Working in Australia - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

Chocolaty Claire · 09-26-2005, 01:59 AM

I fancy working a week here and there whilst I travel up the east coast would I actually end up saving money after the cost for accommodation & food?

I’ve heard that fruit picking is a good, sociable, easy way to get a bit of money (if you work hard enough) – has anyone done this or anything else? how did you save money?

danny · 09-26-2005, 03:02 AM

Chances of actually saving money while working one week here and there are bugger all.

Fruit picking is alright for money however you have to hit the right place at the right time as wages generally vary according to need of the farmer.

I have one mate who has fruit picked and in 4 days he earned $16AUD he was so pissed off with it that he has sworn never to bother again. If you want to earn decent amounts of money you are going to have to work in larger cities of Oz where there is a lot of work and wages are generally high, then venture out into the outback to travel.

**omisan** · 09-26-2005, 12:36 PM

Yeah, I've heard nothing but horror stories about fruit picking, especially up around Bundeberg... I think, just like in the States, they like to take advantage of the fact that they're paying you under the table.

If you're getting a working holiday visa, keep in mind that you can only work for one employer for the duration of your visit - so you'd best find a job with a chain that has multiple locations if you want to travel around AND work.

Otherwise, there are the typical pub/hostel jobs - I've read that you can find these on the message boards in hostels, and there are a number of hostels that are more long-term/working holiday oriented than others. See the reviews to see which ones are focused on working types.

**benna2** · 09-26-2005, 10:06 PM

Omi...I don't know if different working holiday visas have different rules. My sister is in Oz on a one year holiday visa and is only supposed to work for 3 months at the same place. Because the point of the visa is to actually have people traveling around...

And yeah I have not heard any good stuff about fruit picking...working for four days in a hot field and only making $16? That is criminal.

horsepuppy · 09-27-2005, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by omisan+Sep 26 2005, 02:36 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(omisan @ Sep 26 2005, 02:36 PM)</div>

Quote:

Yeah, I've heard nothing but horror stories about fruit picking, especially up around Bundeberg... I think, just like in the States, they like to take advantage of the fact that they're paying you under the table.

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I've heard the same...but a buddy of mine did some cherry picking there and spent the majority of his days stoned at the top of a tree munchin' cherries, so I guess it depends on what you're really looking for in a job ...not the best way to make money, but there are some perks!
<!--QuoteBegin-omisan@Sep 26 2005, 02:36 PM
If you're getting a working holiday visa, keep in mind that you can only work for one employer for the duration of your visit - so you'd best find a job with a chain that has multiple locations if you want to travel around AND work.

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My working holiday visa stipulates that I can work for up to three months with one employer (don't forget to get your tax number once you get there) - theoretically I could work for the full year (4 different employers).

Keep in mind that if you're working under the table (common in the pub/restaurant business - especially if you're in the kitchen), this won't count towards your 3 months since the government won't know you're working...

...sneaky!

franky84 · 09-27-2005, 10:47 PM

ive had a few mates that did fruit picking around oz and yeah it depends on the person really....some places pay nothing but offer accomodation and food, some placesd pay but not that much.

someone mentioned bundaberg and for gods sake ur crazy if u go fdruit picking out there in summer its too god damn HOT and is so not worth the money

rule of thumb in nsw, if ur getting payed under the table you should expect at the very least AU$11 in hospitality an hour (you only get tips here if ur a waiter or something like that).

as danny said earlier work in the cities. work is plentiful and you can earn a good packet bartending or something like that in a few weeks.. they normally get at least $20 an hour more on weekends and then just use that cash to explore the inland areas. the big cities on the east coast (brisbane, sydney and melbourne) are full of jobs! especially in hospitality

cheers

Chocolaty Claire · 09-29-2005, 01:02 AM

I'll definately be getting a visa, and I'm quite certain the rule that you cant work for one employer for longer than 3 months applies..

I'll most defo be doing office work in Melbourne, but I quite like the sound of working in a bar in Sydney/Brisbane..

is it just a case of wearing your best smile and going from bar to bar, or is it encouraged to do it properly and answer ads? :D

Chocolaty Claire · 09-29-2005, 01:20 AM

Woops! where ARE my manners!

Thanks for all your responses guys

horsepuppy · 09-29-2005, 10:24 AM

Hey Chocolaty! This may have already been mentioned in some other post, but if you're gonna work at a bar you need to be certified - it's called an RSA certification(Responsible Service of Alcohol) - it's a one-day course and costs about $100 AUD...reputable places won't let you work without it!

Cheers

**Diorama** · 09-29-2005, 12:04 PM

Hey CC,

Well I did bananas and vineyard work in Australia. So heres some fruit picking advice.

First of all it is sooooooooooo easy getting that kind of work. Knowing the best kind of fruits is key. Ask around in the hostels and you'll here some fruit that are awful to work with! A lot of farms will pay you by how much you pick. Unless you've done it before chances are you won't be very good and will make shit money. Especially if your a girl! So that means the best jobs to get are the ones that are guaranteed going to pay your an hourly wage.

For girls bananas are the best on the east coast. I worked in a banana shed and made $12 or so. Okay it is the most boring work ever. And your leaning over a tub of water half the day, so back pain will happen! But it's hourly so hey no complaints there. I worked in the town of Innisfail. Boring town, but my hostel was cool. The codge lodge. They find you work

In western Australia I worked on a vineyard. This was the best job. it was Monday-Friday 7-3. I think my hourly was around 12.50 or so. I worked on this small vineyard with a cool boss. I think I lucked out. But besides the back pain at times (being hunched over) it was easy work. Even though sometimes it was pouring in rain and cold it was still alright work. You could listen to your minidisc player out in the fields and talk to your co-workers.

Anyways The bottom line is get an hourly job if you fruit pick!!

BTW It's hard getting hospitality work on the easy coast. Thousands of backpackers all want the same job. And employers know the drill. They know that you can only work three months.

Most of all . have fun!!

DIO

**benna2** · 09-30-2005, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by horsepuppy@Sep 29 2005, 09:24 AM
Hey Chocolaty!* This may have already been mentioned in some other post, but if you're gonna work at a bar you need to be certified - it's called an RSA certification(Responsible Service of Alcohol) - it's a one-day course and costs about $100 AUD...reputable places won't let you work without it!

Cheers*

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If you Smart Serve Certified, will that do in place of RSA? I'm sure it covers all the same stuff...Anyway I'm curious about that because I was hoping to get a bartending job in Oz and figured that Smart Serve would be sufficient.

danny · 10-01-2005, 12:28 AM

When i used to work in a nightclub in Sydney you didn't need RSA. Also good point to mention different states have different laws concearning alcohol so one set of training may not mean anything in another state so don't worry.

As bad as this next statement sounds it is pretty much true in pub work in Oz if you are a good looking female the management will pretty much bend over backwards to employ you, As this brings more money to them.

**bookofkels** · 10-05-2005, 06:06 PM

Claire heres a link to get your working holiday visaWHV for Oz, i applyed online one day (you have to pay by credit card its like £70 i think) and they emailed me the following day to say i had it!

Good luck
Kel

**TERI** · 10-07-2005, 07:00 AM

As for having your smart serve, I have mine. But someone told me that it doesn't count in oz even though it's pretty much the same thing as the RSA. I'm going to take the course in Sydney when I get there.