A Guide to Finding Farm Work in Australia

If a single year is not enough for you in Australia on your Working Holiday Visa and you are looking for a solution to extend your stay, farm/regional work is your answer! You will need to complete at least 3 months of required work before you are able to apply for your second year visa. Yes - it might not sound like something people deem as the fun part of their holidays, but this is also an opportunity for you to earn some extra cash and experience Australia in a different perspective. It can be a very frustrating process trying to find the right farm work by yourself. We are here to assist you and point you in the right direction to find the best answer. Remember that both the 417 and the 462 Work and Holiday visas have different requirements, therefore please refer to your visa conditions as this blog is simply a guide from personal experiences.

There are several ways for you to find farm work in Australia - especially for those who are looking to extend their 417. Here is our list of how to do so:

Word of Mouth

This is one of the easiest ways of finding farm work. Obviously it only works well if you know someone who has done or is currently doing their farm work and have positive feedback from their experience. During your holidays in Australia, if you do come across people with recommendations for farm work, then it is a good idea to do a little research and check it out. However, we know that this is often not an option for everyone so let’s move on to our next option.

Harvest Train

This is a governmental service that connects farmers and workers. They will ask you a few questions to narrow down your options, making it easier for you to choose the best fit. This is probably our most recommended way. Be sure to check if the farm is an eligible for your visa extension before committing to the job. Most of the time these farms are applicable for your needs, but there is never harm in checking, right?

Online 

Whether you are searching online, or using platforms like gumtree, or even browsing through job boards like seek.com.au, there are many ways to search for farm job opportunities online. Using job search websites like Seek or Jora is probably the most reliable way to find employment. Make sure you do your research and find a trustworthy employer as you will be spending up to three months there. 

Social Media

To find job opportunities, being active on social media can be a big plus. It seems that many more farmers are now also active on socials too and they do actively share their interest in finding people to fill positions. You can join facebook groups to find posts that you like. Here are some of the groups that you can join on Facebook when looking for farm work opportunities: 

• Group Cairns / Mareeba / QLD FARM WORK

• Australian Backpackers Group 

• Stanthrope Farmwork

• Group BRISBANE / CABOOLTURE / QLD FARM WORK

• Farm Work Australia

WikiFarms Australia

We are now in a day and age where there are apps for everything. There is indeed an app to assist you in finding a job called WikiFarms Australia. Why not visit the app store or google play to give it a go? It has been around for a few years and has helped a lot of people who are looking to get their second year visa. The app shows you a map of Australia and highlights the locations of almost 2000 farmers around the country. You can also use filters to refine your search on the app. 

WWOOF

What is WWOOF? World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms, or Willing Workers on Organic Farms, is a network of national organizations that facilitate homestays on organic farms in Australia. To put it in simpler words, you can work on a farm for a couple (2-5 ish) hours a day and you will be provided with accommodation, food, and other things in return. This will be counted towards your second year visa. This is an easy option for people who are not willing to commit to full-time work on a farm but would rather get the experience, volunteer, or need to meet their requirements before their next visa.

The Official Harvest Calendar

This calendar is very helpful for those who are planning on doing farm work. This is a highly recommended tool for you to use during your search, as it will guide you to each season of farming. Using a tool like the official harvest calendar will allow you to plan on where to go for the time you want to do your farm work. This will increase your chances of finding work regardless of the time of the year. So don’t forget to have this tool up when you are doing your search.

Working Agencies

These agencies are free and will actively help you look for farm work. If they claim that they are not free of charge then you should definitely move on to another one. How does it work? You leave your details with them and they will contact you as soon as they find a farm/regional job that suits you. It is simple and convenient, just like that. This might not be the right option for those who want to have a few options laid out - but hey, it is still a great way to find a farm job. 

Remember, you do not have to commit to just one job or one 3 month period to complete you work. You can break it up over the whole year if you wish. But we recoomend getting all done in one go and using the rest of the time to explore the rest of this amazing county.

For travelling enquires, please do not hesitate to contact us :)