How to Apply for Farm Jobs in Australia (Step-by-Step)

Applying for a farm job in Australia comes down to four things: the right visa, a short resume, a date you can start, and a direct message to the employer. Most growers don’t want a cover letter. They want to know you’ll turn up, work hard, and stay for the job.

This guide walks through the whole process, from sorting your visa to finding work in Cairns, Perth, and the regions hiring right now.

What You Need Before You Apply

Sort these out before you start sending messages. It saves time later and makes you a faster hire.

• Visa or work rights. Most backpackers apply on a 417 or 462 Working Holiday Visa. Check the 417 vs 462 visa guide if you’re not sure which one you hold or need.
• A one-page resume. Name, visa status, phone number, availability date, and any farm or physical work history.
• Your own transport, if possible. Many farms are in regional towns with little public transport. A car widens your options a lot.
• A bank account and Tax File Number. You can’t get paid legally without them, and most employers will ask before your first shift.
• Realistic expectations. Farm work is outdoor, physical, and seasonal. Early starts, heat, and repetitive tasks come with the job.

Step-by-Step: How to Apply for Farm Jobs

1. Check your visa covers farm work. Confirm your visa conditions allow paid work and, if relevant, check which postcodes count for your 88 days.
2. Work out which regions are hiring. Farm work is seasonal and moves around the country. Check what’s picking now before you travel somewhere on a guess.
3. Build a simple resume. Keep it to one page. List your availability clearly, including the earliest date you can start.
4. Search and apply through a jobs board. Browse all current farm jobs by region and job type, and apply to several at once.
5. Follow up by phone. A short call after you apply often gets a faster response than email alone. Farmers are busy and don’t always check inboxes during harvest.
6. Be ready to move. The farms with openings now often need someone within days, not weeks. Have your gear and transport sorted before you apply.

Where the Work Is Right Now (October 2026)

Farm work follows the harvest, not the calendar year. Here’s what’s picking across the country this month, based on our own harvest tracking.

Mangoes are a good bet across the north this month. QLD, NT, and WA all have mango harvests running from September through December.

Farm Jobs in Cairns and Far North Queensland

Cairns is a city, not a growing region, so you won’t find many farm jobs within the city limits. What you will find is quick access to the Atherton Tablelands, up the range from Cairns, where bananas, avocados, mangoes, and sugarcane are grown all year.

Most people who search “farm jobs Cairns” are really after work in the Tablelands. It’s close enough to base yourself in Cairns and commute, though many workers end up staying closer to the farms once they start. Read the Atherton Tablelands farm work guide for towns, crops, and what to expect.

Farm Jobs in Perth and Western Australia

Perth sits a long way from most of Western Australia’s farm work. There’s some seasonal vegetable and vine work in the areas around the city, but the bigger seasonal demand is further north and east.

Carnarvon, about 900km north of Perth, has year-round work and mangoes picking from October through December right now. Kununurra and the Ord River, further north again, run melons and mangoes from May to November. If you’re searching from Perth, treat it as your starting point for travel, not your final destination. The Carnarvon farm work guide has more on getting there and what’s hiring.

Farm Hand Jobs vs Seasonal Picking Work

These two terms get used loosely, but they’re not the same job.

Farm hand jobs are general duties roles. You might do fencing, irrigation, animal care, machinery work, or whatever the farm needs that day. They tend to run longer than a single harvest and often suit people with some rural or physical work background.

Seasonal picking work is tied to a crop’s harvest window. It can be paid by the hour or by piece rate, where you’re paid per bin or per kilo picked. Picking roles are usually easier to get with no experience, since most farms train you on the job.

Both count as farm work for visa purposes, but check the specific job and location against the current 88 days guide if you’re working towards your second-year visa.

What to Include in Your Application

Keep your resume and message short. Farmers and labour hire contacts are reading a lot of these during busy periods.

• Full name and contact number
• Visa type and expiry date
• Date you can start
• Whether you have your own transport
• Any farm, warehouse, hospitality, or physical work experience
• A short line on why you’re available for the length of the job

Avoid long cover letters. A direct message with your availability and a phone number usually gets a faster reply than a formal application.

Pay Rates You Can Expect

Pay depends on the role and award that applies. The national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour for casual work. Horticulture award casual rates sit at $32.18 per hour for covered picking and packing roles. Piece rates vary by crop and farm, so ask how pay is calculated before you accept a job.

Avoiding Scams When You Apply

Most farm job ads are legitimate, but a few aren’t. Never pay an upfront fee to secure a job, and be careful of anyone asking for money before you’ve arrived or started work. Confirm the farm name and contact details are real, and don’t send copies of your passport or visa grant number until you’ve had a proper conversation with the employer. The guide to avoiding farm work scams covers the common warning signs in more detail.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a visa to apply for farm jobs in Australia?

Most farm jobs need proof of work rights in Australia. Working Holiday Makers on a 417 or 462 visa can do farm work. Australian citizens and permanent residents can apply directly. Always check your visa conditions before you start.

Are there farm jobs in Cairns?

Cairns itself is a city, not a growing region, but it’s the closest base to the Atherton Tablelands, where bananas, avocados, mangoes, and sugarcane are grown year-round. Most people looking for farm jobs near Cairns search in the Tablelands instead.

Are there farm jobs in Perth?

Perth has some seasonal vegetable and viticulture work nearby, but most Western Australian farm work is further out. Carnarvon, about 900km north, has year-round work including mangoes from October to December.

What’s the difference between a farm hand job and seasonal picking work?

Farm hand jobs are general duties roles, often longer-term and paid by the hour. Seasonal picking work is tied to a harvest window and can be paid hourly or by piece rate, depending on the crop and employer.

How much do farm jobs in Australia pay?

The national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour for casual work. Horticulture award casual rates are $32.18 per hour for covered picking and packing roles. Always check the pay rate before you accept a job.

Do farm jobs count towards my 88 days?

Specified farm work in an eligible regional postcode can count towards your 88 days for a second-year visa. Check that both the job and the postcode qualify before you start, since not all farm work or locations are approved.

How do I avoid farm job scams when applying?

Never pay an upfront fee for a farm job, be wary of employers who ask for money for accommodation before you arrive, and confirm the farm and contact details are real before sending personal documents.