Skip the Canadian winter and run dozers in the Australian summer.
We’re hiring experienced Canadian heavy equipment operators to join a seasonal wildfire strike team in Victoria, Australia (Jan–Apr).

• $40–$55 AUD / hr + double time over 50 hrs

• 50 hr weeks standard, more when fires are running

• 12–14 week contracts (Jan–early Apr)

• Housing provided + work vehicle

• Flights & visa costs reimbursed at end of season (conditions apply)

• Add Australian wildfire experience to your CV

What the job actually is:
You’ll be part of a dedicated wildfire strike team working out of Spring Hill, central Victoria (nearest town: Kyneton). When fires run, you’ll deploy across Victoria and other regions as required, operating:

• Bulldozers

• Excavators

• Posi-track / skid steers

Standard roster is Monday–Friday, 10-hour days (50 hours). When it’s burning, expect long days, overtime, and real work.

When fires aren't burning and your not deployed on the strike crew, you'll be running equipment doing vegetation management and land clearing. 

What you’ll do:

• Construct and maintain firebreaks using dozers / excavators / skid steers

• Support wildfire suppression alongside Australian crews

• Assist with vegetation and land management when fires aren’t active

• Look after the equipment and work as part of a tight-knit strike team and work in with the broader dakota contracting team

Pay & season details:

• Rate: $40–$55 AUD / hr (experience dependent)

• Overtime: Double time for hours over 50 per week

• Season: Early January arrival, work through to early April (12–14 weeks)

• Typical seasonal earnings: $24,000–$33,000+ AUD before OT, plus additional OT when fires are active

What’s covered / perks:

• Housing provided near the yard in Spring Hill, VIC

• Work vehicle provided for work use

• You pay for your flights and visa upfront

• Flight + Working Holiday Visa costs reimbursed on successful completion of the season (details confirmed in contract)

Who we’re looking for (must have):

• Canadian citizen, eligible for Australian Working Holiday Visa (generally under 35)

• Solid experience on: bulldozer and / or excavator and / or skid steer

• Able and willing to work 50+ hour weeks & OT when required

• Physically fit and safe on active wildfire sites

• Previous wildfire / bushfire or forestry experience

• Clean enough record to obtain visa and insurance

Nice to have:

• Previous wildfire / bushfire or forestry experience

• Class 1 (air) and Road Ranger experience

• Experience working remote / camp-style projects

Visa & travel:
You are responsible for obtaining your Australian Working Holiday Visa and booking your flights. We provide links, guidance, and an agency contact, and reimburse approved costs at the end of the season (subject to completing your contract and performance conditions).

About Dakota Contracting

Dakota Contracting is a specialist land management company focused on vegetation mulching, land clearing, and fire prevention across Australia. We work with everyone from private landowners through to major government contracts, helping protect people, property, and critical infrastructure from the risk of wildfire.

A big part of what we do is building fire breaks. Our crews construct strategic breaks in vegetation that act as barriers to slow or stop the spread of wildfire. These fire breaks are a critical part of modern fire management, giving firefighters safer access, helping contain active fires, and providing vital protection for the communities and assets we work around.

To do this properly, we run an extensive, purpose-built fleet of machinery: bulldozers, excavators, skid steers / posi-tracks and mulching equipment matched to different terrains and conditions. Our gear is selected and maintained to handle steep, rough, and remote country so we can complete even the most challenging jobs efficiently and safely.

During the Australian fire season, Dakota also supports wildfire operations with a dedicated strike team. These teams are made up of experienced operators working on the front line alongside local crews, cutting fire breaks, supporting suppression, and carrying out follow-up vegetation and land management work.

For this season, we’re building a Canadian-heavy equipment strike team to join that effort. If you come out, this is the crew you’ll be part of: real work, real responsibility, and a chance to add Australian wildfire experience to your CV while working with a professional outfit that does this year in, year out.

Links to Dakota Contracting 

www.dakotacontracting.com.au/

www.instagram.com/dakotacontracting/