Ski + snowboard instructor jobs in Australia

A great opportunity to boost your instructing experience during the Southern Hemisphere winter, Australia welcomes hoards of new instructors each year. Winters can be unpredictable but, when the snow’s good, conditions can be excellent. Ready for a winter Down Under after completing your ski instructor course? We’ve got you covered with everything you need to know.

Fast facts

• Huge, by Australian standards, Perisher is the country’s largest ski resort, with 1,245 hectares of terrain.
• Up your park game – Perisher is the number one Southern Hemisphere resort for professional park riders and Olympic hopefuls in the off-season.
• Best conditions? Thredbo is Australia’s highest resort, with a top elevation of 2,037 metres, plus the country’s longest runs.

Resorts

Australia has ten resorts to choose from, including two in Tasmania. With up to 100km of runs, the largest are in located in New South Wales and Victoria. Most resorts are a drive away from Sydney and Melbourne, which means that weekends can get busy with city folk.

Australia has stacks of snowmaking facilities to cope with unpredictable winters. You can expect everything from groomers and moguls to natural hits, powder bowls and steeps. Many resorts also have world-class snow parks that attract professional international riders.

Season: A typical Australian ski season runs from early-June to early-October.

Recruiting period: Most resorts start the instructor recruiting process in February or March.

Popular resorts:

• Mt Buller, Victoria
• Falls Creek, Victoria
• Mount Hotham, Victoria
• Thredbo, New South Wales
• Perisher, New South Wales

How to work here

To work as an instructor in Australia, you need:

• Minimum of APSI Level 1, or Level 2 with another ISIA body (e.g. CSIA/CASI, BASI, NZSIA)
• Australian working holiday visa or company sponsorship

Some snow schools ask snowboard instructors to be dual-certified – you may be allowed to obtain your ski qualification while in resort, so it’s worth asking first.

Pay + perks

Hourly pay varies between resorts. Here’s a rough guide to the pay structure:

• Level 1/2 – AUS$20 - AUS$31/hour
• Level 3/4 – more than AUS$37/hour

Bonus schemes can increase your earning potential. Some resorts use a progressive payment system that rewards staff for teaching more hours – the more you teach, the higher your hourly rate. Other resorts offer a $10 pay increase for every private lesson request. Tips can also top-up your earnings – these are most common with private lesson bookings.

Busy instructors work up to six days a week, with one day off. The number of hours you’re given can vary, depending on your qualifications and experience – a rookie instructor may be offered 200 teaching hours in their first season, while more experienced instructors can teach more than 100 hours a month. 

Not qualified yet?

If you're not yet qualified and fancy working as an instructor Down Under, check out our ski instructor courses / snowboard instructor courses.