Setting your expectations

Employer expects...
The employer's expectation is that you will work for at least three months in one job. A working holiday visa (417 or 462) normally allows a maximum of 6 months for one employer.
 
VisitOz expects...
Our expectation is that you will enter into the training course committed to applying yourself, taking part and working hard. To fit in with the culture at the farm, it is essential that you have a good attitude. Please be friendly, fair, respectful, polite, well-mannered and communicate.  

You should expect...
You are coming here to do a paid job for a fair wage. Your employer will expect you to be completely committed to this.  

Farmwork can be an amazing and fulfilling adventure, but dont expect it to be be easy. Where there is adventure and work there is usually challenge. Australia will definitely be different to what you are used to and what you expect. 

Expect your work to be physical, challenging, sometimes dull, sometimes interesting, sometimes unique, sometimes routine.

Your location may be remote with limited communications and basic facilities. The weather or climate may be extreme. You may be living and working in the same place with just a few people for company. You may be some distance from civilisation and the services you are used to. 

You may not like everything you see, enjoy all that you are asked to do, or like everyone you meet. Be prepared to be challenged, tested and stretched. Be prepared to dig deep as you acclimatise and get over culture shock, be willing to try new things and learn, be ready to laugh and above all be willing to engage wholeheartedly with the experience and the people. 

Pay and conditions

Our employers normally pay according to the award wage structure. This is at least the minimum wage for your age and the type of work you are doing. We take our guide for pay rates from the Pastoral Award - Farmhand Level 1. 

Rural Australian pay rates are fair and governed by Australian law through an organisation called Fairwork. Employers in our network are required to operate in accordance with Fairwork guidelines, offering pay and conditions that are at least equal to the minimum required by Australian law. 
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In 3 months you can reasonably expect to save approximately $5-6,000 Australian dollars, as this is what you can reasonably expect your take home pay to be. This may vary slightly from employer to employer depending on how they offer benefits such as food, accommodation, use of vehicles, power, internet etc, and of course this is also dependent on your spending habits. 

You can read more detailed information about pay conditions using the link below. 

Our Terms and Conditions of Participation 

We have produced clear written terms and conditions that are intended to explain our expectations of participants in our programmes. 
This includes honest and complete information in the application process, appropriate effort and engagement with the training and jobs placement process, and appropriate and productive engagement with the employer and their work environment. 

You will be required to confirm that you accept our general terms and conditions before joining one of our programmes. 

This information can be seen in more detail using the button below.  

General Points about Farmwork

We have gathered together a few key points about working on livestock and crop farms in rural and outback Australia. 
​Awareness of these will help you to make a success of your farm work. ​
Not all lollipops and rainbows
  1. Rural Australia is a hard working place. Farming is not all lollipops and rainbows and is often quite different from the romantic adventure that some people may imagine.
  2. Most farm roles offered to short term workers are entry level, day to day routine farmwork. 
  3. Australian Farmers are hard working independent minded characters, and you will need to adapt to this.
  4. Work on livestock or crop farms is very different to fruit picking. it is usually more skilled and with greater risk and more responsibility.  
  5. Your ability to adapt, fit in and learn fast is what will give you the best chance of succeeding in a farm role. 
  6. Previous experience and relevant skills are greatly valued, even if they are not always essential.

Time and place
  1. You are searching for an employer with a short to medium term job that fits you, at a time that suits him, at the time that you need it, in a location that suits you. This is a challenging combination of factors that have to line up. 
  2. Be realisitic and be flexible with time and location. 

Pay
  1.  To employ a farm worker at minimum wage rates costs a farmer approx. $1,000 per week for 38 hours work.  
  2. 38 hours gives the employee approximately $500 take home pay. 

Skills and abilities 
  1. Farmers will not usually consider employing workers with little previous relevant experience.
  2. Farm livestock and machinery are very valuable and potentially dangerous.  Previous experience, responsible and safe practice are very important. 
  3. Useful skills that Farmers look for
    1. Can drive manual vehicles
    2. Can ride a manual motorbike / dirt bike 
    3. Any practical, physical work or activity experience
    4. An understanding and awareness of physical safety and risks
    5. Speak and understand English well 
    6. Eat a normal diet (because special diets are not always easy to accommodate in remote areas, and because much of farming is related to the meat industry)
    7. Are fit enough to work hard on their feet all day 
    8. Are willing to start early / work late
    9. Can cope with basic living and working conditions 

Working Environment
  1. Farms in Australia can be a significant distance from shops and other facilities.
  2. Most farms provide on farm food and accommodation as part of the employment package.
  3. You may need to adjust to living and working in the same place.
  4. Mobile phone service and internet may be limited or not exist. 
  5. Living conditions and accommodation may be basic. 
  6. Bugs, dirt and wild animals are part of Australian rural life that you need to be able to accept and work with. 
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​It is a competitive market for workers - 
Get organised - be prepared - invest in yourself 
  1. Tens of thousands of working holiday makers seek farm work in Australia every year. 
  2. Many of these seek farmwork without being adequately prepared or informed. 
  3. It pays to get organised. Be prepared to get skills and demonstrate abilities that make you employable. 
  4. If you dont have the right skills then we recommend that you invest in yourself by getting some training and experience before you get here.
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