Industry: Agriculture / Horticulture Role: Farm Hand, Fruit Picker, Packing Shed Worker Experience Level: Entry Level (No Experience Required) Pay Rate: $29.33 – $35.00+ AUD per hour (Casual Loading included) Location: Regional Australia (QLD, NSW, VIC, WA, SA) Visa Sponsorship: Available (via PALM Scheme or Horticulture Labour Agreement)

The 2026 harvest season in Australia has begun, and the demand for agricultural workers is at an all-time high. With labor shortages continuing across regional Australia, major agribusinesses are offering record-high wages and visa sponsorship pathways to secure reliable staff.

Whether you are looking to extend your Working Holiday Visa or seeking a dedicated sponsorship opportunity through the Horticulture Industry Labour Agreement (HILA), there are thousands of openings available right now.

This is a physical, hands-on role where you can earn up to $35 AUD per hour, often with accommodation and transport provided. No degree is required—just a strong work ethic and the ability to work outdoors.

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Job Description & Roles

“Farm Work” covers a wide range of unskilled tasks. Depending on the season and location, you could be assigned to one of the following roles:

1. Fruit Picking (Harvesting)

The Task: Hand-picking citrus, berries, apples, or stone fruit. This can be paid by the hour or by “piece rate” (where fast workers earn $40+/hr).
Physicality: High. Requires climbing ladders and carrying picking bags (up to 15-20kg).

2. Packing Shed Operations

The Task: Sorting, grading, and packing produce into boxes for supermarkets.
Environment: Indoor, often air-conditioned or climate-controlled.
Physicality: Moderate. Requires standing for long periods and repetitive hand movements.

3. General Farm Hand

The Task: Planting crops, weeding, installing irrigation pipes, and maintaining fences.
Variety: You will likely do different tasks every day depending on the farm’s needs.

Unskilled Farm Job Australia: Earn up to $35/hr (Visa Sponsored)

Pay Rates & Benefits (2026 Standards)

Australia has the highest minimum wage in the world for farm workers.

Casual Hourly Rate: $29.33 AUD (Minimum Award Rate as of Jan 2026).
Experienced/Overtime Rate: $35.00 – $45.00 AUD per hour.
Weekly Earnings: dedicated workers often earn $1,200 – $1,800 AUD per week during peak harvest (60+ hours/week).
Accommodation: Many farms provide on-site “donga” housing or hostels for a subsidized rate ($150-$200/week).
Visa Days: Eligible work counts toward the “88 Days” requirement for 2nd and 3rd year Working Holiday Visas (Subclass 417/462).

Visa Sponsorship Pathways

Important: “Visa Sponsorship” in Australia works differently depending on your nationality and the specific employer.

1. Horticulture Industry Labour Agreement (HILA)

What it is: A special agreement that allows Australian farms to sponsor overseas workers for the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) Visa (Subclass 482).
Eligibility: You typically need a job offer from an approved sponsor and some relevant experience (or a willingness to commit to a long-term contract).
Outcome: Allows you to work for 1-4 years in Australia.

2. PALM Scheme (Pacific Australia Labour Mobility)

Target: Citizens of Pacific Island nations and Timor-Leste.
Benefit: Fully sponsored, long-term contracts (up to 4 years) with flights and accommodation arranged by the employer.
Action: If you are from Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu, etc., apply via your local labour sending unit.

3. Working Holiday Maker (Subclass 417 & 462)

Most Common Route: Most farms do not pay for your initial visa but will “sponsor” your stay by signing off on your paperwork to extend your visa for a 2nd or 3rd year.

Top Hiring Companies 2026

These large-scale recruiters and agribusinesses are currently hiring for the 2026 season:

1. Agri Labour Australia

Role: Various (Harvest, Cotton Ginning, Poultry).
Why Apply: The largest agriculture recruiter in the country. They manage the visa paperwork and match you with verified, safe employers.
Apply: www.agrilabour.com.au

2. Costa Group

Role: Berry and Citrus Pickers (Tasmania, NSW, QLD).
Why Apply: Australia’s largest horticultural company. Very structured, safety-focused, and pays strictly by the award (no cash-in-hand scams).
Apply: costagroup.com.au/careers

3. Seeka Australia

Role: Kiwi Fruit and Pear specialists (Victoria).
Why Apply: Excellent for packing shed roles if you prefer indoor work.

4. Harvest Trail (Government Service)

Role: National Harvest Guide.
Why Apply: The official Australian Government job board for farm work.
Search: harvesttrail.gov.au

Requirements

Physical Fitness: You must be fit, healthy, and free of back/knee injuries.
Reliability: Farmers need you to show up every day. “Reliability” is the #1 skill they hire for.
English: Basic functional English is required for safety instructions.
Transport: Having your own car is a huge advantage for getting to remote farms, but not mandatory for all jobs.

How to Apply

Update Your CV: Focus on physical stamina. List any manual labor experience (construction, warehouse, landscaping).
Visit the Portals: Use Agri Labour or Seek.com.au.
Search Keywords: “Farm Hand,” “Fruit Picker,” “Harvest 2026,” “Visa Sponsorship.”
Be Ready to Move: The best jobs are “immediate start.” If you can arrive within 48 hours, you are 10x more likely to get hired.

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Suggested Focus Keywords

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