Staying for an extra year on a Working Holiday Visa in Australia requires completing 88 days of specific regional work. While finding a reliable job might be the toughest part—or keeping the job—having the best gear for regional work is essential for getting the job done.
Gear for regional work is also integral to staying safe and comfortable while completing any job.
I always check out local op shops for clothes to wear for work, but special gear usually isn’t found in op shops. The biggest differentiating factor about this gear is its quality, cost and design. Balance these three factors when purchasing any gear.
It’s good to work for a week or a few days to assess if you’ll stay at the job. It’s annoying to purchase gear, use it for work, then realize you hate the job, and the gear can’t be returned.
The gear on this list are general options for nearly any type of regional work. Most is targeted towards outdoor jobs. All the gear I used while working in different regional jobs in Australia, through different weather conditions and regions.
Table of Contents
Wide-Brimmed hat
When it comes to important gear, a wide-brimmed hat, is essential for any outdoor job. It has so many uses. It’s fantastic when working outdoors, going to the beach and bush walks. Wide-brimmed hats aren’t just responsible for keeping sun off your face and neck.
It also helps to soak up sweat from your head and forehead. It can mildly protects your head from hazards, such as tree branches. There’s also wind protection, such as dirt blowing in your face. Many wide-brimmed hats are made of materials with SPF protection. Others are guaranteed for SPF 50+ and bug protection. A hat may also protect your eyes from the sun, if it’s not possible to wear sunglasses at work.
Sunglasses or Safety Glasses
Wearing sunglasses or safety glasses as eye protection can prevent injuries and protect your eyes. Either way, erring on the side of caution and wearing eye protection is the best way to prevent an accident.
Not wearing sunglasses on days with high UV can cause long term damage to your eyes, according to a study. Safety glasses can also prevent an eye injury, when sunglasses might not be necessary. I used them while picking avocados because I was climbing trees to pick the fruit. It’s comforting to have a stick scratch your glasses knowing it could have been your eye.
Work Boots
Proper footwear has an array of benefits. There’s no better time to invest in quality shoes than while working outdoors or standing for hours. Runners, track shoes or sneakers can work for many jobs, especially when working indoors. But, when it’s raining and mud is involved, those shoes might not work as well.
This is why it’s better to go for boots of some kind. They often provide ankle support and more water protection than running shoes. While tree planting, I invested in a pair of Keen hiking boots which was a life saver! They’re waterproof and provide support for my feet and ankles.
Slip-on boots are also great, they keep dirt and dust out, while providing comfort and support. I use Rossi’s Endura slip-on boots for general farm work, or walking around. It’s important to find a boot that works best for your job. I also use rubber boots when it’s really wet outside. Remember to balance the price with the quality and design of a product, and check for possible warranties too.
Gloves
Gloves are the single best item to move quicker in regional jobs, when working with hands. No they don’t actually give you speed. What they do is provide a small layer of protection. This prevents cuts and scratches that could reduce your speed.
Somehow I also feel stronger wearing gloves because I can lift things easier, and get better grip on things, which would normally pinch my fingers or hands. Everything is a bit easier with gloves, which is why I recommend them as gear for regional work.
Fly Net
There’s a lot of hate towards fly nets, probably because they look hilarious. Aside from not going with any personal aesthetic, they’re actually very functional. I didn’t want a fly net until I swallowed flies twice… on different occasions. The first time a fly went in my nose, and then I swallowed it. The second time a fly entered my mouth while I was just laughing and I swallowed it.
Each time I felt equally violated and disturbed. After this I gave no thoughts on how I looked wearing a fly net. I just didn’t want to swallow another fly. Some also have a sun guard on the back for extra sun protection on your neck. Aside from online, they can usually be purchased in outdoor stores.
Long-Sleeve Pants and Shirts
Different weather conditions call for different clothing and coverage. Something that doesn’t change through sunny or cloudy days is the amount of sun that hits your skin. Wearing long-sleeve pants and shirts can prevent unwanted and dangerous UV rays.
It might be nice to get a tan, but with a tan or burn comes increased risk of skin cancer. Even if your job is only lasts a few months, it’s still around eight hours a day outdoors in the sun. I find it’s more comfortable to wear long-sleeve pants and shirts in dry weather, versus humid. Extra protection can go a long way with Australia’s sun.
Boot Covers
These Australian boot covers are a genius idea to keep dirt and other debris out of your boots and socks. Usually made from cotton, these boot covers are almost like a skirt that sit above your boot and can be worn with shorts, pants or another clothing.
By keeping out rocks, sticks and dirt, the boot covers help you to work faster. This is opposed to not using boot covers and constantly stopping to take annoying and often painful debris out of your boot. Bonus: your socks and boots will be cleaner by the end of the day too!
Hydration Pack
Staying hydrated helps in so many aspects of regional work. It can help to prevent overheating, exhaustion, and stamina. It’s important on hot and cooler days. I often found it difficult to consume enough water with a water bottle. This was from having to stop, grab the bottle, drink, put it back, and return to work. Often I couldn’t hold it on me, so it was in a tractor or at a specific location.
A hydration pack removes unnecessary time that comes with drinking from a water bottle. It also holds more than other water bottles. They’re available from outdoor stores or online on different levels of quality and price. However buying a product with a warranty insures the product will last longer and won’t leak, such as Camelbak.
If you’re looking for more information on regional work in Australia check out my tips on completing regional work, avoiding exploitation and a few of the best jobs.
