Working holiday makers are the backbone of Australian hospitality. Thousands arrive every month with bar, barista, waiting and kitchen experience and want to start straight away. Hospitality is exempt from the 6 month work limit, so you can keep good staff for their whole visa. Post a free job on TAW and applications come straight to your email.
Last checked: 13 November 2026
Why hospitality businesses hire working holiday makers
- Ready this week. Most are already in Australia with a TFN, bank account and phone number sorted.
- Experienced. Many have worked in bars, cafes and restaurants at home. Plenty are trained baristas and chefs.
- Flexible hours. Weekends, nights, split shifts and public holidays are not a problem.
- No 6 month limit. Tourism and hospitality is a critical sector, so working holiday makers can stay with you longer than 6 months anywhere in Australia.
- They go where you are. Island resorts, outback roadhouses, ski fields and country pubs all hire travellers.
Roles you can fill
BaristasCafes and coffee carts, especially in Sydney and Melbourne.
Waiters and floor staffRestaurants, cafes, function venues.
Kitchen hands and chefsFrom dishwashing to qualified chefs.
HousekeepingHotels, resorts and hostels.
Front deskHotel and hostel reception, often with accommodation.
What you need to know before you hire
RSA certificates
Anyone serving alcohol needs a Responsible Service of Alcohol certificate for your state. Many travellers already have one, and others can get it online in a day. Our RSA guide shows them how. Mention in your ad if you need it.
Pay
Most hospitality roles fall under the Hospitality Industry (General) Award or the Restaurant Industry Award. Pay at least the award rate for the level, with casual loading, penalty rates for weekends, public holidays and late nights, and 12% super paid within 7 business days of payday. Check rates with the Fair Work Pay Calculator.
Tax
Register with the ATO as an employer of working holiday makers so you withhold 15% instead of 30%. Read our working holiday maker tax guide.
Visa days
Tourism and hospitality work in northern and remote Australia can count as specified work for second and third year visas. If you are in an eligible postcode, say so in your ad.
Hospitality jobs live on TAW now
- Administrative AssistantMJD Recruitment · Level 12/68 Pitt St NSW 2000 · $280
- Bar AttendantCairns Coastal Bar · Cairns, QLD
- Administrative AssistantAdams Recruitment Agency · Melbourne ACT 5432 · $300
- Administrative AssistantAdams Recruitment Agency · Melbourne NT 5432 · $300
- Administrative AssistantAdams Recruitment Agency · Melbourne SA 5432 · $300
- Administrative AssistantAdams Recruitment Agency · Melbourne TAS 5432 · $300
How to get more applicants
- Put the pay rate in the ad.
- Say what shifts and how many hours a week.
- Offer a trial shift, paid, and say so.
- Mention staff meals, accommodation or discounts.
- Add a photo of your venue.
Where hospitality staff are in demand
Every town on the backpacker trail hires hospitality staff, but demand peaks in different places at different times. Sydney and Melbourne hire all year, with a summer rush from October to March. The Gold Coast and Byron Bay peak over summer and the school holidays. Cairns, the Whitsundays and Darwin are busiest in the dry season from May to October, which is when travellers head north. Ski resorts in New South Wales and Victoria hire from March for the June to October season.
If you are in a regional or remote town, travellers will come to you if you make it easy: say how to get there, whether there is staff accommodation, and whether the job counts for visa days.
How to hire on TAW
- Post your job for free. Paste your ad or answer a few questions and our AI writes it. Add the pay, hours, start date and a photo.
- We check it. Our team reviews every job, usually within one business day, so travellers trust the board.
- Get applications by email. Every application comes to your inbox with the CV attached. You can also search candidate CVs for free.
- Check and hire. Check work rights on VEVO, get a TFN declaration and super details, and pay the award rate.
New to hiring travellers? Read our employer guide to working holiday visas, the 6 month rule and working holiday maker tax.
Hire working holiday makers for free
Post a job in 2 minutes. Our team checks it, usually within one business day, and every application comes to your email with the CV attached.
Frequently asked questions
Can working holiday makers work in hospitality for more than 6 months?
Yes. Tourism and hospitality is exempt from the 6 month limit anywhere in Australia, as long as the exemption stays in place.
Do I have to pay for a trial shift?
Unpaid trials are only allowed if they are short and just to show skills you need for the job. Most hospitality trials should be paid. Check the Fair Work guidance on unpaid trials.
Do working holiday makers need an RSA to work in a bar?
Yes. Anyone serving or selling alcohol needs an RSA for the state they work in.
How much does it cost to post a hospitality job?
Nothing. Posting on TAW is free.
How fast will I get applications?
Most hospitality jobs get applications within a day or two of going live.
Sources: Home Affairs: 6 month work limitation, Fair Work Ombudsman.
