Australia’s Working Holiday Maker program gives young travellers the chance to explore the country while working to support their stay, and for many people, finding a job quickly is an important part of making their savings last.

The good news is that you don’t need a long list of qualifications to find work in Australia. In many cases, a short online course or industry-specific certificate can make it much easier to apply for particular types of jobs.

But what are the best courses? Often the best training or certification depends on the work you want to do. You can get a White Card for construction work, an RSA for hospitality or food safety training for café and restaurant work. There are plenty of short courses that can help Working Holiday Visa holders become job-ready.

While many job-related courses have an online component, not every qualification can be completed entirely online. The important thing is to choose training that is actually relevant to the job you want. Not every certificate is required for every job, and requirements can vary between Australian states and territories.

Best Online Courses for Working Holiday Visa Holders

The right course for you will depend largely on the type of work you want to find. Some qualifications are essential for particular jobs, while others can simply make you a more attractive candidate when you’re competing for casual or seasonal work.

The key is to focus on courses that match the industries you plan to work in, rather than spending money on qualifications you may never use. Here are some of the most useful courses to consider if you’re planning to work while travelling around Australia.

White Card

If you’re interested in construction, labouring or some types of site-based work, the White Card is one of the most useful qualifications you can have.

The White Card is the common name for general construction induction training, which workers must complete before carrying out construction work.

For a Working Holiday Visa holder, this can open the door to jobs such as general construction labourer, trade assistant, site clean-up, demolition support and other entry-level construction roles.

The nationally recognised unit is CPCWHS1001 Prepare to work safely in the construction industry. However, because construction safety is regulated by individual states and territories, you should check that the provider and delivery method meet the requirements of the jurisdiction where you intend to work.

National Online Courses offers online White Card training for several states, including:

• White Card NSW
• White Card Queensland
• White Card Tasmania
• White Card WA

A White Card can also be a useful starting point if you intend to build up additional construction tickets later. Depending on the work you find, employers may also look for qualifications such as traffic control, working at heights, confined spaces or forklift training.

RSA (Responsible Service of Alcohol)

If you’re hoping to work in a pub, bar, club, restaurant, hotel or event venue, an RSA certificate is one of the most useful courses to consider.

RSA stands for Responsible Service of Alcohol. The nationally recognised training unit is SITHFAB021 Provide responsible service of alcohol, but there may also be additional modules and training expectations depending on the state or territory where you intend to work.

For example, Victoria has its own approved RSA training arrangements. First-time RSA training in Victoria has included an approved RSA course plus an additional online module covering sexual harassment and assault prevention.

NSW also has specific RSA competency requirements, with training delivered by approved providers and an interim certificate allowing successful applicants to work while they obtain their competency card.

If you’re moving around Australia, you may also need to complete additional state-specific requirements. National Online Courses offers RSA training for most states, including:

• RSA NSW
• RSA Queensland
• RSA Tasmania
• RSA WA
• RSA Victoria
• RSA NT
• RSA ACT

For a traveller planning to pick up casual hospitality shifts, having the appropriate RSA sorted before applying can make the job search much easier.

Food Safety Training

If you’re looking at café, restaurant, catering or kitchen work, food safety training can be a useful addition to your CV. Employers want people who understand how to handle food safely, and some food businesses have specific training requirements for their staff.

You don’t necessarily need a particular food safety certificate for every food-handling job, so it’s worth checking what the employer is looking for before you enrol. Having relevant training can nevertheless show that you’re ready to get started when applying for casual hospitality work.

The nationally recognised unit SITXFSA005 Use hygienic practices for food safety covers practical areas such as personal hygiene, preventing contamination, cleaning and safe food handling.

If you’re planning to spend your working holiday picking up shifts in cafés, restaurants or hotels, it’s a relatively straightforward course that can be worth considering alongside an RSA.

Explore NOC’s online food safety training

Responsible Gambling Training

If you’re planning to work in a pub, club or other venue with gaming facilities, responsible gambling training can be a useful addition to your CV.

Known as Responsible Service of Gambling (RSG) or Responsible Conduct of Gambling (RCG), the certification gives you an understanding of how to recognise and respond to gambling-related risks, and may be relevant if you’re applying for roles that involve working around gaming machines or other gambling activities.

The requirements are more specialised than those for an RSA and can vary depending on where you work, the venue and the role. For example, NSW has specific Responsible Conduct of Gambling (RCG) training requirements, while other states and territories have their own arrangements.

That means gambling-related training isn’t necessarily something every working holiday maker needs. If you’re simply looking for general hospitality work, an RSA will usually be the more useful qualification to get first. If you’re specifically targeting pubs, clubs or gaming venues, however, the relevant gambling training could make you a stronger candidate.

Before enrolling, check the requirements for the state or territory where you plan to work and make sure the course you’re considering is the one recognised for the type of role you’re applying for.

Explore NOC’s RSG courses

First Aid Training

First aid isn’t something you’ll need for every job you might pick up on a Working Holiday Visa, but it can be a handy qualification to have when you’re looking for work.

It shows employers that you have basic first aid skills and can be particularly valuable in jobs where you’re working with the public, outdoors, around children or in situations where accidents are more likely to happen.

First aid courses are generally short and practical. The nationally recognised unit HLTAID011 Provide First Aid is one of the most common workplace first aid qualifications in Australia.

It can be particularly useful if you’re looking at jobs in tourism and adventure activities, camps and outdoor recreation, hospitality and events, sports and recreation, childcare and education support, community services, or some workplace and labouring roles.

It’s important to note there are different types of first aid training, and some workplaces have specific requirements. For example, if you’re looking to work in an education or child care setting, you may require HLTAID012 Provide First Aid in an education and care setting.

You don’t need a first aid certificate just because you’re coming to Australia on a Working Holiday Visa, but if it suits the kind of work you’re looking for, it can be a worthwhile addition to your CV and could help you stand out from other applicants.

First aid training can include an online learning component, which can make it easier to fit around travel and work. However, because first aid is a practical skill, you’ll also need to demonstrate your skills in person as part of the assessment.

Face-to-face training gives you the opportunity to practise techniques such as CPR and using an AED under the guidance of a trainer, which can be particularly valuable if you’ve never done first aid training before.

If you’d prefer a more hands-on approach, National First Aid Courses (NFAC) offers first aid training with practical sessions and assessment.

Forklift and Other High-Risk Work Training

Forklift work can be attractive to Working Holiday Visa holders because warehouses, distribution centres, manufacturing businesses and logistics companies regularly employ casual and temporary workers.

However, this is an important example of a qualification that isn’t simply an online course.

Forklift operation is a high-risk work activity and requires the appropriate high-risk work licence. You may be able to complete some learning or theory online with a suitable provider, but the licensing process involves the practical training and assessment required by the relevant regulator.

The same principle applies to many other specialised tickets, such as some types of elevated work platform, crane and hoist operation as well as traffic control.

If you’re considering warehouse or industrial work, check the exact licence required for the job rather than choosing an online course simply because it advertises a certificate.

If you are looking to complete specialised tickets, such as traffic control, EWP, forklift and more, National Courses has training options in most states and territories.

Which Course Should You Take?

You don’t need every certificate on this list. Instead, think about the type of work you are most likely to apply for and choose the qualification that gives you the greatest advantage.

If you want to work in…	Courses worth considering
Pubs, bars and clubs	RSA
Restaurants, cafés and hotels	RSA and relevant food safety training
Construction and labouring	White Card
Gaming venues	RSA plus relevant gambling training
Warehouses and logistics	Forklift/high-risk work licence
Tourism and outdoor recreation	First aid and any role-specific training
Childcare or education settings	First aid and any required checks/training
Farm work	Usually no general certificate; check the requirements of the particular job.
General casual work	Focus on an Australian CV, availability and job-specific requirements rather than collecting certificates

If you’re unsure, start with the course that corresponds to the industry you want to enter. There is little point spending money on a forklift licence if you’re planning to spend six months working in a coastal pub, for example.

Working Holiday Visa Work Rules You Should Know

Working Holiday Maker visas are designed to let eligible young adults holiday in Australia while supplementing their funds with short-term employment.

The two main Working Holiday Maker visas are the Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) and the Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462).

There are several conditions you need to understand before accepting work.

The six-month employer rule

Working Holiday Maker visas generally have condition 8547, which limits you to working for one employer for a maximum of six months unless an exemption applies or you receive permission to continue.

There are exemptions for certain types of work and circumstances, so don’t assume that every job automatically has the same six-month limit. Check your visa conditions and the current Department of Home Affairs rules before relying on an exemption.

You can check your individual visa conditions through VEVO or your visa grant information.

Study and training

A Working Holiday Visa can also allow you to undertake study or training, but there are limits on how much study you can do. If you’re considering a longer course or qualification, check the conditions attached to your particular visa before enrolling.

Short job-related courses such as an RSA or White Card are very different from enrolling in a long-term university or vocational program, so don’t assume the rules are the same.

Second and third Working Holiday visas

Some Working Holiday Makers can apply for a second or third visa by meeting specified-work and other eligibility requirements.

The rules aren’t identical for every applicant, and eligibility can depend on your visa subclass and passport. If getting another Working Holiday Visa is part of your plan, check the current Department of Home Affairs requirements before choosing work solely because you believe it will count towards another visa.

Where to Find Work on a Working Holiday Visa

Once you’re job-ready, there are plenty of ways to look for work.

Job search websites such as SEEK and Indeed are great resources for mainstream casual, hospitality, retail, warehouse and labouring jobs. You can also register with labour-hire companies, which can be particularly relevant if you’re looking for short-term work.

Backpacker-specific job boards and local social media groups can be useful for seasonal hospitality, farm work, tourism and regional jobs.

Don’t overlook simply walking into local businesses. In hospitality, a short introduction and a well-presented CV can sometimes be more effective than submitting dozens of online applications.

Regional areas can also offer different opportunities from Australia’s major cities. Depending on the season, there may be demand for workers in agriculture, tourism, hospitality, accommodation, construction and other industries.

If you are specifically looking for work that may contribute towards a future Working Holiday Visa, make sure the work and location meet the current specified-work requirements for your visa.

How to Get Job-Ready Before You Apply

A certificate is only one part of being ready to work in Australia. You should also organise the practical essentials that employers will need.

Get a Tax File Number

A Tax File Number (TFN) is used for tax and employment purposes in Australia. You can apply for one through the Australian Taxation Office.

Set up an Australian bank account

Having an Australian bank account makes it easier for employers to pay your wages and manage your money while you’re travelling.

Prepare an Australian-style CV

Keep your CV clear and relatively short. Put your recent work experience, relevant skills, certificates, availability and contact details somewhere easy for an employer to find.

If you have an RSA, White Card or other relevant qualification, make it obvious.

Check your superannuation

If you’re eligible, your employer may need to make superannuation contributions on your behalf. Keep track of your super fund and your contributions while you’re working.

Keep copies of your certificates

Save digital copies of your Statements of Attainment, cards and other qualifications somewhere you can access them from your phone. This is particularly useful if you’re moving between cities or employers.