Jobs in Australia

For backpackers looking to earn some money while they travel on a year out, jobs in Australia are by far the most popular option. One of the reasons for this is that if you're on a round the world journey Australia is a natural half-way stopping point. You can take a job in Australia, earn some much-needed cash, see the sights Down Under and then fly on to your next destination. (Of course, it's equally possible to fly straight out to Australia if you prefer). If you want a job in Australia you can apply for a one-year working holiday visa before you leave the UK. This entitles you to legally work in jobs in Australia for an entire year, although you must bare in mind that you cannot work in any one job in Australia for longer than three months.

Getting jobs in Australia is all very well, but it's natural to wonder what type of job in Australia you can expect to get. It is possible to pre-arrange some jobs in Australia before you arrive. One exciting Australia job option that you can definitely pre-arrange is to get ranch work on a real Aussie outback farm.

It is also perfectly possible to find jobs in Australia once you get there. Indeed, many backpackers prefer finding jobs in Australia this way as it gives them a greater degree of flexibility. If you're looking for jobs in Australia all the usual places to job search apply - job centres, newspapers and job agencies, etc. If you're a backpacker, however, an excellent place to find jobs in Australia is at the numerous backpacker hostels throughout the country. Australian hostels nearly always have job noticeboards and they're a great source of all kinds of information - lifts offered and wanted, things for sale, shared accommodation offers and requests and job advertisements. Employers looking for casual workers realise that backpackers are often looking for jobs in Australia and make good use of hostels to advertise job vacancies when they become available.    

One of the number one jobs in Australia for backpackers is bar work. The hours aren't great but if, other than earning money, one of the reasons you're taking a job in Australia is to meet people then there's no better work. Another popular job in Australia for travellers on their year out is actually to work in a backpackers' hostel. With this type of job in Australia the basic pay is usually fairly low but will include your accommodation. This can be a good way of getting jobs in Australia away from the big cities (where there is inevitably more work) and, again, is another excellent Australian job in terms of meeting loads of people. Backpackers who work in hostels, as a general rule, are travellers who have stayed at the hostel for a while and been offered work.

You cannot talk about jobs in Australia for backpackers without mentioning fruit picking! This is the job in Australia that most people associate with backpackers. Fruit picking is very much a seasonal Australian job - different fruits come in to season in different places at different times. Because Australia is such a huge country, there is always a fruit-picking job in Australia going somewhere - but it is a case of having to be in the right place at the right time. Again, backpacker hostels can be a good source of information as to where and when you might find fruit picking work. As jobs in Australia go, fruit picking can be extremely hard work - you're generally paid by the weight of what you pick each day rather than by an hourly rate, and the weather can be very warm to say the least. If you have the stamina, though, you can make some decent money from it and it's another Australian job where you'll meet plenty of other backpackers.

Jobs in Australia don't have to be all about manual labour or outdoor work either. If you're more of a city person and would also rather get a job in Australia working in an office then there are plenty of work opportunities. Temping agencies often like backpackers as they realise that they need the money to fund their travels and are prepared to work hard. Aside from the earning aspect jobs in Australia, particularly if you're still a student, can also be an excellent way of getting some decent work experience on to your CV. You should always make sure that when you leave any job in Australia you remember to ask for a reference. It might not seem a big deal at the time, but this type of thing can often come in very useful in the future.

If you're lucky enough for earning money while you're in Australia not to be an issue, then you could consider jobs in Australia on a voluntary basis. There are some really rewarding volunteer projects available in Australia, especially if you're passionate about conserving the environment. This type of voluntary job in Australia enables participants to spend time outdoors with like-minded people helping to conserve the precious Australian environment, and can be pre-arranged before you arrive Down Under.

Jobs in Australia - Gap year programmes for jobs in Australia

See also:
Working in Australia
Jobs in Sydney
Jobs In New Zealand
Australia House


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