Working holidays

not everyone with wanderlust has a trust fund. boost your travel savings with seasonal work in the central queensland highlands.

Gen Z’s looking for a rural adventure, or grey nomads on the trip of their lifetime, can take advantage of seasonal work in the Central Queensland Highlands to combine travel with paid gigs.

advantages

Let’s talk dollars. Casual agriculture employees can earn more money than people working in either retail or hospitality because they, on average, receive a similar or better hourly wage, and have the opportunity to work more hours over the working week.

In addition to boosting your bank account, seasonal work can help you build new skills, make lasting social connections and provide a true rural Australia experience.

If that’s not enough, you’ll be helping farmers get their produce to market to feed the nation.

skills

All skill levels, with or without qualifications, ages and backgrounds are welcome. Agriculture has a job for everyone! Some roles such as fruit picking require strength and stamina, however there are also roles such as packing and quality control that are indoors and not as physically demanding.

horticulture

COMMODITIES: mandarins, grapes, lemons, limes and macadamias

OPPORTUNITIES: picking, packing, quality control, tree maintenance, supervisors, machinery operators

EARN: Fruit picking is normally paid on a piece rate, therefore long hours can see you earning $800-$1,000 per week. Take a relaxed approach and you will earn around $400-$600.

Farming

COMMODITIES: cotton, grains, pulses, cattle

OPPORTUNITIES: farm/station hand, tractor drivers, irrigation assistants, governess EARN: Wages start at $700 per week and are dependent on experience levels and additional benefits such as accommodation.

other opportunities

Other seasonal work opportunities exist in the tourism and hospitality sectors.

Permanent, full time roles are also available in agriculture, horticulture and agribusiness.

accommodation

Accommodation may be supplied on farm as part of the job package. Alternatively, local caravan and cabin parks offer budgetfriendly, short-term accommodation.

mobile coverage

You’ll find mobile coverage in all towns across the Central Queensland Highlands. There is generally some level of reception on farms however it may be limited.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE MAY BE AVAILABLE FOR ELIGIBLE PEOPLE WHO RELOCATE TO UNDERTAKE WORK IN AGRICULTURE. CHECK THE QUEENSLAND AND AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT WEBSITES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.

Find a Job

z Check the Working Holidays section on CENTRALQUEENSLANDHIGHLANDS.COM.AU z Look for advertisements on local social media job boards z Contact the CQH Visitor Information Centre

Jordan Spargo, 21

FARMHAND, BENDEE FARMING, GINDIE

START I was backpacking in Canada when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. I came straight home, quarantined and started looking for jobs online. I found this job on Seek, did a zoom interview and started work a few weeks later.

JOB My job involves operating tractors, mustering cattle, daily maintenance on machinery and infrastructure and everything in between. I also help run the spot spraying robots which is pretty cool.

BEST/WORST The best thing about my job is the variety. No day is ever the same. Sometimes it doesn't go to plan, so it keeps you on your toes. I don’t think there is anything bad about my job but for some people it might be the long days. FREE TIME I’m an outdoors type of person so I like camping and hiking at Carnarvon Gorge and Blackdown Tableland National Park.

I catch up with friends for dinner and drinks, movies or shopping in Emerald.

ACCOMMODATION My job came with farm accommodation which includes our own room and bathroom, and shared common areas.

MOBILE COVERAGE We get coverage across the whole farm. Some places are patchy but overall it’s pretty good.

TIP Just give it a go. There’s so many different jobs and the people are great.

looking for a tree change?

Explore More reasons to live and work in the Central Queensland Highlands. centralhighlands.qld.gov.au centralqueenslandhighlands.com.au