Every Australian summer — December to February — thousands of short-term and casual jobs open up across hospitality, tourism, construction, and events.
Bars and clubs need extra staff for the holiday rush. Festivals and markets pop up everywhere.
Construction sites kick into high gear.
Resorts, surf schools and tour operators scramble for seasonal workers.
It’s the single biggest hiring window of the year for students, backpackers and locals chasing extra cash.
This guide is your shortcut to landing a job fast.
We’ve broken down the industries hiring right now, the exact jobs available, how much they pay, and which online certificates unlock them — RSA, RSG, White Card, and Food Handling — all available through our nationally recognised online courses.
Below you’ll find detailed tables for each sector so you can quickly see which jobs fit your skills, schedule, and goals.
We’ve included pay ranges, typical hours, perks, and the certs you’ll need so you don’t waste time applying for jobs you’re not qualified for.
Who This Guide Is For
Summer hiring in Australia isn’t just for one type of worker — it’s for everyone looking to earn more and get experience fast.
We’ve mapped out the main groups using NOC’s online courses so you can see exactly where you fit and which jobs will hire you.
| Audience Group |
What They’re Looking For |
Best-Suited Industries |
Key NOC Courses |
| Students |
Part-time or casual shifts over uni break to earn money and build experience. |
Hospitality (bars, cafés), Events & Festivals, Tourism Support Roles. |
RSA, Food Handling |
| Backpackers & Working Holiday Makers |
Seasonal work with flexible hours and high demand, often with travel perks. |
Hospitality, Resorts & Adventure Tourism, Construction Labouring. |
RSA, RSG, White Card |
| Career-Changers / Side Hustlers |
Short-term gigs to explore new industries or earn extra on top of regular income. |
Food Trucks & Pop-Up Events, Construction Projects, Tour Operations. |
White Card, Food Handling |
| Locals Chasing Extra Cash |
Extra shifts during peak season without long-term commitment. |
Retail, Food Service, Event Crew. |
RSA, Food Handling |
| International Students |
Casual jobs that fit visa work limits and improve English skills. |
Cafés, Quick Service Restaurants, Cleaning & Support Roles. |
Food Handling, RSA |
Find your group above, then scroll down to the next sections to see which jobs match your profile — with pay rates, perks, and required certificates all lined up.
Hospitality & Events Jobs
Hospitality and events explode over summer.
From beach bars and rooftop restaurants to music festivals and pop-up markets, employers need extra staff fast.
This is where the right certificate — RSA, RSG, or Food Handling — can put you at the front of the queue.
| Job Title |
Typical Pay (per hour) |
Where You’ll Work |
Peak Summer Demand |
Key NOC Courses |
| Bar Staff / Bartender |
$28–$40 |
Pubs, Clubs, Resorts, Festivals |
High — especially December/January |
RSA |
| Gaming Attendant |
$27–$38 |
Pubs with gaming rooms, Hotels |
Medium — steady demand year-round |
RSG + RSA |
| Waiter / Café Server |
$25–$35 |
Cafés, Restaurants, Event Catering |
High — brunch spots & Christmas parties |
Food Handling |
| Food Truck Crew |
$24–$32 |
Markets, Pop-Ups, Outdoor Festivals |
High — weekend & evening shifts |
Food Handling |
| Festival Crew / Event Staff |
$26–$34 |
Concerts, Sports Events, Stadiums |
Very High — summer events calendar |
RSA + Food Handling (role dependent) |
| Catering Assistant / Kitchen Hand |
$24–$33 |
Catering Companies, Wedding Venues |
High — peak wedding & party season |
Food Handling |
| Barista |
$26–$36 |
Cafés, Beach Kiosks, Pop-Ups |
High — morning rush & tourist spots |
Food Handling |
| Hotel Concierge / Guest Services |
$28–$38 |
Hotels, Resorts, Cruise Terminals |
Medium — high tourism areas |
RSA (if bar service) + Food Handling |
These roles fill up quickly — make sure your RSA, RSG, or Food Handling certificate is completed online with National Online Courses before applying.
Construction & Outdoor Work Jobs
Construction and outdoor work cranks up over summer.
Longer daylight hours and dry weather mean more projects start and existing ones ramp up.
From labouring on building sites to working at adventure parks, this is where a White Card and the right safety mindset can land you solid pay.
| Job Title |
Typical Pay (per hour) |
Where You’ll Work |
Peak Summer Demand |
Key NOC Courses |
| Construction Labourer |
$30–$42 |
Residential & Commercial Building Sites |
Very High — ongoing projects + new builds |
White Card |
| Traffic Controller |
$32–$45 |
Roadworks, Events, Festivals |
High — especially road upgrades in summer |
White Card |
| Landscaping Assistant |
$28–$38 |
Parks, Golf Courses, New Developments |
Medium — steady demand |
White Card |
| Event Setup Crew |
$26–$36 |
Concerts, Sporting Events, Outdoor Festivals |
High — major summer events |
White Card |
| Maintenance / Grounds Crew |
$25–$34 |
Theme Parks, Caravan Parks, Resorts |
Medium — tourist season |
White Card |
| Pool Lifeguard / Beach Safety Assistant |
$28–$36 |
Council Pools, Surf Clubs, Resorts |
High — peak swimming season |
First Aid (recommended) |
| Adventure Park / Outdoor Activity Guide |
$26–$35 |
Zipline Parks, Surf Schools, Kayak Tours |
High — tourism surge in summer |
First Aid + White Card (for some roles) |
| Warehouse / Delivery Crew |
$26–$34 |
Logistics Hubs, Event Equipment Suppliers |
Medium — Christmas rush & stock moves |
White Card (if entering construction zones) |
White Card certification is mandatory for almost all construction and site-related jobs in Australia — get yours online or enrol in a face-to-face White Card course and be ready to work as soon as summer hiring peaks.
Food Service & Retail Jobs
Summer in Australia is peak season for cafés, food trucks, and retail stores.
Holiday crowds mean bigger shifts, more hours, and higher pay potential — especially for people with Food Handling certification and customer service skills.
| Job Title |
Typical Pay (per hour) |
Where You’ll Work |
Peak Summer Demand |
Key NOC Courses |
| Café All-Rounder |
$25–$33 |
Cafés, Beachside Kiosks, Holiday Parks |
Very High — school holidays & weekends |
Food Handling |
| Quick Service Crew |
$24–$31 |
Fast Food Chains, Takeaway Outlets |
High — tourist influx |
Food Handling |
| Supermarket Casual |
$25–$32 |
Major Chains & Independent Grocers |
Medium — extra staff for Christmas rush |
Food Handling (if working in deli/fresh food) |
| Food Truck Assistant |
$24–$32 |
Festivals, Markets, Outdoor Events |
High — Friday nights & weekends |
Food Handling |
| Retail Sales Assistant |
$25–$33 |
Shopping Centres, Pop-Up Stores, Surf Shops |
High — holiday shopping season |
N/A (customer service focus) |
| Deli or Bakery Assistant |
$24–$31 |
Supermarkets, Specialty Stores |
Medium — steady year-round |
Food Handling |
| Catering Assistant |
$24–$33 |
Wedding Venues, Private Events |
High — summer wedding season |
Food Handling |
| Market Stall Crew |
$24–$30 |
Farmers’ Markets, Artisan Fairs |
High — especially coastal/tourist regions |
Food Handling |
Summer retail and food-service jobs are perfect for quick income and flexible shifts. Having your Food Handling certificate makes you more employable from day one.
Tourism & Outdoor Adventure Jobs
Australia’s summer brings millions of domestic and international travellers.
Resorts, adventure parks, campsites, and travel companies all scale up their staff between December and February.
If you’ve got a love for the outdoors, customer service, or guiding people, this is where the action is.
| Job Title |
Typical Pay (AUD/hr) |
Peak Summer Demand |
Recommended Certificate |
Why It’s a Summer Hit |
| Tour Guide (city or nature) |
$28–$40 |
High |
First Aid + Food Handling |
Tourists flood cities and national parks in summer. |
| Adventure Park Attendant |
$25–$32 |
Very High |
First Aid |
Theme and water parks hire big teams for peak season. |
| Surf Instructor / Lifeguard Assistant |
$30–$45 |
High |
First Aid + Water Safety |
Surf schools and beaches need extra staff in warm weather. |
| Campsite Host / Park Ranger Support |
$27–$36 |
Medium |
First Aid |
National parks and private campsites see massive holiday crowds. |
| Tour Bus / Cruise Ship Staff |
$28–$38 |
Very High |
RSA + Food Handling |
Travel companies expand their fleets during peak tourist months. |
Tip: Combining First Aid with Food Handling can open up more summer roles in tourism, especially if you’re working on tours that serve food or involve outdoor activities.
Retail & Shopping Centre Jobs
Summer in Australia isn’t just beaches — it’s also shopping season.
With Christmas, Boxing Day, and post-holiday sales, retailers go into overdrive. From gift-wrapping to stock replenishment, casual retail jobs explode over December–February.
If you’re quick on your feet and good with people, retail’s your summer playground.
| Job Title |
Typical Pay (AUD/hr) |
Peak Summer Demand |
Recommended Certificate |
Why It’s a Summer Hit |
| Retail Sales Assistant |
$25–$33 |
Very High |
Food Handling (for cafés inside stores) |
Stores hire extra staff for Christmas shopping and Boxing Day sales. |
| Cashier / POS Operator |
$24–$30 |
High |
None (Food Handling for food kiosks) |
Checkout lines swell during holiday shopping surges. |
| Stock Replenisher / Night Filler |
$26–$34 |
Very High |
None |
Warehouses and shop floors restock constantly for sales periods. |
| Visual Merchandiser / Gift Wrapper |
$27–$35 |
Medium |
None |
Specialist roles for Christmas displays and premium wrapping counters. |
| In-store Café / Food Court Assistant |
$25–$32 |
High |
Food Handling + RSA (if alcohol served) |
Food outlets in malls hire extra staff to cope with increased shoppers. |
Tip: Having Food Handling or RSA certification can set you apart in retail jobs that involve cafés, food courts, or pop-up bars inside shopping centres.
Events, Festivals & Entertainment Jobs
Australia’s summer is peak festival season — music, food, sports, New Year’s Eve celebrations, and community events light up every state.
From behind-the-scenes crew to front-of-house staff, these roles are short-term but high-energy, perfect for earning fast cash and gaining unique experience.
| Job Title |
Typical Pay (AUD/hr) |
Peak Summer Demand |
Recommended Certificate |
Why It’s a Summer Hit |
| Event Crew / Set-Up Staff |
$26–$35 |
Very High |
White Card (for stage/build work) |
Concerts, markets, and festivals need huge teams to build and dismantle venues. |
| Bar Staff / Festival Drink Stations |
$27–$38 |
Very High |
RSA |
Outdoor bars and licensed areas multiply during summer events. |
| Food Truck / Catering Assistant |
$25–$33 |
High |
Food Handling |
Food vendors pop up everywhere from music festivals to sports games. |
| Security / Event Marshall |
$30–$45 |
High |
Security Licence + First Aid |
Crowd control and safety roles expand massively in summer. |
| Front-of-House / Ticketing Staff |
$24–$30 |
Very High |
None |
Every event needs entry staff, ushers, and info desk helpers. |
Tip: Holding an RSA or Food Handling certificate before festival season gives you a head start when bars and food vendors urgently need staff.
