Blackdown Accommodation Services balranald, New South Wales
Published: 3rd January 2019
position require is a housekeeping / kitchen hand role.2 weeks on and then 1 week offall meals,... Read more
WorkPac Regional Victoria, Victoria
Published: 30th November 2017
WorkPac Group is now hiring for the Swan Hill Solar Farm project located in Northern Victoria.We are... Read more
Australia's self-proclaimed status as 'the sunburnt country' is well earned - statistically it gets more sun than any continent on earth.
While solar radiation may not be great for the skin, it is fantastic for power generation, a realisation that Australia is slowly waking up to. Solar farms are springing up everywhere, and with battery storage proving itself as a way to stockpile and utilise this resource even when the sun isn’t shining, the number of solar farms is only set to increase.
And that’s great news for backpackers on a 417 or 462 visa.
Solar farms can potentially be placed anywhere on the Australian mainland, from Far North Queensland to the south of Victoria. The only state that doesn’t deal seriously in solar is Tasmania, although a few small farms can be found even there.
Australian Solar farms tend to be in rural areas, some of which can be quite remote. They're usually not quite as remote as Australia’s mines though, as the generated energy needs to be fed back into the power grid.
More often associated with mining work, but a common option in solar farm work too, you’ve probably heard the term FIFO, which stands for ‘fly in, fly out’. Because many Australian solar farm jobs are in remote areas, it makes sense for construction companies to fly their workers in and have them work non-stop for weeks at a time, before flying them out again for an extended break.
A FIFO worker’s schedule will depend on the company and the job. Some FIFO workers will work two weeks on before getting two weeks off, others will have three on and one off, and others with shorter contracts may complete their work in one hit.
While many of the jobs offered by solar farms are skilled positions, there are generally plenty of entry-level openings too:
The 'tickets' - the qualifications and licences - that you’ll need will depend on the job that you’re going for. As a minimum you’ll have to show a white card, the same card necessary to step foot on any construction site in Australia, and a police security clearance. From there the necessary tickets become job-specific, like a heavy vehicle (sometimes called a 'heavy rigid' or HR) licence for drivers. The necessary tickets should be stated on the job description.
If you get through the first few stages of the interview process, you’ll most likely be asked to undergo a pre-employment medical to ensure that you are fit to work in what can often be challenging conditions.
Usually quite generous! Work in the solar industry can be challenging - it’s often remote, and workers - particularly FIFO - can go weeks without a day off. For these reasons solar farm companies tend to reimburse their workers well.
Entry-level workers like cleaners and labourers can earn as much as $40 an hour - double Australia’s world-leading minimum wage. On top of that, many solar farm jobs, in particular FIFO, will see living expenses like accommodation and food paid for.
So, is a solar farm job the right choice for you, the working holidaymaker? Let’s sum up the pros and cons.
Pros
Cons
The pay and limited amount of jobs can mean it’s a competitive space to get work in. But if you can, it’s a great way for a working holidaymaker to make money.
