Make a Country Change to

Hay Shire Council

Credit: Hay Shire Council

Located in the middle of the Hay Plains, the flattest place in the southern hemisphere, Hay Shire is the perfect combination of history and modern-day life.

Hay Shire has a rich history – incorporating First Nations people, pioneering agriculture, the Cobb & Co Coach, as well as rail and river boat transport. Hay is not just a town, it is a community, with the people of Hay being the community’s greatest asset.

Credit: Hay Shire Council
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Hay Shire Council

13. Hay :: GEOCADDER
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Education
Healthcare
Culture & Recreation
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Get in Contact

Rachel Whiting - CEO/Director RDA Riverina
02 5924 5861
ceo@rdariverina.gov.au

Hay Shire Council

Wagga Wagga

Liveability

Weather

33.4
°C

Average Summer Max

16.5
°C

Average Winter Max

17
°C

Average Summer Min

3.9
°C

Average Winter Min

Population

2,861

Population

48.3

Median Age

Housing

$260k

Median House Price

NSW Communities and Justice, Rent and Sales Report 2025

$230

Median Rent Price

NSW Communities and Justice, Rent and Sales Report 2025

Distance to Cities

sydney

724km

Distance

7h 40m

Drive Time

Canberra

509km

Distance

5h 39m

Drive Time

Melbourne

423km

Distance

4h 58m

Drive Time

TRANSPORT Options

Hay is not serviced by public transport, a private vehicle is necessary.

Credit: Outback Shearer, Destination NSW
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Industries & Opportunities

The Hay Shire is recognized for its Merino sheep and wool industry as well as agricultural and horticultural industries, with a wide range of commercial crops such as rice, corn, and wheat, as well as lettuce, rockmelon, broccoli, grapes, and garlic are all grown and distributed from the area. Hay Shire is centrally located to transport this produce to markets in Melbourne, Canberra Sydney, and Adelaide.  

In recent years, Hay has seen a boom in tourism, which has led to increased opportunities in both the retail and hospitality industries.  It should be noted that many new businesses have been established in Hay over the recent years, due to businesses uncovering the potential of the region.

As such, there are many employment opportunities available for those making the move to Hay, with main opportunities available in the agricultural, hospitality, retail, and service sectors.

Towns & Villages

Hay, Booligal , Booroorban, and Maude.

Main Industries

Primary Employers

Setting Up Your Own Business

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Jobs in This Region

Content provided by
Child Development Worker - Play2learn
Our play-centred program, Play2Learn, is one of our most successful and longstanding programs across Australia, helping families and young children learn to play, socialise and establish routine. We’re looking for a passionate educator who can combine high-quality early childhood practice with empathy, flexibility, and strong community engagement to ensure every child has the best possible start to their learning journey. 54 reasons is Australia’s leading child rights organisation – no ordinary not-for-profit. Proudly part of the Save the Children Australia Group and global movement, we’re here to make sure that children and young people have their rights met and thrive, in all their diversity. With the child’s voice at the centre, we provide quality services to children and their caregivers in every state and territory, and across regions, remote areas and capital cities. From our programs to our support services - this is the place to realise your purpose. A place to make a difference: In this permanent part-time role (5 hours per fortnight on Fridays during NSW school terms only, excluding school holidays and public holidays), you’ll work as part of our Play2Learn NSW team in Hay to help us create lasting change for children everywhere. You’ll coordinate the planning, implementation, and review of culturally appropriate developmental play and learning experiences for children, while also providing support and information to parents on developmental issues and facilitating referrals to relevant health, education, and welfare services. Reporting to the Team Leader, you may also be required to travel to our Wagga Wagga office for training approximately twice per year. You will make a difference by: Planning and facilitating fortnightly playgroup sessions Finding creative ways to encourage families to engage with our support programs and services Identifying and addressing physical, social/emotional, and educational needs Providing information and referrals to families to access other relevant programs or welfare agencies Carrying out process monitoring, data collection, and reporting A place to feel valued: Your deep expertise in early childhood development and play-based learning will be invaluable. You bring experience in early childhood programs and the ability to think on your feet to respond effectively to complex situations. Your enthusiasm and proactive approach will see you actively engaging families who may benefit from support, while your cultural knowledge enables you to build strong, respectful connections with children and families from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. A collaborative team player, you demonstrate an “all-hands-on-deck” attitude and contribute positively to a supportive, outcomes-focused team environment. This role requires: Diploma in Early Childhood Education or a related field (minimum), or substantial demonstrated experience and knowledge in child development Experience working with children aged 0–5 years and their families in a group setting Experience working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and/or culturally and linguistically diverse communities Knowledge and understanding of the Early Years Learning Framework Competency in Microsoft Office programs and the ability to use client management databases A place to belong: At 54 reasons, we invest in the development and wellbeing of our people. Our workforce is approximately 600 people strong, and proudly diverse, whether in race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexuality, cultures and beliefs. It takes all types of people to do the challenging work we do. We are diverse personalities, backgrounds and talents, embracing our differences as one strong and united team. We see and celebrate the unique value you bring to our organisation, and offer a range of rewards for your effort, including: Generous award rate salary (Level 3.1 – currently $38.65 per hour) plus super and full salary packaging benefits - use this link to see how much this benefit could mean to you! Supportive Managers – we provide professional supervision training and monthly supervision sessions so you can feel supported and build a career Support for workplace wellness, including access to our free, confidential Employee Wellbeing Program Internal deployment and secondment opportunities, and opportunities to progress within one of Australia’s largest non-profits Celebrate and feel supported in your diversity. We have a highly inclusive culture and diverse workforce reflecting the communities we serve, allowing you to bring your whole self to work (if that’s what you want)! Follow this link for the full list of our employee benefits. Does this sound like the place for you? We’d love to hear from you. Submit your cover letter and resume below. Applications Close: Friday 6th of March 2026 . Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis as they come in, so don’t delay in applying! Position Description: Child Development Worker For more information about this position, please contact Patrick Sagigi at patrick.sagigi@54reasons.org.au or Louise Clark at lousie.clark@54reasons.org.au. Or for more information about a career at Save, visit our Careers Page. We have tested our application process with diverse groups in mind, with the intent to ensure its straightforward and accessible for all to apply. D iversity and inclusion are fundamental to our culture and improve our ability to reach our most vulnerable client groups. But we also know there is no one-size fits-all when it comes to recruitment - so if we didn’t quite hit the mark for you, please let us know at people.culture@savethechildren.org.au . We’re dedicated to ensuring Save the Children Australia is a place where everyone can feel supported – no matter your r ace, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexuality, neurodiversity, culture and beliefs. Save the Children Australia is a child-safe organisation. All employees are required to undergo a National Police Check, a Working with Children Check, and sign our Child Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct. We also support the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme . Save the Children is committed to providing and maintaining a safe working environment for its employees and client groups, consistent with our obligations under OH&S legislation. If you are having any issues with uploading your application for this role, please contact people.culture@savethechildren.org.au for further support.
Fri, 20 Feb
Hay, 2711, NSW
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Credit: Matt Beaver
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History

Hay Shire has a rich history – incorporating First Nations people, pioneering agriculture, the Cobb & Co Coach, as well as rail and river boat transport. Hay is not just a town, it is a community, with the people of Hay are the community’s greatest asset.

Hay is a town that is strongly connected to its history and proud of its past. This is evident when you see the number of museums that Hay has to offer. These historical stories of Hay’s past are showcased in the FIVE museums in Hay (Bishop's Lodge Historic House, Dunera Museum, Hay Gaol Museum, Hay War Memorial High School Museum and Shear Outback - Australian Shearers Hall of Fame).

Dunera Museum - Credit: Destination NSW
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Credit: Hay Shire Council
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Recreation & Arts

There are many options on offer when it comes to sport, culture and recreation in Hay. Sport is an excellent opportunity for all members of the community - both young and old - to meet new people and while enjoying the health benefits of exercise.

Sports currently available in Hay include (but are not limited to) - basketball, cricket, dancing, netball, and rugby league.  There are many events hosted in Hay and its surrounding districts throughout the year that draw visitors from far and wide, including: Carrathool Races, Hay Rodeo, Hay Show and Booligal Sheep Races.  

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