For every GAFFLer who’s found a travel buddy in Australia, there’s likely another one who’s on a working holiday and looking for employment. The type of working holiday visa jobs in Australia that you can have is limited due to the obvious time constraints for backpackers. Additionally, if you are in Australia on a working holiday visa, in most cases you cannot stay with one employer in the same location for more than 6 months. Because of this, many employers don’t want to invest in employees that they’ll knowingly lose in a few months.
This shouldn't deter you from visiting this beautiful country on a working holiday. You have to remember that the purpose of a working holiday visa is for your work to fuel your holiday, so you never want to work for more than a few months at a time anyway. Luckily there are many options for you to find temporary work abroad.
This post will give you an idea of the working holiday visa jobs in Australia available to backpackers and also the types of jobs you will need to do to earn a second-year visa in Australia.
Working Holiday Jobs Australia- Retail and Food Services
Accessibility to retail work really depends on when you are entering the country. It should be relatively easy to find work during seasonal rushes. Retailers hire more aggressively in the summer months and leading up to Christmas, so time your travels accordingly. If you show up at the wrong time you might not be able to find work in the retail space.
The food services industry mimic’s retail with its demand for seasonal workers. Again, summer months and the months leading up to Christmas are great times for working holiday visa jobs in Australia. Working as a server, bartender, or barista is a great way to meet locals and travelers alike.
Working Holiday Jobs Australia- Au Pair
If you aren’t familiar with what an Au Pair is, it’s essentially when you work for a host family as a domestic assistant. Your responsibilities could include childcare and household chores. Depending on the arrangement, usually in exchange for a job well done, au pairs get a place to stay and some spending cash.
If you do Au Pair work you may be permitted to work with one employer longer than the 6 month period. To be considered for the extension, your primary responsibilities must include taking care of the family’s children, rather than domestic work. The youngest child being cared for should not be older than 12 years old. You can apply for the extension by using this form.
Working Holiday Jobs Australia- Hospitality and Tourism
Hotels and Hostels around Australia are always looking for additional staff and helpers. You can expect to do anything from housekeeping, concierge, guest services, food, and beverage handling, etc. Finding work in this industry isn’t particularly difficult and jobs are usually very flexible but turnover rates are high, so make sure to plan for that. Some places might not actually offer you money, but instead a free place to stay in exchange for work.
Hospitality and Tourism for Second Year Visa Applicants
If you are a subclass 462 Work and Holiday Visa holder, there are specific hospitality jobs that you can do in Northern Australia that will count towards your specified work requirement for a second visa. According to the Department of Home Affairs, you will have to:
- Work in a range of positions where the primary purpose is to directly provide a service to tourists, including tourist guides and operators, outdoor adventure or activity instructors, tourist transport services
- Gallery or museum managers, curators or guides
- Hospitality workers, including a range of positions in hotels or other accommodation facilities, restaurants, cafes, bars, and casinos
- Conference and event organizers
The specific jobs that you can do within the hospitality industry, as well as the conditions of employment for those jobs, can be found in the Hospitality Industry Award 2010. Examples of employees covered by the Hospitality Award include:
- Waiters and waitresses
- Kitchen hands
- Cooks and chefs
- Apprentice chefs
- Housekeepers, door persons, and concierge staff
- Front office, clerical, and reception staff
- Gaming attendants
- Security officers and store persons
- Leisure attendants
- Maintenance and gardening staff
- Managerial staff who are not senior management
- Casino staff including gaming staff, equipment technicians, security and finance officers
- Holiday apartment complexes
- Catering employees working for a catering business
- Pub owners.
Before we continue with the rest of this post, I'd like to bring your attention to the trips in Australia below. These trips were created by travelers in Australia who are looking for travel partners. If you're between jobs in Australia and are looking to travel with some other Working Holiday Visa holders, you can connect with them below.