All-rounder Jobs for Backpackers

All-rounder Jobs in Australia

Not sure what type of work to do during your working holiday to Australia? How about taking on the role of an 'all-rounder'?

An all-rounder is a worker who fulfils numerous roles, often in a hotel, pub or cafe. Their duties could include everything from serving customers and waiting on tables to cleaning rooms or doing the gardening.

All-rounders tend to be more common in isolated areas, such as Western Australia and the Northern Territory. This is because the spaces between towns in these regions are vast - often around four or five hours' drive - necessitating the need for the occasional isolated roadhouse or guesthouse staffed by a relatively small team of people.

Do you have what it takes to be an 'all-rounder'? Here's all you need to know about the role.

As alluded to in the introduction, you'll often find – especially in the hospitality industry – that the further away you get from the major population centres, the more roles you'll have to take on. This is because, for many places in Australia, work tends to be seasonal or very intermittent. In quieter periods, rather than hiring four members of staff to do four different jobs, owners will look for one person to take on everything - it's cheaper for them!

Be prepared to live in a quieter town if you feel a job as an 'all-rounder' is truly for you. Saying that, you may still be able to find 'all-rounder' roles, paying slightly higher than more specialised jobs such as bartender and barista, in cafes and restaurants in cities such as Sydney, Perth and Melbourne.

Not sure you could get by in the hustle and bustle of Australia's fast-paced, commercialised cities? Want to see 'the real Australia'? An all-rounder job could be perfect for you. Whether you're working at a coastal guesthouse on the west coast or you're stationed at a lonely roadhouse at the very northern tip of Australia, those who want to escape and discover the natural world during their time off can be indulged when working in this type of job. Just remember that it may be hard for you to get Wi-Fi access or a decent phone signal!

Many all-rounder hospitality jobs, especially those in rural areas, will require you to live at the pub or hotel in which you work. In these scenarios, you may often find that your board and/or meals are provided for you, free of charge. However, bear in mind that, under this arrangement, you may be required to work for less, or even on a voluntary basis. If this doesn't apply to you, you can expect to earn around $20 per hour if paid at an hourly rate.