SEASONAL & HARVEST WORK VICTORIA
There’s no shortage of seasonal and harvest work in regional Victoria, especially between November and April. Famous grape growing areas in the Yarra Valley, Rutherglen and Victoria's Murray region become hubs for seasonal work and are great places to base yourself to experience the 'real Australia'.
You will need your passport, with a valid working holiday visa, bank account and tax file number to work.
Seasonal work and visa extensions
If you hold a Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417) and undertake "specified" seasonal or harvest work in regional Victoria, for at least three months, you may be eligible for an additional 12-month visa. Check the Department of Immigration and Citizenship website for details.
Finding harvest work
You can apply for work directly through the farm or vineyard (many vineyards advertise in backpacker magazines and on employment websites), through hostels or through the National Harvest Labour Information Service (harvesttrail.gov.au or 1800 062 332). Also try the Labour Service Provider in key regional locations: Shepparton, Cobram and Mildura.
Seasons and regions
The Victorian regions offering the most harvest work opportunities are the Murray, the Yarra Valley, the High Country, the Mornington Peninsula and Gippsland. The summer months (January–March) tend to be the busiest months for harvest work, but you should be able to find work year-round. For a comprehensive details of where and when to find work, see the annual Harvest Guide (below).
Further information
The National Harvest Labour Information Service publishes an annual Harvest Guide with detailed information about harvest work opportunities, working conditions, transport and accommodation.
Download the Harvest Guide PDF (3 Mb)
For work guidelines and helpful tips specifically for backpackers, read 10 Harvest Work Tips or download the Harvest Work Guidelines for Backpackers Fact Sheet, provided by the Backpacker Operators Alliance of Victoria.
