Finding Farm Jobs In Australia: Where To Look

how to find farm jobs australia

Australia's agriculture sector offers a wide range of jobs, from fruit picking to cattle station work. With a current labour shortage, there are many opportunities for job seekers. To find farm work in Australia, job seekers can use online resources such as job boards like Gumtree, Seek, and Backpacker Jobs, or apps like WikiFarms Australia. Social media platforms like Facebook and websites such as jobsearch.gov.au/harvest can also be useful. Working hostels are another option, as they have connections with local farms. For skilled and unskilled workers, recruiters like Agri Labour Australia can help place candidates in permanent and seasonal roles.

Characteristics Values
Job Types Fruit picking, cattle station, farm hand, jackaroo, jillaroo, pruning, dairy, vegetable picking, packing, quality assurance, machinery operation, livestock herding, tree farming, felling, cropping, animal husbandry, horticulture, poultry, piggery, aquaculture, feedlot operations, systems engineering
Job Boards Gumtree, Seek, Backpacker Jobs, Ag Workforce, Workabout Australia, Agricultural Appointments, Help Harvest NSW, AgCareers, WikiFarms Australia
Other Farmers post jobs on social media, especially Facebook groups; working hostels can help find farm work, but may charge high rent; the Australian government provides a tool to help find farm work

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Online job boards

There are many online job boards that advertise farm jobs in Australia. These include:

  • AgCareers: an online job board for agricultural careers with a search function and the ability to register a candidate profile.
  • Agri Labour Australia: a recruitment agency that provides specialist recruitment and workforce optimisation solutions for the agriculture industry. They work with many of the country's largest producers and independent farmers.
  • Agricultural Appointments: industry recruitment specialists, offering job-search and recruitment, outplacement, psychometric testing, and executive search services.
  • WikiFarms Australia: an app that can be downloaded from the Google Play Store. It acts as a map that shows the contacts of almost 2,000 farmers across Australia.
  • Gumtree: a free website for job searching.
  • Studium: an online platform that allows employers to connect directly with 12,000 registered job seekers, including WA university students, school leavers, international students, working holidaymakers, and other job seekers.
  • Workabout Australia: an online resource and planning tool that connects travellers with casual, seasonal, part-time, and permanent work around Australia.
  • People in Agriculture: a website that provides the latest information about working in the industry, including employment law, news, career management, and professional practice.
  • Ringers From The Top End Jobs (RFTTE): an online job board for cattle station jobs across Australia.
  • Seek: a website that advertises various farm jobs, including farm hand roles, machinery operators, machinery maintenance, truck driving, and general farm duties.

Other Online Methods

In addition to online job boards, there are several other online methods for finding farm jobs in Australia:

  • Facebook: there are many farm work-related groups on Facebook where farmers post work opportunities.
  • The Australian Government website: this provides information on the right time and place to find farm work, including a tool that guides you on where to go depending on the time of year.
  • The Backpacker Board: a website that advertises farm jobs, as well as other jobs around Australia.

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Facebook groups

Joining such groups can provide you with a direct line of communication to farmers, allowing you to call or even visit them directly, which is often the best way to secure a position quickly. Many farmers don't advertise job openings and instead hire people who approach them directly or show up at their farm.

While Facebook groups can be a helpful starting point, it's important to be mindful of the location of the farms and jobs posted. You don't want to travel across the country only to find that the position has been filled. Instead, focus on regional towns and areas near you, such as those suggested by WikiFarms Australia for different cities.

In addition to Facebook groups, downloading the WikiFarms Australia app can be beneficial. The app acts as a map, providing contacts for farmers all over Australia and allowing you to filter your search. This technology, along with Facebook groups, can increase your chances of finding farm work during the peak season when competition is high.

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Apps

WikiFarms Australia is an app that provides a database of over 2000 companies and farms across Australia. The app allows you to filter your search based on location and the type of fruit you want to pick. It also provides information on working hostels, tourism offices, and working agencies. You can use the app to calculate your 88 days of farm work for your second-year visa application. The app is free and available on the Google Play Store.

Backpacker Jobs is an online job board that connects working holidaymakers with farms across Australia. The platform caters specifically to backpackers and provides a range of casual, seasonal, and permanent work opportunities.

Agri Labour Australia is a recruitment platform that has been connecting candidates with farm work across Australia since 2009. They specialize in both short-term and permanent roles and have experience placing candidates in a range of industries, including agriculture, transport, and renewable energy.

Workabout Australia is an online resource and planning tool that connects travellers with casual, seasonal, part-time, and permanent work opportunities across the country. The platform provides information on a variety of industries, including agriculture, and allows users to search for work based on their location and preferences.

In addition to these apps, you may also find farm job opportunities on Facebook. Many farmers are now posting work opportunities directly on farm work-related groups on Facebook, so it's worth joining some of these groups and following their pages to stay updated on the latest job postings.

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Working hostels

Banana Barracks, Queensland

Banana Barracks, located in the middle of Bundaberg Centre, is one of the most reliable "year-round" work venues in Australia. The hostel is well-organised and clean, with a helpful owner who goes out of her way to assist guests in finding jobs. The vibrant community and social scene make it a great place to meet people and make friends.

Eco-Lodge, Queensland

Eco-Lodge is another highly recommended hostel in Queensland. The owners, Rhys and Vanessa, are travellers themselves and understand the needs of backpackers. During the high season, they ensure that guests have access to hourly wage jobs, and they are transparent about the availability of lower-paid piece-rate jobs during the low season. The hostel itself is well-equipped with excellent amenities, including a cinema room, a games room, and a gym.

WikiFarms Australia App

While not a traditional hostel, the WikiFarms Australia app serves as a valuable resource for finding farm work. It provides a map with contacts for nearly 2000 farmers across Australia. Using this app, you can easily contact farmers directly and increase your chances of finding employment, especially during the peak season.

In addition to these options, there are numerous other working hostels and resources available to assist backpackers in finding farm jobs in Australia. It is beneficial to research and read reviews to find the best opportunities and accommodations that align with your specific needs and preferences.

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Recruitment agencies

There are several recruitment agencies that can help you find farm jobs in Australia. Here are some reputable agencies to consider:

AG Workforce

AG Workforce is a specialist agricultural recruitment agency that has been operating in the industry since 2005. They offer employment opportunities across all key areas of agriculture, including both permanent and casual positions. AG Workforce prides itself on being authentic and no-nonsense, understanding the hard work that goes into farming and recruitment.

Agri Labour Australia

Agri Labour Australia is a family-owned business that exclusively provides recruitment and workforce optimisation solutions for the agriculture industry. They work with large producers and independent farmers to source, screen, and deploy workers for agricultural projects, seasons, and harvests. Agri Labour Australia has experience in placing candidates in a range of roles, from fruit picking to livestock management and even specialist industries like medicinal marijuana farms. They have a quick response time and can cater to short or long-term staffing requests.

Rural Enterprises

Rural Enterprises is a well-established recruitment agency specialising in agricultural recruitment for over 60 years. They offer a range of seasonal and permanent job placements, including seeding and harvest positions, general and senior farm hands, farm managers, station work, dairy farming, and farm mechanics.

The Lucas Group

As Australia's premier agribusiness recruitment agency, The Lucas Group focuses on building relationships with individuals who have a passion and aptitude for primary production, agribusiness, and allied industries. They offer a range of career opportunities in these sectors.

Ag Jobs Australia

Ag Jobs Australia combines broad industry knowledge with extensive recruiting experience and effective networks to find skilled workers for farming positions. They are located on a farm in Queensland's Darling Downs region, allowing them to understand the challenges and rewards of the industry intimately.

Other Agencies

In addition to the above, you may also explore other agencies like Agricultural Appointments, which offers recruitment services, psychometric testing, and executive search options. People in Agriculture is another initiative that provides valuable information about working in the industry, including employment law, news, and career management resources.

Frequently asked questions

It is important to have the right visa for the work you intend to do. International visitors will need to submit essential documents and pay an application fee to obtain the appropriate visa. Farm work in Australia is often physically demanding and may involve long days and repetitive physical movements. Therefore, physical fitness is also an important prerequisite.

There are several ways to find farm jobs in Australia. One way is to go through a specialist recruitment agency such as Agri Labour Australia, which can help match your skills with employers' requirements. Another way is to go to a Working Hostel, as these hostels have deals with farmers. Alternatively, you can call different farms directly and enquire about vacancies. Websites such as CareerHarvest can also match your interests to different jobs in agriculture.

Fruit picking and packing are the most popular forms of farm work in Australia. Other types of farm work include cattle ranch jobs, pearling, and working in the Tasmanian aquaculture industry. There are also service industries like research, technology, and processing.

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