How to find farm work (and not get ripped off)
Where the jobs are, what pay to expect, and the red flags to watch for.
Updated 1 October 2026
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Where to look
- The Backpack Aus jobs board — filter by “counts toward 88 days”.
- Harvest Trail Services (the government’s free harvest job service).
- Working hostels in farm towns — they place guests with local growers.
- Walk-ins and phone calls: a lot of farms still hire whoever turns up keen.
Pay
Horticulture workers are covered by the Horticulture Award. Piece-rate workers (paid per bin or bucket) are still guaranteed at least the minimum hourly rate for the hours they work.
Check the current rates on the Fair Work pay calculator before you start, and keep a record of your own hours.
Fair Work OmbudsmanWorking hostels: the good and the bad
A good working hostel gets you work fast and drives you to the farm. A bad one keeps you waiting for weeks while you pay rent. Read recent reviews, ask how long guests wait for work, and never pay weeks upfront.
What to pack for farm work
Keep reading
88 days explained: how to get your second-year visa
What counts as specified work, how days are counted, and how not to get caught out.
Harvest calendar: where the work is, month by month
A rough guide to which towns are picking what and when, so you can follow the work.
RSA, White Card and other tickets worth getting
Short courses that get you hired faster — what they’re for and what they cost.