Fruit Picking Jobs in NSW, Australia

Have you always wanted to try out fruit picking jobs in NSW (New South Wales) Australia? 

The vastness of Australia makes it the perfect place to explore endlessly, and for you to have a way to explore Australia and get paid at the same time?

I’d say heck yes!

According to the Australian Horticulture Statistics Handbook 2019/20, the horticulture sector overall exceeded $15 billion in production value and employed over 60,000 people. Out of that $15 billion, the total fresh fruit exports were valued at $1.4 billion.

New South Wales is one of Australia’s major fruit-growing regions, with several areas in particular which are the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area of New South Wales; Sunraysia district of Victoria/NSW; and the coastal strip of northern NSW.

With that said, NSW has a range of landscapes for you to explore, including the outback, rainforests, beaches, and mountains. 

NSW is a perfect place for you to explore as much as you like and knock off some items on your bucket list while you’re at it!

This article will help you learn about what to do to get fruit picking jobs in New South Wales. Let’s get started!

Here is a summary of what you will learn in this article:

• Best Fruit Picking Jobs In New South Wales
• Where Can You Find Vacancies?
• What Season Can I Work As A Fruit Picker?
• How Much Is A Salary Of A Fruit Picker In Australia?
• What Are The Tasks I Have To Do As A Fruit Picker?
• What Qualifications Do I Need?
• Where Would I Stay During Fruit Picking Season?
• Tips For Success At Fruit Picking Jobs In New South Wales
• Are There Fruit Picking Groups In Australia?
• How To Make Sure The Employer Is Legitimate?
• Do I Need A Working Visa?
• What Are Your Rights As A Seasonal Worker In Australia?
• Is Fruit Picking In Australia Hard?

DISCLOSURE

Some of the links on here are affiliate links and I may earn if you click on them, AT NO EXTRA cost to you. Hope you find the information here useful! Thanks.

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• A Guide to Fruit Picking Jobs In Australia
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• Essential Guide To Fruit Picking Jobs In Perth
• Fruit Picking Jobs In Brisbane [The Ultimate Guide]
• The Ultimate Guide to Fruit Picking Jobs in Queensland
• How to Travel the World and Make Money – Best Travel Jobs
• How To Make Money While Travelling Australia [27 Ways!]

Best Fruit Picking Jobs In NSW (New South Wales) 

New South Wales is filled with exciting destinations and opportunities for you to explore Australia’s wonders while still being able to earn some money while you’re out and about. 

Since fruit picking jobs in NSW are available all year round, it’s best to plan ahead when you start looking for vacancies if you have a particular fruit you would like to try harvesting. 

Where Can You Find Vacancies For Fruit Picking Jobs in NSW ?

Most vacancies in New South Wales are advertised online, here are some websites that you can check to find vacancies for fruit picking jobs NSW:

• Indeed
• Fruitpickingjobs
• Gumtree
• Picking Jobs
• Jobsearch
• Agrilabour

If you are going on a Working Holiday visa, here are some websites you can check out for available vacancies:

• Workaway
• Backpackers Job Boards
• WWOOF Australia
• HelpX

There are also Facebook groups that advertise vacancies on fruit picking jobs in NSW:

• Farm Workers, Jobs, Fruit Pickers, Labour Hire, Australia 
• Australia Fruit picking/Packing/Farms Jobs Backpackers

What Season Can I Work As A Fruit Picker?

Fruit picking in New South Wales happens all year round, from spring in December until winter in June. However, peak picking season in NSW is between November to April.

Since NSW is a huge state with different conditions ranging from the outback, rainforests, beaches, and mountains; a variety of fruits are grown there.

Fruits that are grown in NSW are stone fruits, grapes, pears, prunes, apples, oranges, cherries, and blueberries. 

Depending on when you decide to come to NSW, fruit picking jobs will be available all year round. 

How Much Is The Salary Of A Fruit Picker In Australia?

The minimum hourly wage for full-time fruit pickers in Australia is 20.33 AUD (14.83 USD) and casual fruit pickers have an hourly wage of 25.41 AUD (18.53 USD). 

This is under the Horticulture Award, an Australian-wide collective agreement for the horticulture sector.

However, your employer could decide to pay you according to a piecework rate.

What is piecework rate? It means that your salary depends on your output, such as the number of kilograms or bins of produce picked, rather than paying you hourly rates for the time you worked.

That means the more you work, the more you earn.

However, under Australian law, an agreed piecework rate must allow the ‘average competent employee’ to earn at least 15% more per hour than the relevant minimum hourly rate in the Horticulture Award for the employee’s employment type and classification.

Usually people will opt for getting paid a piecework rate if they want an opportunity to make more money. Remember to ask your perspective employer about the type of rate you’ll be getting paid!

What Are The Tasks I Have To Do As A Fruit Picker?

As a fruit picker, you are considered a farmhand. 

Some of the duties required would be general farm hand labouring such as netting, replacing materials and general farm maintenance. 

When in doubt, it is best to clarify with the prospective employee first before signing on the job.

What Qualifications Do I Need For Fruit Picking Jobs In NWS ?

There are no specific qualifications that are needed, you just have to be free from skin conditions and allergies to agricultural chemicals, able to cope with the physical demands of the job and willing to work outdoors in all weather conditions.

Since most farms will be located in rural and remote areas, a love for the outdoors and the countryside will most definitely help as well.

All you need is dedication, reliability and some elbow grease to get fruit picking jobs in NSW! 

Where Would I Stay During Fruit Picking Season?

Some farms provide accommodation as a package with the job. The accommodation will normally be located in the farm itself. 

However, it depends on the employer to offer that.

Do remember to specify that you are looking for work with accommodation provided when you are searching for vacancies. 

If you have to arrange your own accommodation, you could stay in backpackers hostels near your workplace. 

Some farms are located in rural and remote areas, which means that if you are feeling adventurous, you can even pitch up a tent nearby your workplace as some farms do provide camping areas for their employees.

You would definitely be on the go almost all the time, so here are some recommendations for eco-friendly travel bags that would be a great companion!

Tips For Success At Fruit Picking Jobs in New South Wales

Are There Fruit Pickers Groups in Australia?

There are Facebook groups that advertise vacancies on fruit picking jobs in NSW:

• Farm Workers, Jobs, Fruit Pickers, Labour Hire, Australia 
• Australia Fruit picking/Packing/Farms Jobs Backpackers

During your stint there, you will definitely have fellow workers to keep you company as it will be very rare that you are employed by yourself.

How To Make Sure The Employer Is Legitimate?

As much as you are able to do so, please look for employers on legitimate government-linked websites and use recruitment agencies approved by the Australian government when you are looking for fruit picking jobs NSW.

Just be sure to check details regarding the job such as:

• Contract period
• Job location and responsibilities
• What are the working hours? Will there be any overtime work? 
• Break, holidays
• Wages, social insurance, other expenditures

Do I Need A Working Visa?

Yes!

 Unless you are an Australian or a New Zealander, everyone needs to have a visa before they can enter Australia. 

An Australian visitor visa does not allow you to work while you are in Australia.

If you are coming with the intention to work while being on a holiday, Australia has several visa types that are suitable depending on your circumstances.

If you are between 18 to 30 years old, you can opt for a Work and Holiday Visa to be eligible to work during your holiday. This is the visa that a lot of workers taking up fruit picking jobs in NSW opt for.

However, this visa category is only open to citizens or valid passport holders of the following countries/jurisdictions:

• Belgium
• Canada
• Republic of Cyprus
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China (including British National Overseas passport holders)
• Republic of Ireland
• Italy
• Japan
• Republic of Korea
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Sweden
• Taiwan (other than an official or diplomatic passport)
• The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

If you are not eligible for the Work and Holiday visa, you can apply for a temporary work visa. 

There are several types of temporary work visa available in Australia, which are:

• Temporary Skill Shortage visa – This visa is for employers to bring in skilled workers into Australia for fields listed under the Skilled Occupation List. This visa requires you to have an employer act as a sponsor and you are bound to only work with your sponsor. This visa enables you to work and live in Australia.

• Temporary Graduate visa – This visa is for international students who are under 50 years old and already have an Australian student visa. This visa enables them to work, study, and live in Australia.

• Skilled – Recognised Graduate visa – This visa is for international students under 31 years old who recently graduated with a degree in the engineering stream from university or a higher education institution. This visa permits them to live, work and study in Australia.

Please take note that for the Temporary Skill Shortage visa application, it requires the applicants to prove that they have a minimum standard of English language proficiency by taking one of the following tests and achieving the score stated:

• International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Getting an overall band score of at least 5.0 with a score of at least 4.5 in each of the test components.
• Occupational English Test (OET). Score of at least ‘B’ in each of the four components.
• Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-based Test (TOEFL iBT). Getting an iBT total score of at least 35 with a score of at least 3 for each of the test components of listening and reading, and a score of at least 12 for each of the test components of speaking and writing.
• Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic). Academic overall test score of at least 36 with a score of at least 30 in each of the test components
• Cambridge C1 Advanced test. Overall test score of at least 154 with a score of at least 147 in each of the test components.

You are exempted from having to prove English language proficiency if:

• You are a passport holder from the following countries:
  • Canada
  • New Zealand
  • the Republic of Ireland
  • the United Kingdom
  • the United States of America; or
• You have completed at least 5 years of full-time study in at least a secondary level institution and where most classes were in English.

What Are Your Rights As A Seasonal Worker In Australia?

All workers in Australia have workplace rights, including visa holders under the National Employment Standards.

An employer can’t cancel an employee’s visa, even if the employee has breached their visa conditions. Only the Department of Home Affairs (Home Affairs) can grant, refuse or cancel visas.

An employer can’t fire an employee or cut their shifts – or punish them in other ways – because they made a complaint or asked questions about their work.

As a seasonal worker, you are entitled to your wages and your wages must be paid in money. 

That means cash, cheque or bank transfer.

Employees can’t be paid in things like food or board. Your employer also must always issue you a payslip.

If there are any issues, you can always contact the Fair Work Ombudsman.

Is Fruit Picking in Australia Hard?

Fruit picking is after all a physical task, so it is vastly different from an office job.

 Your days will be spent using your strength to pick fruits, baskets and all sorts of things during working hours. 

You would also be required to start your day early as farm work begins before the sun rises. There will also be a lot of repetitive movements in doing the work. 

Also, the work will be done outdoors which can be very cold and wet OR very hot and dry. Work will still be done in all weather conditions, rain and shine.

You will definitely need comfortable and sturdy clothes to work in, so here are some recommendations on the best budget hiking pants for you to check out.

However, if you are an active and fit person, fruit picking is not such a hard task! it’s a bonus, full-body workout in a new country to explore while getting paid for it.

I hope that this article has helped you understand more about fruit picking jobs in NSW. 

To recap, it is important for you to make sure that you follow the immigration requirements and be sure that you know your rights as an employee! Also, don’t forget to pack your sturdy walking shoes!

If you have any information regarding fruit picking jobs in NSW, feel free to comment below! Please share this article if you found it helpful.