Gen Zs looking for a rural adventure, or grey nomads on the trip of a lifetime, can mix travel with paid gigs by taking their pick of seasonal work in the Central Queensland Highlands.
The cherry on top is our location – we’ve got some awesome natural attractions, we’re far away from the stress of the city BUT we’re also a direct flight from Brisbane or a cruisy three-hour drive from Rocky.
Find a Job
- Explore More job opportunities at Jobs Hub Central Queensland Highlands – it’s free!
- Look for posts on local Facebook groups
- Do a ring-around or shoot a few emails to local businesses
Advantages
Let’s talk dollars. Casual ag employees can earn more money than people working in either retail or hospitality because they, on average, get a similar or better hourly wage, and have the opportunity to work more hours over the working week.
Not only will it boost your bank account, seasonal work will also give you new skills, make you loads of new mates, and give you a true outback Aussie experience.
As a bonus, you’ll be helping farmers get their produce to market to feed our nation!
Skills
All skill levels, with or without qualifications, ages and backgrounds are welcome.
Some roles like fruit picking need strength and stamina, but there are also roles such as packing and quality control that are inside (hello, aircon!) and not as physically demanding.
Horticulture
Produce: 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, so long hours can see you earning $800-$1,000 per week. Take a relaxed approach and you’ll earn around $400-$600.
Farming
Produce: cotton, grains, pulses, cattle
Opportunities: farm/ station hand, tractor drivers, irrigation assistants, governess
Earn: Wages start at $700 per week and depend on experience levels and extra benefits such as accommodation.
Other Opportunities
You can also get permanent, full time roles in agriculture, horticulture and agribusiness.
But if ag’s not for you, find seasonal work in tourism and hospitality. This industry is especially eager for extra team members in the cooler, busier months March – October.
Accommodation
You might score accommodation on farm as part of your job package. Otherwise, local caravan and cabin parks offer budget-friendly, short-term accommodation and are a great way to meet new people.
Mobile and Internet Coverage
We get it – no one wants to live without a smartphone these days! Luckily, you’ll find decent mobile and internet coverage in all towns across the Central Queensland Highlands. There is generally some reception on farms but it might be limited so prepare to do some serious Spotify and Netflix downloading before you head there.
Coming from overseas?
If you don’t live Down Under but you’re keen to give it a go, here’s a few starting points:
- Australia’s reciprocal Working Holiday Maker program allows young adults to have a 12 month holiday, during which they can undertake short-term work and study.
- Queensland’s Working Holidayer pass gives you 30 days of non-consecutive bus / coach travel over three months, $200 of free experiences and discounted accommodation.
- The Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme supports eligible Australian businesses in hiring workers from Pacific-island countries and Timor-Leste. You can apply to be a worker under this scheme if you are a resident of one of the 10 participating countries.
Explore More
Get the most out of your Working Holiday by Exploring More of the region during your time off.
- Use the Central Queensland Highlands Visitor Guide to plan your adventure. If you’ve got wheels, choose a self-drive trail from the guide’s pull-out touring map.
- Check out What’s On Central Queensland Highlands to get amongst the local social scene.
