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Choose a career that’s going places Hamilton Island Jobs

Work on a thriving tropical island, with the opportunity to grow your skills and experience through accredited training, and spend your days off making the most of island life.

Jobs on Hamilton Island

Discover your dream job on a thriving tropical island in the breathtaking Whitsundays. Hamilton Island offers over 350 diverse careers, from bartenders and beauticians to housekeepers and handypeople. Elevate your career while surrounded by the stunning natural beauty of our island paradise.   Join our dynamic team and embark on a fulfilling journey tailored to your passion and ambitions. Develop your skills through comprehensive training programs and thrive in your chosen career amidst the unique blend of island living and professional achievement. Experience the joy of working in a place where your job can flourish like never before.   Take the first step towards an exciting future on Hamilton Island. Explore our wide range of job opportunities and discover the perfect career path that aligns with your aspirations. Elevate your career on this extraordinary island paradise in the Whitsundays. Apply now and make your mark in this tropical oasis.

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Island life

Where to play

Enjoy some island life on your days off. Indulge in some great food and wine, play sport, visit the Great Barrier Reef, or simply, spend your days lounging by the pool.

What you’ll love about a career on Hamilton Island:

Long-term opportunity. .

As one of Australia’s most popular holiday destinations, Hamilton Island employs a large, diverse and skilled team of people - so there are plenty of opportunities for career growth and progression.

Quality training.

Hamilton Island has its own training college - where you have the option of receiving specialised and ongoing training and mentoring in your chosen career. 

High standards. 

As a premier island destination, we look for bright, enthusiastic and results-driven people who can work with us to deliver world class holidays, conferences and events. 

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Work in the Whitsundays

If you've ever seen a photo of Whitehaven Beach , or an aerial picture of Heart Reef , you'll know the Whitsundays is one of the top destinations for travellers to Australia. 

Whatever your career goals, there are opportunities for employment throughout the Whitsundays and neighbouring areas. Jobs in the Whitsundays are usually a lot of fun and happen to be in one of the most beautiful parts of the world to work and live in! While they may not have to do with your education or background, there is plenty of work available with on-the-job training and growth opportunities.

The Whitsundays

The Whitsundays is made up of  74 islands , the local townships of Airlie Beach and Cannonvale through to Shute Harbour and Proserpine, all of which generally have work opportunities. With a car, there's easy access to close by mining towns and produce areas such as Bowen, which also are usually hiring tourists and nationals for work. There is public transport available as well, and if you're staying in Airlie most places are within walking distance. There are many ways to get to the Whitsundays , including by plane, buses and trains, or simply driving. 

With resorts , tour operators, charter companies, and all manner of tourism and hospitality related services all central to the Whitsundays, it is most likely job openings will be from within tourism or hospitality. Visitors or potential workers with experience or interest in these areas will usually have the most chance of success for mid to long-term employment.

Sailing Crew

If you are lacking experience and still wish to be involved in the sailing industry or Whitsundays tourism, there are several highly regarded courses that lead to employment in the sailing or tour boat fields, such as a commercial crew certificate, or diving courses. Check here for the chance to get your sailing qualification. You may also look into doing your courses separately, through the local Whitsunday Sailing Club's Maritime Training School . 

You can also begin by building your resume with valid experience by taking volunteer positions in your dream area. Seek out such volunteer positions by getting out onto the docks and the marinas and introducing yourself in person to tour operators or check out the many restaurants, bars, eateries and cafes and begin networking. Volunteering to do a boat trip as a host not only builds your experience but gives you the chance to see the Whitsundays and have fun while you work. By spending time throughout the islands, potential workers also can get a feel for the area without committing to any one job.

If you take your sailing career seriously, the Whitsundays is the place to gain experience, to build on your skills, and to get a chance at the top jobs in the industry. Work efficiently and professionally in the Whitsundays and you open up many future possibilities to work within the sailing and boating field. You can work on skills and qualifications such as Coxswain, Master IV or V tickets and can find work on the water or under the water with advanced diving certificates and experience.

For more information, visit our 'How to get A Job On A Boat In The Whitsundays' article!

On the other end of the scale, backpackers and those looking to balance their travelling budget can find fruit and vegetable picking in Bowen (just a 45 minute drive from Airlie Beach) or cane harvesting and general farm maintenance work in Mackay. Expect harvest seasons for tomatoes to run September to December; for vegetables, May to November; and mangoes, November to December. Cane harvests are brought in June to November, while planting takes place March, April, June, August and September; and cane farm maintenance work is generally available March to May.

Resorts 

If resort living seems a dream come true, then look for employment notices from the island resorts. There are several resort islands in the Whitsundays with varying levels of accommodation and services. Check out job ads for Hamilton Island , Hayman Island and  Daydream Island Resorts who are often hiring and are located within the Whitsundays. Chefs, housekeepers/cleaners, and administrative staff are usually required by the resorts as the turnaround is seasonal and positions are often filled on a short-term basis. The bonus benefits of resort employment is that employees are often able to live within the resort or at least on the island and the work is usually on shifts. That means you might have mornings off to lie by the pool and work on that tan, with days off spent on the mainland or seeing the rest of the Whitsundays.

If tourism or hospitality is not your idea of dream employment, administrative jobs are sometimes available as well as tour sales in the main street. If you're a handyman or know a thing or two about boat engines, you're likely to find work in the maintenance position at the boat yards or for a boat company. With the number of boat tours, water sport adventures, and charter boats in the Whitsundays, good quality maintenance crew are always needed.

For both short term or long term work, the first requirement is a valid working visa or Australian citizenship. If you are entering Australia from another country with the hopes of finding a job, ensure you have applied for the right visa that allows work. Get a resume together to hand out to potential employers, ensuring you include a photo of yourself to personalise your application - remember that tourism and hospitality industries are all about creating a friendly, welcoming vision for customers so a photo with a big smile and an approachable demeanour will win you more opportunities.

The Whitsundays is an active, fun and rather wonderful place of employment, where you can not only find amazing work, but you can also enjoy your time off too.

Ready to start your working holiday in the Whitsundays? Chat live to our local travel experts about how to get started! 

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Sailing Whitsundays acknowledges the Ngaro, Gia and Juru people as the Traditional Owners of the lands and seas in which we operate. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all First Nations peoples.

ISail Whitsundays is looking for their next valued additions to the team in Airlie Beach!

ISail Whitsundays fosters a culture amongst which we strive to show our customers the beautiful Whitsunday islands and waters, as we would our own family and friends! We work as a team, going above and beyond to give our guests unforgettable experiences, as well as to support each other out on the water.

About ISail Whitsundays Jobs

Welcome and thank you for your interest in a career with ISail Whitsundays. We have a fleet of three sailing vessels; two 46ft sailing catamarans and one 50ft sailing yacht. We employ a hand-picked team of 6 - 10 staff in a variety of capacities, including:

• Commercial Skippers
• Crew (Deckhands)

Currently, we are hiring both Commercial Skippers and Crew for our overnight tours and private charters. Our vessels carry between 4 - 10 guests, and you will work in a fun, hands-on and fast-paced environment.

While experience is favoured, it is not strictly necessary for the right candidates. If you don’t have any boating experience, but wish to embark on a career in marine tourism, we can start training you. Our boats are small but require a deckhand to be across all aspects of boating. From assisting the skipper to serving meals for guests, you will receive lots of practical training in vessel handling and sailing.

ISail Whitsundays is a quality, established Whitsunday Charter Boat Company operating under the same ownership and management since 2007. We have all of the required permits and accreditations, and we are a member of the Whitsunday Charter Boat Association.

It is a very fun and rewarding job out amongst some of the world's most stunning tropical islands. Our many glowing TripAdvisor reviews over many years credit our continued effort in successfully showing guests the beauty of the Whitsunday region.

Send your resume through to [email protected] to apply for a skipper or deckhand position.

For any enquiries, don’t hesitate to get in touch!

Careers at Journey Beyond

We create amazing experiences.

At Journey Beyond, we bring Australia’s most unique experiences to life. We aim to take our guests beyond, ignite the imagination and deliver above all expectations, each and every time. We share a passion for the places in which we operate, and the fun we have along the way.

As a Journey Beyond team member, you will play an important role in sharing special places and shaping lasting memories, both for our guests and for your fellow team members. Whether you’re looking to grow your hospitality career onboard our iconic rail journeys, share your passion for the outdoors as a tour guide, or deliver unforgettable culinary experiences as a chef, this is an opportunity to start an exciting new chapter of your career.

Your journey begins here.

Love Where You Work

Cruise whitsundays, journey beyond rail, corporate office, rottnest express, outback spirit, melbourne skydeck, darwin harbour cruises, cruise sydney, horizontal falls, search all jobs, search all jobs, our benefits.

We want to ensure our team members have the benefits and support they need to do their best , as well as the opportunity to experience the unique products we offer .

• Travel and experience discounts • Internal mobility opportunities • Study assistance • Employee referral program • Gym, health care and product discounts • Training and development opportunities • Employee assistance program • Service recognition and awards • Rewards program

Life at Journey Beyond

Fei’s Story

Before moving to Australia, I was working in China as a video director on documentaries and reality shows. I wanted to experience something different, and chose to come to Australia I started my journey in Queensland doing farm work, then moved into hospitality roles in the Whitsundays and later worked for a winery in South [...]

Alex’s Story

As a kid I used to watch the show “Getaway” and remember thinking wow, wouldn’t it be cool if I could travel the world and get paid for it? Lo and behold, that became a possibility. Prior to working in tourism, I was in the Royal Australian Air Force. I spent my days in a [...]

Nitin’s Story

I migrated from India to Australia, and when I was a kid I had a rail track next to my house. Me and my brother always went around to the track to see the trains, we had a real passion for them.   I came to Adelaide in 2006 for studies in ICT and business management. [...]

Day in the life of a Hospitality Attendant

Keswick Island residents in the Whitsundays hopeful new lease holder will invest in infrastructure

A controversial China-based developer is selling its lease of a tropical island off the Queensland coast.

Keswick Island's head lease has been owned by Oasis Forest Ltd (formerly China Bloom Hong Kong Ltd) since 2019.

Tensions between the island's residents and the lease holder erupted the following year when "keep out" signs on the island's shores warned off visitors.

That year boaties flocked to the island in protest as questions were raised about the foreign management of Australian islands.

An application to transfer its lease to a new owner has been lodged with the Queensland Department of Resources, and a financial management assessment for a new lessee is underway.

Residents say the island desperately needs hundreds of millions of dollars invested into it after years of neglect.

Looking for a fresh start

The island's residents see a new owner as a fresh start.

"Having an Australian on board would just be amazing. I just don't think a foreign body would work in this scenario," Keswick Island Progress Association president Adrian Hayne said.

"This all comes down to the government holding lease owners to account. If they would have done that from the start, we wouldn't be in this mess."

Mr Hayne said he moved to the island three years ago for its crystal-clear blue waters and slow pace of life.

At the time, he believed it had the potential to be one of the country's premium tourism destinations.

But after years of stagnant progress, he was adamant the state government needed to "step up and make up for lost time and lost dreams".

Mr Hayne said getting to and from the island was its biggest challenge, with only two ferries connecting the island to the mainland via Mackay each week.

He said it cost $600 to fly with a private charter from Mackay to Keswick Island, and a barge with food and other supplies visited the island just once a month.

An all-tide jetty, marina and a small strip of shops have all been previous conditions of ownership for the island's four head lease holders, but none of them have been developed.

The state government committed $1 million last year to improving visitor access at Keswick Island.

Move to change lease

In April the Department of Resources told a parliamentary committee an application to transfer the lease had been lodged earlier that month.

Acting deputy director general business and corporate partnerships Tanya Bartlett said the application was being considered.

She said it included a financial management and capability assessment.

Appearing before the Clean Economy, Jobs, Resources and Transport Committee last week, Ms Bartlett provided an update on actions arising from an earlier inquiry into the neglect of Queensland's tropical islands.

She said the Keswick Island lessee had a number of development approvals in place with other agencies.

Ms Bartlett said the company was seeking environmental approvals to build a public jetty.

"In terms of their lease, while they are still not compliant at this stage they are working towards becoming compliant, they have development approvals being considered by local government for the planning of the jetty," she said.

"The department is engaging directly with the lessee on a very regular basis.

"Also we have the lessee in contact with the sub lessees for plans for the future of the island.

"The department has had some enquiries now that the transfer of that lease is actually being discussed with the sub lessees."

Growing issue

Keswick Island's head lease is managed by the Queensland government, with island residents then sub leasing land from the head lease owner.

"We pay rates as you would to council. For those rates you [are meant to] get services," Mr Hayne said.

"Really the only service we get is rubbish gets collected once a week … there is a septic system but it failed dismally years ago."

Mr Hayne has called on the state government to hold head lease owners to account for their promised development conditions.

"It's now been nearly five years, and nothing has happened … we want to have an island with way more residents on it," he said.

It isn't an issue isolated to Keswick Island either.

The Queensland government will take Hong Kong billionaire Benny Wu to court today to try to strip him of the lease of Double Island, which is in a state of disrepair.

In a statement, the government said it was "committed to the responsible development of our tourism islands for the jobs and business opportunities this creates in regional Queensland".

Oasis Forest Ltd has been contacted for comment.

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