Outback pub barmaid jobs?

I'm interested in getting a job in an outback pub as a barmaid. Have you had a go at this yourself and if so how did you get on? Are there any places you would recommend or not?

From what I've read on the net Kalgoorlie seems especially feral... One of the things that concerns me a bit is that I'm a bit older than the average backpacker (33), just average looking (no Elle MacPherson you understand) and from New Zealand - hence probably not a drawcard for an outback pub. However I'd be keen on getting any other sort of work (eg. cleaner in mining camp?) Any advice would be much appreciated,

Great site, and congrats on setting it up so well.
Cheers, Claire

Response to: Outback barmaid jobs?

Hi Claire,

Yep, Kalgoorlie is feral :-). There are so many different places that you could call "Outback pubs". When I say Outback I rather think of the really remote and isolated places, not big mining towns like Kalgoorlie.

I never worked as a barmaid, just not my cup of tea. Kitchen hand is as far as I ever got :-).

(But see Helene's submission: she worked in an Outback pub in Queensland and LOVED it.)

Any Outback roadhouse or pub would be more than happy to have you if you're a good worker. They are not looking for young, pretty backpackers or drawcards (although that is of course viewed as a bonus), they mostly need someone reliable and friendly with common sense who can do the work.

There are Kiwis everywhere here, more than in Kiwiland, so don't you worry about that. We'll tease you but we'll put up with you :-). The overseas tourists wouldn't be able to tell the difference anyway...

Australia is a huge place so I don't have specific recommendations. If you've done that kind of work before you'll find a job easily. I'd just follow my gut feeling. If you walk into a place and it doesn't feel right, ask for a beer, drink it, and leave. If you like the place, ask for a job. You can always quit if it doesn't work out.

It should be reasonably easy to get a job in a mining camp, too. Not too sure where you start searching there, as I've never been on the catering side of things. (I'm a scaffolder and crane driver in process maintenance. Or rather, I was...) Will have to look into that so I can give some better info.

You wouldn't be working for the mining company but for the catering company, so you'd have to track those down to apply for a job. The company that services the remote Western Australian sites is called Universal Sodexho (formerly Minesite Catering). Email them to ask for information or submit your resume in and see what happens. Alternatively I'd look around on the usual big job sites (SEEK etc.). Well, and as always, just rock up in town and talk to people.

I just did a few quick searches and from what I can see they need cleaners and kitchen hands in mining camps just as much as any other mining related occupations.

So, whatever it is that you want to do, I really don't think you'll have problems finding a job in the north west.

General info:

The Hospitality Industry

Mining Jobs In Australia

Work And Travel Australia

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