Australia farm jobs are on a whole other level, and that’s because they are very different when compared to farm jobs in other countries. Well, give it to the Aussies, they always stand out from the crowd!
If you are looking for some adventure and would love farm employments that’ll offer something beyond normal farm work, you should consider Australia. Those who have worked there say it all the time, Australia is just different!
Mary and Alisha were fresh out of secondary school when they went to Australia for farm work. As far as friendships go, they have had one hell of a ride together. Their lives have been filled with thrilling adventures, and they have always had Australia on their bucket list.
So, when the chance of an Australian Working Holiday visa presented itself, they just couldn’t say no. They landed in Brisbane one cold evening and set out to find a farm, and they did find one, within a few minutes of their search. From there, the rest, as they say, is history!
If, like them, you are looking for Australia farm jobs this year, you are in luck. Whether you want seasonal (short-term) work or long-term farm jobs, you can find it all in Australia. And like Mary and Alisha, you could be set for some mind-blowing Australian adventure.
So, how do you go about it all? This article will tell you everything you need to know about Australian farm jobs. So, dig in, and you would be more than amazed with the number of opportunities that are available on Australia farms.
Is there a demand for farm workers in Australia?
Yes. There is an acute demand for farm workers in Australia, especially during peak seasons.
However, there are two types of farm work in Australia. The conditions for each is not the same, which is why we need to explain each separately. Types of farm jobs in this regard could either be:
- Skilled farm jobs
- Unskilled farm jobs
Skilled Farm Jobs
Skilled Farm jobs are farm jobs that require workers that have received special training and knowledge with which they can do their work. They may have acquired this knowledge by enrolling in a program, obtaining a degree or som,e other related certification obtained at a polytechnic, university, or college.
Getting a visa for skilled farm jobs usually requires that your employer sponsors you into Australia. There are also many visa categories in the Skilled Farm work section
Example of visas classes for skilled immigrant workers include:
- Direct Entry Stream
- Skilled Independent (subclass 189)
- Skilled Nominated (subclass 190)
- Skilled Regional Visa (subclass 489)
- Temporary Skill shortage visa (subclass 482)
- Regional Sponsor Migration Scheme (subclass 187)
- Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (subclass 494)
- Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491)
Skilled professions in this regard could include:
- Agricultural Consultant
- Agricultural Engineer
- Agricultural Scientists e.t.c
One good thing about applying for Australia farmer jobs as a skilled worker is that you’d never need to worry about the visa class that is appropriate for you. Your employer will figure that out, maybe with the aid of expert immigration lawyers.
Unskilled Farm Jobs
Unskilled Farm workers are the opposite of skilled farm workers. While skilled skilled workers need technical instruction and certificates to work in Australia, unskilled workers have no such need.
What unskilled workers need to get Australia farm jobs, is experience in farm work. But, even that is not a necessity. You can get farm work in Australia even if you have never worked on a farm before. So, what are your options if you are looking to work in Australia as an unskilled worker? When it comes to unskilled farm work in Australia, there are a number of options for you.
The options include:
- Working Holiday visas
- Seasonal Work visas
1. Working Holiday Visas
In most countries, foreigners who are seeking farm work must secure a job placement before they get a visa to the country. In the case of Australia, the Working Holiday visa gets you into the country, even if you do not have a job offer.
The Working Holiday visa is not exactly a visa for farm workers, but works just fine if you are looking for farm work in Australia. The downside, though, is that it is not for everyone. It is open only to nationals of specific countries, and is valid for 12 months.
So, how does the Working Holiday visa help your bid to work as a farm worker in Australia?
Well, that’s where the whole thing gets interesting!
The Australian Government, in a bid to encourage young people to work on farms, has added an interesting twist to the Working Holiday visa. The twist is that the government will grant a 12-month extension to anyone who works on a farm for at least 3 months during the oone-yearduration of their Working holiday visa.
So, if you planning to go to Australia for farm jobs, you can go on an Holiday visa and get to spend 2 years working on a farm.
How to apply for a Working Holiday visa?
The Holiday visa isn’t open to nationals of every country of the world. So, you must hold a passport from these countries to be eligible:
- Argentina
- Austria
- Belgium
- Brazil
- Canada
- Chile
- China
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Ecuador
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China (including British National Overseas passport holders)
- Hungary
- Indonesia
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Luxembourg
- Malaysia
- Malta
- Mongolia
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Peru
- Poland
- Portugal
- Republic of Cyprus
- Vietnam
- Uruguay
- United States of America
- Turkey
- The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Thailand
- Taiwan (other than an official or diplomatic passport)
- Switzerland
- Sweden
- Spain
- Slovenia
- Slovak Republic
- Singapore
- San Marino
- Republic of Korea
- Republic of Ireland
Additional Eligibility criteria
- To be eligible for this visa, you must:
- Be between the ages of 18 and 30
- Possess about AUD5,000 to support yourself when you arrive in Australia
- Meet the health requirements
- Meet the character requirements
How to get your 3-month experience on the Working Holiday visa
When you eventually get your Holiday visa, there is then the need to secure a farm job, so as to start your journey to gaining the stipulated 3-month experience.
So, how do you go about this?
- WWOOFing: WWOOFing comes from the acronym WWOOF, which stands for ‘Willing Workers on Organic Farms.’ So, WWOOFing means to work willingly on organic farms. Farmers in Australia will ask you to help on their farms and will provide food and accommodation in return. You can find these requests in the WWOOFing handbook or farmers’ bible.
For Mary and Alisha, this was their ticket into Australia. They both secured working holiday visas and found job on a family-owned farm in Queensland. When they arrived on the farm, they discovered that it produces cucumbers, onions and lettuce, and spent the next 12 months gaining valuable experience working on the farm.
- Seasonal farm jobs: If you are able to get seasonal job on a farm for a period of 3 months, it will count as relevant experience towards extending your Holiday visa for another 12 months.
- Full time Farm jobs: If you are able to get a full time Farm job after you arrive in Australia, it will also count as relevant experience for you. After your first year, you will be able to extend by another 12 months and may even be able to get a permanent visa after your Holiday visa expires.
- Jobs from farming communities: Farming communities are also a great option to get relevant experience that counts towards extending your Holiday visa by another 12 months. For foreigners coming into Australia for farm work, farming communities help them to settle in.
An example of such Farming Communities is Oyster, which offers training and farm work opportunities to foreign nationals coming into Australia.
But what if you are not from any of the countries that are eligible for Working Holiday visas?
Then, you need to put in for Seasonal work visas! And that brings us to another question – What are Seasonal Work visas?
2. Seasonal Work visas
If you will like to receive up to $6,000 in relocation assistance, then seasonal work visas ticks the box for you. Also, South Australia may be ideal destination for you!
One good thing about seasonal farm jobs is that you can apply for it even before you leave your country. Every year, thousands of foreign nationals come to South Australia for seasonal farm work. Also, those who have worked in South Australia have described it as a great place to live and work.
Types of seasonal Work in Southern Australia
- Citrus Pickers
- Fruit pickers
- Grain workers
- Potato workers
- Sheep shearers
- Vegetable pickers
- Vineyard workers
- General farm hands
- Forestry workers
However, like the name implies, seasonal farm work are not available every time. And to know when and where to apply at different times of the year. The following is a breakdown of the specific workers that farms in certain parts of Australia need all year round:
Barossa
| Type of work | Product | Season |
| Vineyard worker | Grape picking | Jan – Apr |
| Vine pruning | Jun – Sep | |
| Vine training | Oct – Dec | |
| Grain worker | Seeding | Apr – Jul |
| Hay season | Sep – Jun | |
| Grain harvest | Oct – Jan | |
| Vegetable picker | Potatoes | Jul – Mar |
| Onions and carrots | Jul – May | |
| Chef | Food | All year |
| House keeper | Cleaning | All year |
| Waitstaff | Food and beverages | All year |
Adelaide Hills
| Type of work | Product | Season |
| Vegetable picker | Brussel sprouts | Feb – Aug |
| Fruit picker | Apples and pears | Feb – May |
| Cherries | Oct – Jan | |
| Strawberries | Oct – Feb | |
| Vineyard worker | Grape picking | Jan – Apr |
| Vine pruning | Jun – Sep | |
| Vine training | Oct – Dec | |
| Forestry work | Tree planting and tree nursery | Jun – Jul |
| Fire crews | Nov – Feb | |
| Sheep shearing | Wool | All year |
| Chef | Food | All year |
| House keeper | Cleaning | All year |
| Waitstaff | Food and beverages | All year |
Adelaide
| Type of work | Product | Season |
| Vegetable picker | Tomatoes | All year |
| Mushrooms | All year | |
| Onions and carrots | Jul – Aug | |
| Cucumbers, capsicums, eggplants | Aug – Apr | |
| Leafy greens | Sep – Apr | |
| Chef | Food | All year |
| House keeper | Cleaning | All year |
| Tour guide | Experiences | |
| Waitstaff | Food and beverages | All year |
Clare Valley
| Type of work | Product | Season |
| Vineyard worker | Grape picking | Jan – Apr |
| Vine pruning | Jun – Sep | |
| Vine training | Oct – Dec | |
| Chef | Food | All year |
| House keeper | Cleaning | All year |
| Waitstaff | Food and beverages | All year |
Yorke Peninsula
| Type of work | Product | Season |
| Grain worker | Seeding | Apr – Jul |
| Hay season | Sep – Jun | |
| Grain harvest | Oct – Jan | |
| Sheep shearer | Wool | All year |
| Chef | Food | All year |
| Waitstaff | Food and beverages | All year |
Riverland
| Type of work | Product | Season |
| Fruit picker | Dried fruit | Jan – Mar |
| Peaches and grapes | Feb – Apr | |
| Oranges | Jun – Aug | |
| Apricots | Dec – Feb | |
| Almonds and other nuts | Jan – Mar | |
| Stonefruit | Oct – Feb | |
| House keeper | Cleaning | All year |
| Waitstaff | Food and beverages | All year |
Murray River, Lakes and Coorong
| Type of work | Product | Season |
| Grain worker | Seeding | Apr – Jul |
| Hay season | Sep – Jun | |
| Grain harvest | Oct – Jan | |
| Sheep shearer | Wool | All year |
| House keeper | Cleaning | All year |
| Waitstaff | Food and beverages | All year |
Limestone Coast
| Type of work | Product | Season |
| Vineyard worker | Grape picking | Jan – Apr |
| Vine pruning | Jun – Sep | |
| Vine training | Oct – Dec | |
| Grain worker | Seeding | Apr – Jul |
| Hay season | Sep – Jun | |
| Grain harvest | Oct – Jan | |
| Sheep shearer | Wool | All year |
| Forestry worker | Tree planting and tree nursery | Jun – Jul |
| Fire crews | Nov – Feb | |
| House keeper | Cleaning | All year |
| Waitstaff | Food and beverages | All year |
Kangaroo Island
| Type of work | Product | Season |
| Vineyard worker | Grape picking | Jan – Apr |
| Vine pruning | Jun – Sep | |
| Vine training | Oct – Dec | |
| Grain worker | Seeding | Apr – Jul |
| Hay season | Sep – Jun | |
| Grain harvest | Oct – Jan | |
| Sheep shearing | Wool | All year |
| Waitstaff | Food and beverages | All year |
Eyre Peninsula
| Type of work | Product | Season |
| Grain worker | Seeding | Apr – Jul |
| Hay season | Sep – Jun | |
| Grain harvest | Oct – Jan | |
| Sheep shearer | Wool | All year |
| House keeper | Cleaning | All year |
| Waitstaff | Food and beverages | All year |
Flinders Ranges and Outback
| Type of work | Product | Season |
| Grain worker | Seeding | Apr – Jul |
| Hay season | Sep – Jun | |
| Grain harvest | Oct – Jan | |
| Sheep shearer | Wool | All year |
| Tour guide | Experiences | |
| Waitstaff | Food and beverages | All year |
Fleurieu Peninsula
| Type of work | Product | Season |
| Vineyard worker | Grape picking | Jan – Apr |
| Vine pruning | Jun – Sep | |
| Vine training | Oct – Dec | |
| Grain worker | Seeding | Apr – Jul |
| Hay season | Sep – Jun | |
| Grain harvest | Oct – Jan | |
| Chef | Food | All year |
| House keeper | Cleaning | All year |
| Waitstaff | Food and beverages | All year |
Source: South Australia government
How to find Seasonal farm jobs in South Australia
When searching for seasonal farm jobs, there are a number of options at your disposal. Some of those options include:
-
Job boards
There are thousands of listings on job boards across Australia. Some of the job boards include:
Apart from job boards, LinkedIn is another great way to connect with farming organizations for seasonal farm work in Australia.
However, while you are processing Australia farm jobs, you may have friends that are also looking for jobs outside the shores of their country of residence. Do well to refer them to Canada farm jobs or Caregiver jobs in the United Kingdom.
FAQ
- Who can work on a farm in Australia?
Anyone can work on a farm in Australia. So, whether you’re a recent graduate looking for your first job, a seasoned professional looking for a change of pace, or a backpacker looking for a way to extend your working holiday, there are plenty of opportunities for you in the Australian farming industry.
2. How much do farm workers earn in Australia?
Compensation for farm workers differ, depending on whether it is for skilled or unskilled work. Farm workers could earn between $24.20 to $40 per hour on the average.
This could change depending on your level of experience and what your employer is offering.
3. What qualifications do you need to be a farm worker in Australia?
If you are applying for skilled work in Australia, then you need relevant qualifications to work in the country.
But, if you are going for unskilled work, then you do not need any qualifications to be a farm worker in Australia.
4. Where is best places to do farm work in Australia?
When it comes to the best places to do farm work in Australia, many believe that Carrathool, Toowoomba and Mildura are the best places to work in Australia.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Australia offers a wide range of job opportunities for prospective job seekers in the agricultural industry. From farmhands, farm managers, farm technicians, and farm veterinarians.
Also, there are options for those looking to start a career or advance in the field. In essence, what this means, is that there is an option for everyone, no matter where you are coming from.
By and large, gaining necessary skills and experience is vital for job seekers, so that they can find a fulfilling and successful career in the agricultural industry in Australia.
