How to become a Jackaroo
Jackaroos (male workers) and jillaroos (female workers) undertake a range of activities on cattle and sheep stations.
Personal requirements for a Jackaroo
- Enjoy working outdoors
- Able to deal confidently with people
- Good communication and organisation skills
- Able to make accurate observations
- Mechanical aptitude
- Able to cope with the physical demands of the job, undertaking manual and often heavy work
- Able to endure isolation and limited social contact
- Interested in animals and their welfare
- Able to handle animals with confidence and patience.
Duties & Tasks of a Jackaroo
Jackaroos and jillaroos may perform the following tasks:
- Care for livestock and treat minor injuries and illness
- Muster on horseback or motorbike
- Maintain station equipment and inspect, repair or replace fences, gates and yards
- Use and maintain vehicles and heavy machinery
- Undertake farming work such as cultivation and haymaking
- Assist with light household duties
- Undertake clerical and administrative tasks.
Working conditions for a Jackaroo
Jackaroos and jillaroos spend most of their time working outdoors. They may live in shared accommodation on the property or occasionally in the house of the owner or manager.
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