Work & rights

Wages and tax

• Casual means: no paid leave, no notice period — but 25% more per hour. Most backpacker jobs are casual.
• Many industries have their own pay rates (Awards) with higher rates plus weekend and night penalty rates. Find yours with the Fair Work Pay Calculator.
• You claim your superannuation back after leaving the country via a DASP application. Working holiday makers have 65% tax taken off.
• Working for food and board instead of wages is only allowed within narrow limits — if in doubt, check with Fair Work.

Sources: Fair Work Ombudsman (Annual Wage Review 2026), Australian Taxation Office (Working Holiday Maker, Super, DASP).

What you’re entitled to

• A payslip within one working day of every pay run — on paper or digital. Your employer is required to do this.
• Minimum wage on piece rates too: If you’re paid per bin or kilo on a farm, since April 2022 you must still get at least the hourly minimum for the hours you work.
• Same rights as Australians: Visa holders have the same rights at work. Fair Work helps you regardless of your visa.
• Deductions only with consent: Accommodation or transport can only be taken out of your pay if you agree in writing and it benefits you.

Source: Fair Work — Pay and piece rates, Fair Work Act s. 536 (Payslips).

Warning signs of exploitation

According to one study, around 42% of working holiday makers have experienced exploitation. These are the typical signs:

• Upfront feeLegit employers don’t charge money for placement or “guaranteed jobs”.
• Cash only, no payslipDoesn’t count towards the 88 days and is usually below minimum wage.
• No ABNEvery legal employer has an Australian Business Number. Check it at abr.business.gov.au.
• Handing over your passportNobody is allowed to keep your passport.
• Expensive mandatory accommodationOverpriced rooms tied to the job, and waiting lists in “working hostels”.
• Promised 88-day sign-offAnyone offering the signature for money or favours is dodgy — and your visa is at risk.

Study: SBS News, Fair Work Ombudsman.

Harvest calendar

Where the most harvest work is in each month. Peak season nationwide is between November and April — but somewhere there’s a harvest all year round.

For the 88 days, location matters: Only work in certain postcodes counts as “specified work”. Check the postcode with Home Affairs before you start. Count your days and share them as a story: 88-day counter further down.

Calendar as a guide based on Farmwork Australia and the National Harvest Guide. Current jobs on the government’s Harvest Trail via Workforce Australia. Weather can shift harvests by weeks.

88-day counter

Log every farm day, track your hours and share your progress as an Instagram story. Your days stay on your device only.

Not official proof — Home Affairs goes by payslips and the Employer Declaration. Open the counter as its own page, handy for saving to your home screen.

Pay, tax and the 88 days

What is the minimum wage in Australia?

26.44 AUD per hour since 1 July 2026. As a casual you get a 25 % loading on top, which makes 33.05 AUD per hour.

How much tax do working holiday makers pay?

15 % on the first 45,000 AUD a year. On top of your pay, your employer contributes 12 % superannuation.

Which work counts towards the 88 days?

“Specified work” in set regional postcodes, usually farm work. Without a payslip and a valid employer ABN, not a single day counts.

Can I get my superannuation back?

Yes, after you leave the country, through a DASP claim. On a working holiday visa, 65 % tax is withheld from it.