Work in Northern Territory in August/September

Yep, tourists will be less as you get towards the end of the dry season which it is now, October/November regarded as the build up to the wet season and weather at that time which sees even some of the regular population heading south so getting work in tourism or hospitality could be a bit difficult.
You might check when the Mango season starts up there, I having known of people putting up with rather brutal weather to make all of $8/h about October/November/December it might have been.
You might be better off re opportunity and weather to head for Atherton/Atherton tablelands inland from Cairns and see how you go getting some work there around September/October to do some vegetable picking work for reasonable money so you'll not be so destitute in Darwin

If you are going to drive to Darwin, make sure your car is in reasonable condition, especially re cooling system and carry plenty of water with you for yourselves, like say have a few 10L or 20 L containers and get some Hydrolyte tablets from a Chemist shop, adding one tablet per litre of water for drinking will prevent you from getting dehydrated as long as you drink a few litres a day, even more if you are working in humid weather as you'l likely be sweating out sweat at a great rate, losing your body salts and water alone is just not so good.

We had eleven years in Darwin, and from my experience there is always work there, whether it is hospitality, retail, or office work (Darwin is a big government town). We loved living there, and it has a tougher, harder vibe than Townsville / Cairns, but also laid-back in its own peculiar way. You do slow down.

If this is your last major destination before leaving, then I strongly recommend you do it, even if it means experiencing the buildup season (November / December). Sitting with some Thai food, watching the sunset at the Mindil Beach Markets, is something you'll always remember.

And the drive from North Queensland to Darwin is long, but all bitumen and not too bad ... certainly have a night at the Barkly Homestead ... it's a bit of a roadhouse icon.

I agree with Jingili - just my second-hand experience through friends, but I most often hear that there is always work in Darwin because it's not as "chockas" (full) as Sydney/Melbourne (where friends - especially travel friends - have struggled long and hard to find work).

Hope that helps!

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