Petme sitter guide · Australia

A side job with pets in Australia

Becoming a pet sitter in Australia comes down to four steps: choose the services you will offer, apply, pass identity verification and a background check, then set your rates and the days you are free.

This guide walks through how to become a pet sitter in Australia: what you need before you apply, whether you need an ABN, what owners pay in capital and regional cities, when demand peaks, and how to win your first bookings.

Apply to be a Petme sitter in Australia

Up to 90%

of every booking kept by the sitter

20,000

Protection Plan maximum for eligible vet costs

300K+

members on Petme

4.9 / 5

average sitter rating

Earnings snapshot

What Petme sitters actually earn in Australia

You keep up to 90% of every booking one of the strongest take-home rates in the industry. The numbers below are the live rate bands in Australia. Sitters set their own price within these bands, and most active sitters earn $688 to $1,720 per month, depending on the mix of services and how many overnight stays they take.

Service	Rate range	Per
Dog walking	$20 to $40	walk
Drop-in visit	$20 to $35	visit
Pet boarding (at sitter's home)	$45 to $85	night
House sitting (at owner's home)	$55 to $100	night
Doggy day care	$35 to $60	day

Top Australia cities for sitter demand right now:

SydneyMelbourneBrisbanePerthAdelaideGold CoastCanberraHobart

Ready to set up a profile and pick your rates? Start your application.

The practical side

Everything sitters in Australia need to know before signing up

Earnings are only half the picture. Below are the tax, scheduling, protection, and payout realities of running a Petme sitter profile in Australia. We've written them out the way an experienced sitter would explain them to a friend.

Cashback that brings owners back

Owners get cashback after every completed booking, which gives them a reason to book you again. You keep up to 90% of every booking, and owners who come back are the quickest way to fill your calendar.

Apply in Australia

Protection for the pet in your care

The Petme Protection Plan can contribute toward eligible vet costs if something happens to the pet in your care. It is a discretionary fund, not insurance, and there is nothing extra to buy. The 24/7 support team is there for emergencies, so you are never alone with a problem at 3am.

Seasonal demand

Australian demand peaks in the summer school holidays, which for 2026-27 run from mid-December to late January or early February depending on the state. Easter and the winter school holidays are the next busiest stretches.

Payouts within 2 days

Petme releases your payout automatically once a booking is marked complete. The money lands in your bank account within 2 business days. No invoicing, no chasing the owner. The platform takes care of it.

Set your own schedule

Accept only the bookings you want. Pause your profile any time. There are no minimum hours and no schedule lock-in. Most Petme sitters in Australia start while holding another job and only go full time once their calendar fills naturally.

FAQ

Pet sitter questions about Australia, answered straight

These are the questions Petme sitters in Australia actually ask before signing up, and the ones they wish they had asked sooner. Each answer is specific to Australia, not a generic template.

How much do pet sitters earn in Australia?

Earnings depend on the services you offer and the hours you put in. As a worked example at Australia rates, eight dog walks a week at the lowest walk rate come to about $688 a month, and four nights of house sitting a week at the top rate to about $1720. Overnight boarding and house sitting pay the most per booking, drop-ins and walks the least. You keep up to 90% of every booking: Petme's service fee is 10-20%.

What does a typical week look like for a Petme sitter in Australia?

You set the week yourself. One example: 4 dog walks during weekday lunchtimes, 2 drop-in visits in the evenings and one overnight stay at the weekend. At the lowest Australia rates that week comes to about $175. Taking more overnight stays is the quickest way to raise it, because they pay the most per booking.

How much do dog walkers make in Australia?

Dog walking pays $20–$40 per walk on Petme. A 30-minute neighbourhood walk is typically priced near the lower end; longer walks, multi-dog walks, or walks in busy city centres command the upper end. You set your own rate when you build your profile.

How much does overnight pet boarding pay in Australia?

Boarding at the sitter's home pays $45–$85 per night, and house sitting (you stay at the owner's home) pays $55–$100 per night. Overnight care pays more per booking than any other Petme service, so a few stays a month move your income the most.

How does Petme's service fee work?

Petme takes 10-20% from each completed booking and the sitter keeps up to 90%. The fee covers payment processing, customer support, and the Petme Protection Plan for eligible vet costs.

How fast do payouts arrive in Australia?

Payouts are released automatically once a booking is marked complete in the Petme app. The money lands in your bank account within 2 business days. You don't need to invoice the owner or chase payment: the platform handles it end-to-end.

What protection is there for the pet in my care?

The Petme Protection Plan, which can contribute up to $32,000 toward eligible vet costs if something happens to the pet in your care. It is a discretionary fund, not insurance. Petme also offers 24/7 customer support so you're never left handling an emergency alone.

What do I need to start as a Petme sitter?

You need to be 18 or older, own a smartphone capable of running the app, complete ID verification, and demonstrate genuine experience around animals during your profile review. Some local rules apply for commercial-scale boarding: see the country-specific question below.

How quickly can I get my first booking?

It depends on the services you offer, your rates and how many owners near you are looking, so there is no fixed wait. What you control is the profile owners choose from: at least 4 clear photos, a written bio, clear service descriptions and rates in line with Australia. Opening your calendar over school holidays and Christmas, when owners travel, puts you in front of more requests.

Can I pet sit alongside my regular job?

Yes. You set your own availability and accept only the bookings that fit, so sitting in Australia can run alongside a full-time job: dog walks fit lunchtime windows, drop-in visits fit evenings, and weekend boarding fits around a Monday-to-Friday week.

How do I become a pet sitter in Australia?

Decide which services you want to offer, such as dog walking, drop-in visits, boarding or house sitting, then apply at petme.social/au/become-a-pet-sitter. You complete identity verification and a background check, add photos and a bio, and set your own rates and availability. Owners nearby then message you in the app.

Which services should a new pet sitter in Australia offer?

Start with the services your home and week can support. Dog walking and drop-in visits need no spare room and fit around another job. Boarding needs a dog-safe home and a check of your council and strata rules, and house sitting means staying overnight in the owner's home. You can add services later.

Do I need an ABN to be a pet sitter in Australia?

You need an ABN if your pet sitting is a business, meaning ongoing, repeated work done to make a profit. business.gov.au says a hobby is not eligible for an ABN, and that without an ABN other businesses must withhold 47% from payments they make to you. Regular paid bookings usually point to a business.

When does a pet sitter need to register for GST in Australia?

You must register for GST once your GST turnover reaches A$75,000, or when you expect to reach it in your first year, according to the ATO. You need an ABN before you can register, and you have 21 days to do it once required. Below the threshold, GST registration is optional.

What do owners pay for pet sitting in Australian cities?

In capital cities owners typically see A$55-90 a night for boarding at the sitter's home, A$60-105 a night for house sitting and A$28-45 a walk. Regional cities run lower, at A$40-65, A$45-75 and A$22-35. These are prices owners pay; you set your own rate and keep up to 90% of each booking.

When is the busiest season for pet sitters in Australia?

The summer school holidays are the biggest peak. For 2026-27 they start between 10 and 18 December depending on the state and end between late January and early February. Easter and the winter school holidays come next, so opening your calendar for those dates early helps you get booked.

Are there local rules around boarding dogs at home in Australia?

Rules on how many dogs a household can keep are set by local councils, and some require approval above a set number, so check your council's rules before you board dogs at home. If you live in a strata building, read the by-laws too, because they can restrict pets or business use of a unit.

How do I get my first bookings as a new pet sitter in Australia?

Finish your profile fully: clear photos of you and where pets will stay, a specific bio and rates that match your area. Open your availability for school holidays and long weekends, when owners search most, and reply to messages quickly. Early reviews from those first stays make the next bookings easier.

Where do I go to apply as a pet sitter in Australia?

Start at petme.social/au/become-a-pet-sitter. You describe your experience with pets and pick the services you want to list. After identity verification your profile is live, and local owners contact you directly in the app.

Ready when you are

Apply to become a Petme pet sitter in Australia

The full apply page has the signup form, service-by-service rate setting, and ID verification flow.

Start your application