Warehouse picker / packer
Pick orders, scan stock and pack goods for dispatch.
AUSTRALIA · JOB GUIDE
Warehouse & driving jobs in Australia
Find picking, packing and forklift work, or explore dedicated guides to delivery driving and vehicle rental. Start with your experience, licence and the shifts you can reach.
Illustrative photo
This could suit you if…
You like organised, practical tasks and want to compare picking, dispatch and licensed forklift work.
The trade-offs
Industrial estates can be difficult to reach for early or night shifts. Temporary assignments do not guarantee a steady weekly roster.
01 / UNDERSTAND THE JOB
Which role suits your experience?
Is this a good working-holiday option?
Start with: Pick packing, sorting and dispatch roles that include training. A forklift licence is for forklift work; it is not a universal warehouse entry requirement.
Transport: Industrial estates often have early starts or night shifts. Match the actual depot and roster to public transport before choosing a room.
Length of stay: Temporary does not always mean a few weeks. Prioritise assignments whose dates fit your visa and travel plans; permanent pathways may suit a longer commitment.
Forklift operator
Move and stack loads using the forklift class you are licensed to operate.
Delivery driver
Collect and deliver goods using an approved vehicle and licence.
Vehicle rental / campervan preparation
Work around road trips. Explore branch roles and ask whether you could apply internally when you move to another city.
Clean rental campers, reset equipment and report damage before the next rental.
Where & when
Logistics businesses recruit across Australia. Search by worksite and shift times; hiring and hours vary.
Pick a role that matches your current licence
Picker/packer and dispatch work often starts with scanning, safe manual handling and meeting accuracy targets. Forklift operation is a separate licensed task: a course booking or warehouse experience does not permit you to operate a forklift without the required high-risk work licence.
For driving, state rules for overseas licences and vehicle classes vary. Tell the employer which licence you hold and ask whether it accepts it for that vehicle and insurance policy before you travel to an interview.
- Search by suburb and shift start time, then check the actual public-transport route at that hour.
- For labour-hire work, confirm the agency is your employer, who will pay you, and which site you are being sent to.
What can I apply for without a forklift licence?
Look at picking, packing, labelling, dispatch support and general warehouse-hand roles that say training is provided. These still involve accuracy, repetition and physical work. Ask about lifting, cold storage, shift length and targets before accepting. Experience scanning stock in a shop or keeping orders accurate is worth mentioning.
Check the commute before saying yes
Warehouses are often on industrial estates. Check the journey for the actual shift start and finish, including the walk from the bus stop. A 6 am start may rule out a journey that works in the afternoon. Tell the recruiter your transport limits so they can match you to a site you can reliably reach.
Looking for retail or office work?
Retail assistant
Assist customers, restock shelves and process sales.
Temp receptionist / admin
Handle calls, appointments, documents and routine office tasks.
Customer support
Resolve customer questions over phone, email or messaging.
02 / CHECK YOUR STARTING POINT
What you need before applying
Match the requirement to the role
Forklift operation requires the correct high-risk work licence. Driving roles require a suitable valid licence and employer/insurance approval; overseas-licence rules must be checked for the state and vehicle.
English you’ll use at work
Warehouse roles need accurate safety and dispatch communication. Driving roles also need clear communication with dispatch and customers.
Do I need a forklift ticket?
Operating a forklift requires the appropriate high-risk work licence: LF for forklift trucks and LO for order-picking forklifts. General picking and packing can be a separate entry route. A newly issued licence and recent operating experience are different things; experienced vacancies may require both.
What training happens on site?
Workplace induction covers pedestrian routes, handling stock and the equipment assigned to you. Scanners and pallet equipment need task instruction. Cold stores and food warehouses can also have specific clothing and hygiene requirements.
Training for forklift and equipment roles
General picking and packing relies on workplace induction. Forklift operation is a separate licensed role, and car delivery does not require warehouse machinery training.
Access Training Centre — beginner forklift LF, South Australia
Three days of training and assessment, advertised from $770 (17 October 2026). Regional prices differ and the SafeWork SA licence application fee is additional.
Pinnacle — forklift LF, Melbourne
Training and assessment at Port Melbourne or Braeside, with pre-course study. Successful assessment is followed by the regulator’s licence application; fees are shown on the booking page.
04 / FIND A HIRING ROUTE
Companies & agencies to approach
These links take you to recruitment channels. Check current vacancies, location and work rights for the individual role.
Track saved employers in your dashboard
Labourpower
Search portal includes Sydney-area logistics and manufacturing roles.
Working-holiday acceptance: check the role
LEAP Labour
Sydney construction and warehouse recruitment; temp and casual placements.
Backpacker recruitment information available
What this employer asks for
- White Card for construction sites.
Hays Sydney
Sydney recruiter covering trades and labour among other sectors; browse jobs or submit a CV.
Working-holiday acceptance: check the role
AWX
AWX explicitly recruits holiday makers and backpackers for short-term work. That is company-level evidence, not acceptance for every warehouse or manufacturing role. Ask the local team for suitable temporary assignments.
Search the official jobs page or register through its candidate link. Check each advert’s work-rights and experience requirements.
Pay, accommodation & getting there
No universal wage, accommodation or transport arrangement is published for these enquiries. Request the rate, site address and shift times for your assignment.
Checked 17 October 2026. Confirm current terms with the employer.
Manpower
Industrial recruitment covers warehouse, manufacturing and transport assignments. Search pick packer, forklift or warehouse assistant and select a location.
ALDI warehouses
Distribution-centre recruitment for warehouse teams. Select the warehouse location and advertised shift pattern; these are separate from ALDI’s store jobs.
05 / MAKE A USEFUL APPLICATION
Show the experience that matters
On your CV
List scanners, stock systems, Excel, customer service and licences you actually have. For vehicle preparation, show attention to cleaning and fault reporting.
Include availability, location, work rights and current credentials.
Before accepting an offer
Ask about lifting requirements, shift transport, productivity expectations, vehicle costs and whether the role is employment or contracting.
Before accepting a warehouse or driver shift
Ask about start and finish time, guaranteed hours, lifting and repetitive tasks, temperature, productivity targets, training, PPE and the route to the site. Confirm whether the advertised rate already includes casual loading and whether overtime or shift penalties are separate.
For delivery work, clarify who provides and insures the vehicle, how fuel and tolls are handled, whether the role is employment or contracting, and how waiting or failed deliveries are paid. Do not use your own vehicle until those terms are clear.
Help the recruiter place you
Put your current suburb, available shifts, earliest start and expected stay near the top of your CV. List licences accurately and distinguish licences from experience. Give a phone number you will answer. When contacted, ask for the worksite, shift, pay basis, employer or agency name and reporting instructions in writing.
What if I have registered but heard nothing?
Registration is a first step, not a booked shift. Follow the agency’s contact instructions, update your availability and apply to suitable advertised roles. Save the agency here, then mark it Applied in your dashboard once you have actually sent your details. Keep applying until a start is confirmed.
How much does it pay?
For entry-level storeworkers covered by the Storage Services and Wholesale Award, the starting adult casual day rate is $33.85 an hour. The same classification has higher Saturday and Sunday rates.
| Role / shift | Hourly pay |
|---|---|
| Grade 1, starting day rate | $33.85 |
| Grade 1 after 3 months | $34.26 |
| Grade 1 Saturday | $47.39 |
| Grade 1 Sunday | $60.93 |
Adult award minimums effective from 1 July 2026, before tax and excluding super. Casual loading is already included. These rates apply where this award covers the job; an enterprise agreement may apply instead.
These are warehouse rates. Delivery, retail and rental branches can use different awards; follow the relevant job guide for those roles.
06 / CHECK THE DETAILS
Official guidance & learning
Sources for the practical guidance
Reviewed 17 October 2026. Employer application routes are starting points, not confirmed vacancies.
Sources and research dates
Research reviewed 16 October 2026. Recruitment links are not confirmed vacancies; check current role requirements, pay rules, course availability and visa conditions before acting.