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A working holiday in South Australia

Escape the known and reward your pent up wanderlust with a working holiday down under. Imagine yourself working a job on award winning vineyards with views of the ocean, as a tour guide in Australia's outback, bartending in boutique drinking holes nestled amid Adelaide’s laneways, or working at one of South Australia’s largest festivals. Sound enticing?

Upon your arrival into Adelaide, Australia's most liveable city, you'll experience a vibrant blend of lively culture, nature and art – without spending a dime! Got a bucket list you're itching to scribble on? SA is the spot to start if you're looking for that world first, once in a lifetime experience. It’s time to start planning your working holiday.

Get inspired to come down under

With plenty of fun jobs that could take you from the heart of Australia to crystal blue waters, start planning your dream working holiday in South Australia. With the help of these travel blogs discover the best free things to do, jobs you can work, bucket lists and insider guides. Your time off never looked so good.

Working Holidays in South Australia

Working Holiday Visa holders are now eligible to enter South Australia, allowing young adults to have an extended holiday supplemented by short-term employment within our amazing State. The Australian Government’s Working Holiday Maker program allows young adventure seekers the freedom to experience the very best of Aussie culture over 12 months, during which time they can have an extended holiday and earn money by working in a range of jobs, while exploring the country. After two years spent isolating, make 2022 the year you seize adventure and live like a local, right here in South Australia.

To search and apply for jobs in South Australia visit our SA Jobs Board or the Backpacker Job Board. Some job opportunities for your working holiday could include:

  • Hospitality work - bartender, barista, waiter/waitress, hotel staff, chefs and kitchen hands 
  • Child care - au pairs and nannies 
  • Farming  - station/farm hand, tractor driver, fruit picking and harvesting
  • Administrative work - receptionist and sales representatives 
  • Vineyard operators - cellar hand and cellar door staff 

A working holiday visa is a requirement if you want to stay in Australia longer than a tourist visa allows, or if you want the right to work during your holiday. Australia offers two different working holiday visas.

1. A Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417)* and;

2. A Work and Holiday Visa (subclass 462)

*British citizens aged between 18 and 30 years old and Irish citizens between the ages of 18 and 35 years old are eligible for the Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417).

  

Plan your working holiday to South Australia

Ready to make moves? Want to know the ins and outs of how to get here? Check out these links with everything you need to know from deals and offers, to visas and flight information.

Frequently asked questions

Need some guidance as to why or how to apply for your Working Holiday Visa to South Australia? We’ve covered some of the most popular questions to help you start your next big adventure faster and smarter!

The Australian Working Holiday visa programme is not suitable for those who seek full-time study or permanent employment. Volunteer work is allowed on the Working Holiday Visa, as well as up to 4-months study for those looking for additional experiences. The Working Holiday Visa programme allows for up to 12-months of full-time, part-time, casual and shift work within Australia. This allows you to get out and see more of what Australia and South Australia has to offer! You can read about the specific visa requirements by the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs here. 

South Australia’s Adelaide Airport is serviced by a wide range of international carriers. If you are a fully vaccinated traveller over the age of 12 it is a simple process to come to South Australia. You can find out more information at the official SA government website here or check out our COVID-19 travel guide to SA. 

Yes, there are options to extend your visa for two or three years! The whole of South Australia is classed as 'regional' for the purposes of applying for your second year visa, including our capital city Adelaide. This means you can enjoy the lifestyle afforded by our boutique capital - voted Australia's most liveable city -while still satisfying visa requirements. 

It does have some extra requirements and additional fees, but all the information you will need can be found via the links below: 

 

There is a variety of housing options in both inner-city Adelaide, suburban Adelaide and regional South Australia. We recommend starting out in one of South Australia’s hostels so you can get the hang of South Aussie life and figure out your next move. From there you can find private housing options with websites like flatmates.com.au.  

Where can I find more information?

For more information about Working Holiday Visas check out the Australian Department of Home Affairs website.  

South Australia has an array of eligible industries with opportunities for young, skilled workers to gain employment under the Working Holiday Visa programme.  

Some job opportunities could include: 

  • Hospitality work - bartender, barista, waiter/waitress, hotel staff, chefs and kitchen hands 
  • Sanitation - cleaners (general or industry-specific) 
  • Child care - au pairs and nannies 
  • Regional - fruit picking, general farmhands and casual staff during seeding and harvest  

You can find out the specified work available for both Working Holiday Visas below: 

You can also search and apply for jobs in South Australia via these websites: 

To find out more about working in Australia please visit the Fairwork Australia website. 

Study in Adelaide

South Australia welcomes thousands of international students every year to study at our world-renowned universities. Our three well-established universities are Flinders University, University of Adelaide and University of South Australia. They are well-regarded universities that sit high in international rankings, with a broad range of course options and formal exchange programs. For more information, visit the Study Adelaide website.

 

Volunteer in South Australia

Volunteering in South Australia is a great way to give back to the community. There are various ways to secure a volunteer position in South Australia with opportunities in farming, conservation, events and community assistance. Please visit South Australian Government website for more information.

 

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