There are two beachside YHA hostels in Sydney that offer weekly rates and actively assist working holiday makers to find jobs. Learn to surf whilst working in one of the best cities in the world!
Both hostels are small and offer a personalised service.
Sydney Beachouse YHA – Collaroy
Cronulla YHA
Sydney Beachouse YHA – Collaroy
The Sydney Beachouse YHA hostel at Collaroy, on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, is approximately 40 minutes from Sydney by bus and is just across the road from one of Sydney’s best surf beaches.
How to Find Work in Collaroy
The hostel receives a couple of calls from local employers every day and the staff maintain a list of local jobs behind reception, which are farmed out to their guests. They also work with a local recruitment agency.
Types of Jobs Available
There are a range of jobs available, including:
- landscape gardening
- cafe/bar work
- factory and
- call centre work.
Training and Qualifications
The hostel also helps its guests to get the compulsory qualifications of RSA (Responsible Service of Alcohol), RCG (Responsible Conduct of Gambling) certification, which are required to work on licensed premises and the Green/White Cards, needed to demonstrate safe working practices on construction sites. These qualifications typically cost less than $100 and are run as one-day courses.
Work Guarantee
Sydney Beachouse YHA even offers a ‘work guarantee’! Book and pay for a week’s accommodation and if you don’t find work in the first 7 days with the help of the hostel’s job assistance, you will be reimbursed 2 nights!*
The weekly rate includes:
- continental breakfast
- bed linen
- surfboard hire
- 2-hour internet voucher and
- secure car parking.
Sydney Beachouse YHA hostel looks after its guests, filtering employers by ensuring that those who contact the hostel directly sign a waiver form, promising to pay their staff on-time and offer a safe working environment.
*Available year-round except peak period, for three weeks over Christmas/New Year.
Cronulla Beach YHA
At the opposite end of Sydney, on Sydney’s southern beaches in the Sutherland Shire, lies Cronulla. The 66-bed Cronulla YHA, around 50 minutes from Sydney by public transport, has lots of local employer contacts and gets loads of calls from local businesses.
How to Find Work in Cronulla
This hostel gets calls with job offers from local businesses daily, which the staff pass out to the hostel's guests. They also work with several local recruitment agencies.
Types of Labouring Jobs Available
The majority of call-in work at Cronulla YHA is labour-intensive and includes:
- construction/building jobs
- furniture removals
- factory hands
- landscape gardeners
- household-labouring and
- general odd jobs.
The hostel has a constant supply of these employers ringing to find workers. They usually want backpackers to start the next day and most will pick you up and drop you off at the hostel.
Skills Recognition and Training
Backpackers with skilled trades (e.g. carpentry, electricians) can contact Training NSW and pay a small fee to get their trade skills recognised in Australia with a certificate of competency. Pay rates are approximately double that of unskilled.
Hospitality Work in Cronulla
With over 70 restaurants, 20+ licensed bars and a few clubs in the Cronulla area, there is also plenty of hospitality work. You may need Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) and/or Responsible Conduct of Gaming (RCG) certification and the hostel can point you in the right direction to get these.
Other Work Opportunities
Other local jobs include opportunities at the variety of retail stores within walking distance or at Westfield Miranda, one of the Southern Hemisphere’s largest shopping centres, which is only a short train ride away. There are nursing jobs at the local hospital, only 10 minutes away or office/clerical work either in Cronulla or in Sydney.
For these jobs, the hostel recommends that you go door-to-door at the local shopping mall and/or cafes, restaurants or clubs. This strategy has proved successful many times, as employers are able to see that you are well-presented, a good communicator and may even give you an on-the-spot trial – none of which they can achieve from simply looking at a CV/Resume.
Work Guarantee
Cronulla YHA offers a ‘work guarantee’ too!
Book and pay for a week’s accommodation and if you don’t find work in the first 7 days with the help of the hostel’s job assistance, you will be reimbursed 2 nights!*
The weekly rate includes:
- bed linen
- surfboard hire
- 2-hour internet use and
-
car parking.
Cronulla Beach YHA is proud of its high success rate in finding jobs for backpackers and working holiday makers!
Employment Request Form
Before you arrive at Cronulla Beach YHA, fill out their Employment Request Form.
*Available year-round except peak period, 15th December through 31st January.
