Blog

Blog Categories

How to Get a Station Hand Job in Australia (2027 Guide) Everything you need to know to land your first cattle station job, impress employers and kick-start a career in Australia’s livestock industry. Jump to a Section What is a station hand? Do you need experience? Station hand readiness checklist Licences and qualifications Practical skills employers value How to prepare your résumé Writing your...
I've known Chris Morrow for a few years now. The former Kimberley station manager has spent much of his career working cattle across northern Australia and, like many station managers, he's turned his hand to just about everything along the way, from flying helicopters and driving road trains to riding horses and, most importantly, being a husband and dad. Chris driving a road train in 2023. Today, Chris is based in Broome with his...
Kimberley sunsets and dust always make for a good photo, but this one tells a much bigger story. Pictured above are Station Hands Lucy Shallcross from the Pilbara in Western Australia, Lucy Simpson from Southern NSW and Alyce Robben from Central Queensland after a long day's work at Blina Station in the West Kimberley. The photo was taken following a particularly dusty afternoon in the yards during the station's first-round muster. The...
There’s something sacred about smoko on a cattle station. Whether the crew is out in the stock camp, fencing, working cattle in the yards or back at the homestead, smoko is the pause that keeps the day moving. It is not just a tea break. It is a chance to refuel, catch your breath, come up with a nickname for a mate, have a yarn and work out what still needs doing before knock-off - and yes smoko can still include a 'rolly' or...
Kris Utech these days in his trusty hat Clancy Utech , 24, from the NT contacted RFTTE by Instagram saying: 'I showed my Dad the photos that Lynette Wood shared recently and he loved them! He speaks of life on the stations daily so was excited to take another trip down memory lane. My dad, Kris Utech, was the Head Stockman of Christmas Creek station in the Kimberley from 1985 - 1989. He met my mum, Christine, who was the Govie...
If you’ve ever thought about heading bush and giving it a crack, 2026 is shaping up as one of the best years yet to land an outback job in Australia. From cattle stations in the NT to cropping operations in QLD and WA, the demand for workers is strong - especially for those willing to roll up their sleeves and commit to a season. What counts as an 'outback job'? Outback jobs typically fall into a few key categories: Cattle station...
So you’ve heard the stories from those who have experienced working on an Australian cattle station – it could be Mum or Dad or brothers or sisters or mates… or some old fella ‘holding up the bar’ down the pub telling a few bronco branding yarns from his ringing days on a Kimberley cattle station. People love to talk about their time on stations, sharing tales of hard work, camaraderie, and unforgettable moments. Working on a cattle...
Terry with faithful shadow Kyber at her Riveren beginnings – the camp fire stove, the bough shed living area and the tent master bedroom – in the middle of nowhere." If you're not living on a cattle station, then you'll get transported to one on every page you read in Terry Underwood's epic autobiography 'In the Middle of Nowhere'. Earlier this year in Darwin at the Northern Territory Cattlemen's Association Conference I had the pleasure...
When I was working on a station most of us had a nickname... Longfella (he was tall), Hank (Quilty), Woody (Allen), Tiny (Yes, he was big), Turtle (It's a long story), Rambo (Big knife on his belt) and Burner (tanned easily)... I was lucky, I liked wearing cheap 'Servo Sunny' aviator sunglasses, so I copped 'Mav' as in Maverick... The art of the nickname. Whether you're a ringer, chopper pilot, cook, truck driver - or even the boss, chances...
What to Bring to a Cattle Station: Complete Packing List Heading to a cattle station for the first time can feel daunting, especially when it comes to knowing what gear to pack. This practical cattle station packing list covers the work clothes, boots, bedding, toiletries, tools and personal gear most station workers should consider taking. This guide has been compiled with help from experienced RFTTE members, station workers and...
Here's a succinctly and well written piece telling us why a lot of properties won’t allow you to bring your dogs with you. In a nutshell, some employers do take dogs and some don't... it's a simple case of asking before you go... so there are no surprises! NO DOGS ALLOWED Let's talk about dogs. Everyone loves them, and so do we. The 'no dogs' condition is very common on cattle stations and every time we advertise a position vacant, we...
3 Ringers | Wave Hill Station 2022 by Emma Moss Former Kimberley-based ringer Emma Moss shares her advice for those seeking to work on cattle stations ‘up north’… Maybe you have left high school, finished university, had a quarter life crisis, watched ‘Territory’ on Netflix, or want to find yourself a dinky-di cowboy or cowgirl. So, now what? You may find yourself asking: Should I go up north? Okay, the idea of uprooting your life to a...