Training in Australia for Backpackers
Many jobs here in Australia will require you to do a certain amount of training before you can start work. A lot of these courses are entry-level courses and are not too difficult.
Completing a course specific to the job you want before you start applying will give an advantage over backpackers who don’t. In most cases, you will have to pay a small amount for it but getting employed ahead of others will pay you back quickly.
You can complete most courses online in just a few hours, and in some cases you can even do them before you leave for Australia.
Jump Links
Mandatory Training Courses
| Job Type | Training | States | Classroom or Online |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hospitality and Bar Work | RSA | All | Training must be completed in a classroom in NSW, but in any ohter state it can be online or in a classroom. |
| Bar and Pub Work - Where There are Poker Machines on Premises (most of them) | RSG/RSC | QLD, NSW, TAS, VIC, SA, NT | Online for QLD,SA,WA,NT Class for NSW,VIC,TAS |
| Labouring and Construction | White Card | All | Both |
| Working with Children | "Blue Card" (QLD) / "Ochre Card" (NT) / or "Working With Children Check/ Certificate | QLD,NSW,NT,WA,VIC, SA,ACT,VIC | Not necessarily a course, but involves getting police checks and ongoing police screening |
Working in Hospitality and Bar Work
Working in hospitality, especially in bars, nightclubs and restaurants, is a great way to have fun, make friends and get paid for it.
To work in hospitality or anywhere that serves alcohol (i.e. bars, nightclubs, off-licenses, restaurants etc) you will need to complete a Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) course. Find out how to do an RSA course here.
NSW has specific requirements and QLD is where a lot of backpackers start working.
If you are working in a bar or Pub that has poker machines (more commonly known as ‘Pokies’ in Australia), you may need to complete an RSG and/or RCG course.
Bar and Pub Work - Where There Are Poker Machines on the Premises
Most bars and pubs in Australia have poker machines (or Pokies as they’re more commonly known), so if you want to work in a bar or pub in Australia you will probably need to complete either an RSG or RCG course (Responsible Gambling).
Working in Labouring and Construction
If you want to work in construction in Australia you will definitely need to have a White Card. They are pretty easy to get and involve a 2-4 hour online course or a 6-hour face-to-face course. Check out our article on how to get a White Card and tips on how to pass it easily.
Working with Children Certificates
To work with children in Australia you may need to get certain certification, depending on what state you will be working in. These aren’t really courses as such, but you do need to have them. Being allowed to work with children in some states will involve applying for cards e.g. Queensland’s ‘Blue Card’ or Northern Territories ‘Ochre Card’, while others involve background checks and continous monitoring.
Each state has different requirements, but the majority involve getting a Police Clearance Certificate. You can read more about the different requirements for working with children in each state here.
