Leslie Massey
Fruit picking in Australia is a great way to travel around the country while earning money. The job is ideal for those without high knowledge or education, and the pay is good, with fruit pickers earning above the minimum wage. The Australian agriculture sector is facing a labour shortage, so there are plenty of opportunities for those seeking farm work. To get started, you will need to apply for a Working Holiday Visa and get a Tax File Number. You can then search for jobs on websites such as Workforce Australia and Seek, or by contacting the National Harvest Labour Information Service.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Job Title | Fruit Picker |
| Job Description | Picking fruits such as cherries, strawberries, melons, apples, and grapes from the ground, bushes, or trees. |
| Additional Roles | Sorting, pruning, thinning, planting |
| Work Hours | Early morning to mid-afternoon; six or seven days a week |
| Work Duration | Minimum of 12 weeks |
| Compensation | $20/hour (national minimum wage), $29.50/hour on average, or $57,525/year; paid by the amount of fruit picked ("piecework") |
| Requirements | Working Holiday Visa, Tax File Number, WHV insurance |
| Visa Validity | 12 months |
| Work Flexibility | Unlimited hours, but cannot stay with the same employer for more than 6 months |
| Job Portals | www.workforceaustralia.gov.au, www.seek.com.au, www.backpackerjobboard.com.au, www.fruitpickingjobs.com.au |
| Job Sources | National Harvest Labour Information Service, Harvest Trail website |
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What You'll Learn
Visa requirements
Fruit picking in Australia is a great way to fund your trip and experience the country. However, it is important to note that you cannot do fruit picking in Australia on a normal tourist visa, as tourist visas prohibit any earnings.
To work in Australia, you will need an eligible visa if you are not an Australian citizen or resident. The most common visa to work on farms in Australia is the Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417), which allows you to work and live in Australia for up to one year but no longer than 6 months with any one employer. You can extend this visa for an additional 12 months if you perform farm work for at least 3 months or 88 days in a "rural" area on the postcode list. The Work and Holiday Visa (subclass 462) is another option, which is similar to the Working Holiday Visa but is available to people from different countries.
If you are between 18 and 30 years old (or 35 for Irish and Canadian passport holders), you can apply for an Australian Working Holiday Visa to travel, study, and work around Australia for up to 12 months. This visa allows you to work unlimited hours throughout your stay and in the city of your choice. However, you will need to obtain a Tax File Number (TFN) to pay taxes on your income.
Alternatively, you can look for jobs that offer visa sponsorship, which means the employer will sponsor your visa. You can find these jobs on websites like Workforce Australia and SEEK. Some jobs may require a short period of on-the-job training or a skills assessment, but many fruit-picking jobs do not require any formal qualifications.
The fruit-picking season in Australia usually starts in November or December and finishes in April or May, with the busiest period from November to April and the main harvest reaching a peak in February. New South Wales and Victoria are popular destinations for fruit-picking work, with produce including orchard fruits, cotton, onions, asparagus, and bananas.
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Salary expectations
Fruit picking jobs in Australia are ideal for those without high knowledge or education and are willing to work as unskilled labour. The average fruit picker's salary in Australia is $57,525 per year or $29.50 per hour. However, some workers have reported earning $25-$26 per hour, working 40-60 hours per week. Fruit pickers can also take on additional roles, such as packers, which may require a forklift license and reliable transportation. These roles may offer higher wages, depending on the employer and the specific job requirements.
It is important to note that fruit picking jobs in Australia are often seasonal, with the picking season usually starting in December and finishing in May. The availability of work may vary depending on the time of year and the region of Australia. Additionally, there may be opportunities to work unlimited hours or extend your stay with the employer, depending on their specific needs and your preferences.
When considering salary expectations, it is worth noting that the cost of living in Australia is relatively high, so while the wages for fruit pickers may seem attractive, the expenses associated with living and working in the country should also be taken into account.
Fruit picking jobs in Australia typically offer wages that are above the minimum wage, making them a popular choice for those looking to earn a good income while travelling or backpacking around the country. However, it is always a good idea to research the specific salary and benefits offered by different employers, as these may vary. Additionally, some employers may provide accommodation or other perks, which can significantly reduce living expenses.
Overall, fruit picking in Australia can be a financially rewarding experience, especially for those who are willing to work hard and take on additional responsibilities. By researching different employers and understanding the seasonal nature of the work, individuals can maximize their earnings and have a positive overall experience.
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Job responsibilities
Fruit picking jobs in Australia are ideal for those without high knowledge or education and are willing to work as unskilled labour. The job responsibilities of a fruit picker in Australia include:
- Picking fruits and vegetables from farms and orchards. This includes fruits like cherries, strawberries, melons, apples, pears, and grapes, which can be picked from the ground, bushes, or fruit trees.
- Sorting and storing the picked produce in boxes for transportation. Fruit pickers need to select the best fruits, considering their size and ripeness, and discard rotten, bruised, or overripe ones.
- Loading orders into delivery vehicles and replenishing stock.
- General warehouse duties.
In addition to fruit picking, there are several closely related jobs available in Australia, such as pruning, thinning, and planting. Pruning involves removing dry branches from treetops and vines to promote stronger growth and better flowering. Thinning entails removing excess fruit from trees and bushes, while planting requires spending several hours bent over, sometimes in the sun, to plant seeds in fields or sheds by hand.
Fruit picking in Australia is a well-paid job, often above the minimum wage, and can be a great way to immerse yourself in the Australian culture and explore the country's unique flora and fauna. The picking season usually starts in December and ends in May, but there are harvest opportunities throughout the year in different regions.
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Application process
Fruit picking in Australia is a great way to travel around the country while earning money. The Australian agriculture sector is facing a labour shortage, so there are plenty of job opportunities. Fruit picking is a simple job that does not require a high level of knowledge, education, or skill, making it ideal for those who want to work as unskilled labour.
To apply for a fruit-picking job in Australia, you can follow these steps:
- Obtain the appropriate visa: Most fruit pickers in Australia work on a Working Holiday Visa (WHV). This visa allows you to work unlimited hours in the city of your choice and is valid for 12 months. However, you cannot stay with the same employer for more than six months. If you already have a WHV, make sure to apply for fruit-picking jobs before it expires so that you can extend your stay in Australia.
- Get a Tax File Number (TFN): To work in Australia, you will need a TFN, which is a 9-digit code that identifies you as a taxpayer to the Australian Government. Even if you are not an Australian citizen, you must pay taxes on your income while working in the country.
- Find job opportunities: There are several ways to find fruit-picking jobs in Australia:
- Visit websites such as www.workforceaustralia.gov.au or www.seek.com.au, which list jobs in Australia that offer visa sponsorship.
- Contact the National Harvest Labour Information Service (NHLIS), a free phone service that connects fruit pickers with farmers.
- Check the Harvest Trail website, an Australian government initiative that publishes available jobs in each Australian state.
- Show up at a farm and offer your services directly to the farmer. This method can be unpredictable, so it may be better to plan in advance by calling or checking online first.
- Apply for jobs: Once you have found some suitable job opportunities, send in your applications. Some sources recommend applying for jobs that offer fruit picking with visa sponsorship and then waiting for a job offer. However, other sources suggest that you may need to send your CV or resume as part of the application process.
- Interview and selection: After applying, you may be contacted by employers for interviews or further discussions about the role.
- Accept an offer: If you are deemed qualified for the job and receive an offer, you can accept it and start planning your fruit-picking adventure in Australia!
It is important to note that fruit picking can be strenuous work, and you should be prepared to work long hours in the sun. Additionally, most fruit pickers are paid based on the amount of fruit they pick (piecework), so your income may vary depending on your speed and efficiency.
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Harvest seasons
Australia's harvest seasons vary significantly from region to region due to its vast size and diverse climates. The southern states during winter, for instance, have fewer job opportunities.
In general, the fruit-picking season in Australia starts in December and finishes in May, with the peak of the season falling in February. In the state of New South Wales (NSW), the peak season is from November to April. In Queensland, the harvest period is mostly from December to March, but you can also find farm work outside of these months in some areas. From May to December, many fruits and vegetables are grown in Bowen, south of Cairns, especially mangoes at the end of the year.
In the east-central area, around Bathurst and Griffith, you will find the third-largest population in the famous Riverina agricultural region. Here, May to October is melon growing and picking season, and October to November is the best time to pick mangoes, bananas, and citrus fruits.
In Western Australia, there are two distinct harvesting seasons in two different areas. October to June is harvest time in the southwestern part of the state, for apples, pears, and grapes.
In South Australia, February to April is the busiest season for farm work. You can find work throughout the year, but this period is the best. Go to Barossa Valley for grape picking and to the Riverland area for citrus and soft fruits such as raspberries and strawberries.
Tasmania has a relatively short fruit-picking season, generally from December to the end of May. As well as picking apples, there are also pears, stone fruits, hops, grapes, berries, and much more.
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Frequently asked questions
You must apply for a Working Holiday Visa (WHV) and get a Tax File Number (TFN) to pay taxes. The WHV is valid for 12 months and allows you to work unlimited hours in the city of your choice, but you can't stay with the same employer for more than 6 months.
The average fruit picker's salary is $57,525 per year or $29.50 per hour. However, fruit pickers are often paid according to the amount of fruit they pick, known as "piecework". While experienced pickers can earn double the minimum wage or more, beginners may struggle to reach the minimum wage mark.
You can find job listings on websites such as Seek, the Harvest Trail website, and Backpacker Job Board. You can also try calling the National Harvest Labour Information Service (NHLIS), a free phone service that connects fruit pickers with farmers. Additionally, you can try showing up at farms and offering your services during the harvest season.
The fruit-picking season in Australia typically runs from December to May. However, in some parts of the country, there is something to harvest all year round. For example, you can harvest melons in New South Wales in January and February, and pick pumpkins in Western Australia in August.
