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How can working holidaymakers get construction jobs in Australia?
September 15, 2026
How can working holidaymakers get construction jobs in Australia?
Australia is a popular destination for working holidaymakers who want to travel while earning money along the way. Construction can be a good option, with opportunities ranging from general labouring and trade assisting to more specialised roles such as racking installation.
If you are looking for construction work in Australia, here are some practical ways to improve your chances of getting hired.
What should you know about your Working Holiday visa?
Australia’s official Working Holiday Maker program includes the Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) and the Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462). Both allow visa holders to work in Australia, including in construction.
These visas generally limit you to six months with the same employer under visa condition 8547, unless an exemption applies or Home Affairs gives you permission.
Home Affairs currently lists an exemption for people who work for the same employer at different locations, as long as they do not work at any one location for more than six months. A separate exemption applies to construction work in eligible parts of Northern Australia, as defined by Home Affairs.
These exemptions relate to how long you can work for the same employer. They do not automatically mean the work counts as specified work towards a second or third Working Holiday visa.
Construction work may count as specified work towards a second or third Working Holiday visa in some circumstances. Eligibility depends on your visa subclass, the work you perform and where the work takes place.
Visa conditions and exemptions can change, so check the conditions attached to your own visa through VEVO and read the current Department of Home Affairs Working Holiday Maker guidance before relying on an exemption.
Tips for getting a construction job in Australia
Prepare a clear CV
Construction employers often receive a large number of applications, so make your CV easy to understand and quick to scan.
For an entry-level position, one page is usually enough. Include:
- Your current city or suburb
- Your Australian phone number and email address
- Your visa type, work rights and visa expiry date
- Your availability and preferred start date
- Your White Card and any relevant licences or tickets
- Whether you have reliable transport
- Relevant experience from Australia or overseas
Focus on experience that shows you can work safely, follow instructions, work as part of a team and handle physical work.
Do not include sensitive information such as your tax file number, passport number or bank details. Employers can collect this information securely if you are offered a position.
Write a tailored cover letter
Your cover letter should be written specifically for the employer and the position you are applying for.
Before applying, spend a few minutes looking through the company’s website and social media. Understand what the business does, the type of projects it works on and what it looks for in employees.
Use your cover letter to explain why you are interested in that particular role and why you think you would be a good fit. Mention relevant experience, skills or qualifications and, where appropriate, something specific you have learned about the company.
Keep it concise. One page is more than enough.
Avoid sending exactly the same cover letter to every employer. A personalised application shows that you are genuinely interested in the position rather than simply applying for every construction job you find.
Get the right licences and tickets
If you want to work in construction, your first priority should be getting a White Card. It shows that you have completed the general construction induction training required to carry out construction work in Australia.
A White Card does not replace workplace-specific training. When you start a job, you will still need to complete the relevant site induction and learn the safety procedures for your tasks.
Some roles also require additional licences, tickets or evidence of competency. For example, you need the appropriate high-risk work licence to operate a forklift, while employers may require specific training or competency before allowing you to operate equipment such as a scissor lift.
Do not collect tickets simply because they might look good on your CV. Check job advertisements first and prioritise the qualifications employers are actually asking for.
Start with our guide: How do I get a White Card in Australia?
You can also read:
Make sure you can communicate safely
You do not need perfect English to work in construction, but you do need to communicate clearly enough to work safely.
You should be able to understand site inductions and safety instructions, follow directions, ask questions and communicate with your crew.
If you do not understand an instruction, ask someone to repeat or demonstrate it. On a construction site, pretending to understand something can create a safety risk for you and the people around you.
Make reliability one of your strengths
Construction teams depend on people turning up when and where they are expected.
Sites can start early and may be located in industrial areas with limited public transport. Before accepting a job, make sure you understand where you need to be, what time you need to arrive and how you are going to get there.
Being punctual, prepared and reliable can make just as much of an impression as previous construction experience.
Be prepared for a practical trial
Some employers may ask you to complete a practical trial before offering you ongoing work.
Before starting, make sure you understand what the trial involves, how long it will last and whether it is paid.
Under Fair Work rules, an unpaid trial should only be used to demonstrate skills relevant to the job, should be directly supervised and should last only as long as reasonably necessary to assess those skills. Work beyond that point should be paid.
A construction role you may not have considered: racking installation
If you are looking for practical construction work, racking installation is one option you may not have considered.
Racking Installers work in warehouses and industrial facilities, building and installing the storage systems used to hold pallets and products.
Depending on your experience and position within the crew, the work can include preparing materials, building frames, installing beams, anchoring racking, reading technical drawings, using tools and operating access equipment.
It is physical, hands-on work, but it also requires accuracy, communication and attention to safety.
Read more: What does a Racking Installer actually do?
What is it like working as a Racking Installer at BORACK?
BORACK operates installation teams across Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
Racking Installers work across different warehouse and industrial projects, so your work location can change from project to project. Start times can be early, and weekly hours vary depending on current projects.
BORACK employs Racking Installers on a casual basis at the entry levels, with a structured pathway from Installer Level 1 through Level 2, Level 3 and Level 4 to Leading Hand, Site Supervisor and Site Manager.
Will working at BORACK count towards another Working Holiday visa?
Generally no.
Many BORACK projects are located in metropolitan Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, so most do not count as specified work towards a second or third Working Holiday visa.
If specified work is important to your plans, check the project location and current Department of Home Affairs Working Holiday Maker requirements before accepting a job on that basis.
BORACK cannot guarantee that a particular role or project will qualify as specified work.
What do you need to apply with BORACK?
Before applying for a Racking Installer position with BORACK, you should have:
- Current work rights in Australia
- A valid White Card
- Suitable work clothing and safety footwear, or be prepared to meet the project’s PPE requirements
- Sufficient English communication skills to understand safety instructions, site inductions and work directions
- A reliable way to travel to different project sites
BORACK provides or reimburses required protective equipment in accordance with applicable workplace health and safety requirements and employment conditions.
Previous construction experience is desirable, but BORACK also considers motivated applicants who are willing to learn.
If your application is suitable, you will be invited to a short working interview. Successful applicants then complete a three-day paid trial, working alongside the Field Crew on a real project.
The trial gives both you and BORACK an opportunity to see whether the role is a good fit before you continue into the Level 1 training pathway.
Ready to try racking installation?
If you want practical work, a crew that will teach you properly and a role you can build a career out of, apply for a Racking Installer role with BORACK.
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