Home Hill Backpackerswork available, budget accommodation

At Home Hill Backpackers we organize the labour force for various farmers in the area.  All work can go towards your extended 2nd year working visa if you wish.

Working requirements which are COMPULSARY are as follows:

Clothing for farm work:

• Hat and sunscreen
• Shirts – long or short sleeved – with collar – cotton  (no singlets or strappy tops)
• Pants – long or short – cotton
• Shoes – closed in shoes – trainers acceptable (no flip flops or sandals)
• Water – please have water container holding a minium of 5 litres
• Gloves – available at supermarkets – necessary for certain crops.
• Documents as listed on the left of this page.

Planting, picking and shed work in the horticulture industry is hard physical work.  Working days can range from 6 – 9 hours per day.  A fit and healthy body is highly recommended.  All crops are on the ground except for mangoes and require bending down for long periods of time.  An honest, hardworking attitude is required if you wish to hold your job and avoid being fired by the farmer.

If you can cope with the work you can gainfully be employed for up to 9 months per year in this district.

Listed below are the seasons and crops in this area:

• Planting season – from the 1st of February – September.
• Harvesting season – from May – December.
• Mango season – from October – December.

Crops are as follows:

• Planting – all seedlings for all crops and also cane planting
• Harvesting – Pumpkins, watermelons, rock melons, egg plant, capsicums, chilies, zucchini.

All work is hourly paid except for chilies:

• Casual Rate – $22.00 per hour
• Part Time Casual Rate – $19.00 per hour
• Chilies is paid by how many kilograms you pick – price varies

Average working week can range from 30 – 54 hours per week – 5 – 6 days per week.  Hours will depend on which farm you will be working on and which crop you are picking.

The weather, market prices, crop disease etc can affect job availability.

How it works – Once you check in we will begin to organize work for you.  Every night we organize the work list for the next morning – crews will leave in the morning from 6.00 a.m. – 8.00 a.m.  If you wish to do a certain job, you may have to wait till a vacancy comes up on that particular work.  We will organize your job and transportation to and from your job if you do not have your own transport.

If you have already organized a job yourself you are still quite welcome to come and stay with us.