Cairns economy: Ways to make some money on the side in Far North Queensland

Side gigs and odd jobs are a great way to turn your passions, hobbies and talents into a money-making avenue, and a successful one can eventually burgeon into a full-time job. SEE THE LIST

SIDE gigs and odd jobs are a great way to turn your passions, hobbies and talents into a money-making avenue, and a successful one can eventually burgeon into a full-time job.

Cairns has plenty of avenues to make money from, businesses to help you get going, and support from apps like Gumtree and Uber to get your side venture off the ground.

There are multiple ways to make some extra cash.

MORE NEWS

Jobs bonanza as Far North employer hunts for talent

Premier pleads for Cairns JobKeeper extension

Major Reef tourism operator shedding jobs

SMARTadvice senior financial advisor Peter Horsfield said by focusing on your passions and hobbies, people could enrich their lives in more ways than making money.

“For those who think they have to spend money to do something worthwhile...it’s the thing we do with our time and who we’re with that makes our experiences memorable,” he said.

We’ve put together a list of potential side hustles waiting to be explored.

1. Start your own market

Jessica Monk and Ellen Hatton check out some earrings at Cairns Local Christmas Market at Cairns Showgrounds in December. Picture: Stewart McLean

For those with a creative streak, or a lot of preloved items gathering dust at home, markets offer a great way to trade that in for money.

Far North Queensland has a thriving market community, with plenty of avenues available for someone to set up shop.

Whether it’s produce, arts and crafts, homemade food or clothing, the region’s markets have something for you.

2. Housekeeping

Keeping a house clean and tidy can be a chore at the best of times, and there are many out there who’ll pay for someone to do it for them.

Businesses like Maid2Match have become popular avenues for people to book a domestic or office clean.

Check out the prices these services are offering for a good domestic clean, and look into apps like Gumtree and Airtasker are a great way to advertise your domestic skills.

4. Become a mystery shopper

Crowds pack Cairns Central Shopping Centre in the CBD. Picture: Peter Carruthers

Another way to make money off your everyday activity, secret shopping is a nice way to earn some quick bucks while helping out other businesses.

Mystery shopper jobs are regularly advertised around Cairns on job websites.

4. Sell ads on your car

Make big bucks fast and support local businesses- what could be a better side gig?

Some companies provide apps which can connect people with businesses looking to advertise.

Once you’re signed up and in touch with a company, it’s a simple matter of installing the signs on your car and driving around as you normally would.

5. Petsitting

Kristen Mercer from Earlville with her 4 year old sharpie cross Lulu. PICTURE: STEWART McLEAN

Take your love of animals and channel it into a paying gig.

Cairns people love their pets, but the hot climate makes it important to give them regular care and attention.

Looking after peoples pets while they’re on holiday will always be on demand- advertise yourself on social media, or look to apps like Gumtree and Mad Paws.

6. Invest in stocks

Trading in the stock market is a popular way to make money, provided you’re prepared to deal with the risks and the recent GameStop stock market frenzy has created a wave of new interest.

With anecdotes of opportunistic new investors and even 10-year-old boys getting rich off the saga, the renewed interest in stock trading is clear.

For those looking to find out more, Cairns has a wide range of stock brokers and financial advisers who can get you started on the right path.

7. Social media influencer

Unrelenting Instagrammers are swarming over Far North Queensland ahead of the Instameet World Record attempt. (L-R) Robert Reed, or @bobby.j and Samah El Ali, or @poeticwordvomit take some photos at Kuranda Skyrail. Picture: Brendan Radke.

Yes really- blogging and posting on apps such as Instagram and TikTok can all turn into a lucrative gig if you do it well enough.

There are many avenues to build up your brand and many fields to build it in.

Far North Queensland offers a natural advantage for influencers, with beautiful tropical locales offering the perfect backdrop for anything from travel, lifestyle and fashion.

8. Become a tutor

Put your knowledge in areas like maths, science, arts and language to good use by becoming a tutor.

Whether it’s helping high schoolers cram their exams, or language tutoring for Cairns’ multicultural communities, you can put your skills to good use easily.

To find out more, check out sites like tutorfinder.com.au, or get in touch with Cairns TAFE to learn about volunteer tutoring opportunities to get your foot in the door.

9. Become a movie extra

These opportunities aren’t frequent but they could lead to big things.

As the Far North becomes a more attractive option for film and television productions, more chances will be available for local actors and artists to get involved.

Applying to become an extra is an easy way to get your foot in the door, or just make some extra money.

The Facebook group FNQ Reach Arts has been known to post updates when opportunities to become an extra pop up.

10. Professional streamer

E-Sports gamer and Cairns resident Jake “Virtue” Grannan.

While risky and competitive for a number of reasons, making a living off gaming via YouTube and Twitch has become a popular pursuit among young people.

It isn’t hard to see why- earning money off ad revenue while playing video games and building an online community sounds like a dream gig, but there’s plenty of risk involved.

The market for professional gaming is competitive, whether in livestreaming or the lucrative esports community.

Professional streaming setups are also expensive, requiring investment in a good microphone, soundproof equipment and current-generation gaming hardware, the latter of which is still hard to come by at the moment.

But for dedicated gamers with good community skills who are willing to make the investment, it stands as a dream job that could be done from anywhere.

Follow @JackLawrie94

Originally published as Cairns economy: Ways to make some money on the side in Far North Queensland