Australia's pet care market is worth A$21.3 billion and growing at over 12% per year. 73% of households own a pet. With remote work making location flexibility more accessible than ever, house sitting and pet sitting have become one of the most practical ways for Australians to travel, save on rent, and do genuinely rewarding work. If you love animals and want to get started, here's everything you need to know.
Step 1: Be Honest With Yourself First
Before building a profile, think carefully about your genuine experience and comfort level. You don't need formal qualifications, but homeowners will ask about your history with animals. Think about pets you've owned or grown up with, animals you've cared for even informally, any first aid knowledge, and how comfortable you are with dogs of different sizes and temperaments. Being honest here protects both you and the animals in your care.
- Owned or grown up with dogs, cats, or other pets
- Cared for a friend's or family member's pet while they were away
- Worked in veterinary, animal shelter, or pet retail settings
- Studied animal science, veterinary nursing, or a related field
- First aid knowledge, human or animal
- Experience with specific breeds, senior animals, or pets with medical needs
Step 2: Build a Profile That Gets Chosen
Your profile is your first impression, and it needs to feel like a real person wrote it. Use a warm, natural photo where you're clearly with an animal. Write a bio that mentions specific pet experiences, what you bring to a sit, and why you genuinely love this kind of work. Vague profiles get skipped. Specific, honest ones get enquiries.
Step 3: Get Verified. It Makes a Real Difference.
On Sitterly, you can add three verification layers: email, government ID, and police check. Profiles with a police check badge receive significantly more enquiries from homeowners, especially for longer sits or pets with complex needs. A National Police Check in Australia typically costs $42 to $56 and takes two to five business days through the Australian Federal Police or an ACIC-accredited provider.
Police Checks Are Worth the Effort
Many homeowners filter specifically for police-checked sitters, particularly when leaving for overseas or for sits involving elderly pets or special medical needs. The cost is usually recovered in the savings from your very first sit.
Step 4: Write Applications That Feel Personal
When you apply for a sit, write a message that is clearly specific to that listing. Mention the pets by name. Reference something from the listing that caught your attention. Explain why you're a good fit for this particular sit, not just any sit. Homeowners receive multiple applications. The ones that feel personally written get read. The rest get skipped.
Step 5: Make Your First Few Sits Count
Your first two or three sits are your foundation. Take thorough handover notes. Send daily photo updates without being asked. Leave the home in better condition than you found it. Always respond to messages promptly. Your reply rating is built automatically from how quickly you reply, and a strong rating makes every future application more compelling. A great reply rating compounds quickly. Build it from day one.
What Does a Sitter Actually Get Out of This?
On Sitterly, pet sitting is a non-monetary exchange. You receive free accommodation in exchange for caring for the home and pets. In capital cities, that's the equivalent of $200 to $400 per week in accommodation costs you're not paying. For a digital nomad, remote worker, or someone between rentals, this changes the maths completely. Joining Sitterly is currently free for sitters during our growth phase, making this one of the most cost-effective opportunities available.
Where Are the Best Opportunities in Australia?
Sydney and Melbourne have the highest volume of listings, but regional and rural Australia often has the most memorable sits with far less competition. Queensland's hinterland, Western Australia's south coast, Tasmania, and the NSW Central Coast attract sitters who are willing to travel a little further. Being open to locations beyond the capital cities opens up a completely different level of experience.
