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Ways To Find An 88 Days Job While On Your Working Holiday Visa

Updated: Nov 5, 2024

If you are on a Australian Working Holiday Visa (462) and dreaming of a second year down under, you’ll need to complete what's often called regional work or farm work. The requirements can be a bit all over the place and confusing but essentially you need to complete 88 days or 3 months of work in a valid area so that you can apply for your Second or Third Working Holiday Visa.


Understanding Regional Work Requirements


The type of work you can do varies based on your location. For instance:

  • Northern Territory & Tasmania: Any job counts since these areas are considered remote.

  • Queensland: North of the Tropic of Capricorn (think Townsville and above), hospitality jobs qualify as regional work.

  • New South Wales, Victoria & Southern Australia: Specific zip codes apply for specific types of work, so be sure to check them out here.





My Journey: From Melbourne to Port Douglas


In April 2024, I left my home in Melbourne to see the East Coast and find an 88 days job. Once I hit Townsville, I dropped off my resume at cafes, restaurants, and hotels, but FNQ (Far North Queensland) was very quiet with little to no tourists. Many people told me to come back in a few weeks and see if there would be more jobs but money was running low and my visa was running out - babes NEEDED a job.


We finally reached Port Douglas with zero callbacks and heard repeatedly to come back in a few months when the tourism season picked up. I did land a trial shift at a coffee shop, but the owner decided to go in a different direction LOL.


Feeling defeated and ready to abandon my 88 days, I received a message from a friend of a friend. She was returning to The Netherlands, leaving a job opening. We immediately went to Mission Beach, met with the General Manager and started working within the week. We got insanely lucky and ended up getting staff accomodation for AUD$150... and it was a house... right on the beach!!


Tips for Securing Regional Work


Here are my top tips for landing your 88 days of regional work:


1. Rock Up

One of the best lessons I learned in Australia is that sometimes you just need to go in person! Grab your resume and hit every café, farm, hotel, and restaurant you can find. Ask to speak with the manager and see if you can set up a trial shift asap.


This method is a great form of rejection therapy but I found it is the most common and has the highest success rate. At one of my jobs, my boss would give people trial shifts on the spot and would immediately call them back if they were good.


2. Stay at Hostels That Connect You with Farms

I recently found out that there are some hostels that will guaruntee you a farm job just by staying at the hostel. After a bit of researching I found this amazing comprehensive list from Gaffl.



Popular Towns for Farm Jobs:

  • Victoria: Shepparton, Goulburn Valley

  • Queensland: Innisfail, Tully, Mackay, Mildura, Bundaberg

  • Southern Australia: Waikerie

  • New South Wales: Riverina, Griffith

  • Tasmania: Tamar Valley*

  • Northern Territory: Alice Springs, Katherine*

  • Western Australia: Margaret River


Popular Towns For Hospitality Jobs

  • Victoria: Mildura

  • Queensland: Carins, Port Douglas, Mission Beach, Mildura, Atherton Tablelands

  • Southern Australia: Coffin Bay, Kangaroo Island

  • New South Wales: Griffith

  • Tasmania: Hobart*

  • Northern Territory: Darwin, Alice Springs*

  • Western Australia: Broome


*can complete work anywhere in the state


3. Use Job Boards and Social Media

Platforms like Seek, Jora, Backpacker Job Board, and various Facebook groups can be hit or miss but I do think that they are worth a shot. In this case, I would look to see what jobs are available and then just go in and hand my resume rather than applying online.



Make sure not to give out any money or personal information on these as scams do run rampet



4. Leverage Word of Mouth

This is how I secured my job! A friend of a friend referred me when she left her position. It doesn’t have to be a close friend—ask locals or fellow travelers if they have any leads.


If you talk and tell people that you are looking for an 88 days job - they will typically be very receptive as well as know exactly what you are talking about. Locals in rural areas are no strangers to backpackers in their towns!



Final Thoughts

The journey to finding your 88 days of work can vary widely. Some people with impressive qualifications face challenges, while others find jobs in just a few days. Feeling discouraged is completely normal, but remember: persistence is key. Keep pushing through, and you'll find your way!

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