiday support program
Diggies Cafe, Wollongong, New South Wales © Destination NSW
If you’re looking for ongoing 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 can include airport pick-up, an induction to help you get established, support finding housing and social activities.
Meet potential employers face to face
Pineapple Express, Brisbane, Queensland © Tourism and Events Queensland
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.
Conduct a job search online
BentSpoke, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory © Visit Canberra
There are several powerful tools – online and otherwise – that can help you secure a job on your working holiday. You can find a range of job search engines in Australia which showcase open positions specifically suited to backpackers, or browse popular employment platforms like Seek and Indeed. 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.
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Enlist a recruitment agency
Let's Go Surfing, Byron Bay, NSW © Tourism Australia
If you’re looking for some help in your job search journey, a recruitment agency can be a helpful resource. Recruitment agencies can help you search for jobs that relate to your skill set, apply for roles that interest you and secure employment. Some agencies, like The Kingsmen, focus specifically on jobs in fields such as hospitality and construction which are perfect for travellers and working holiday makers.
Get work along the way
Farm work, Kangaroo Island, South Australia © Tourism Australia
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. The Australian government has also compiled a Harvest Guide for travellers who want to help pick, harvest and gather produce in Australia’s rural – yet beautiful – farming towns.
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.
