Why not head down under for an Australian gap year, or a New Zealand Kiwi adventure? You would certainly need a full year to explore all the incredible sights these islands have to offer, but if your time is limited, we also have shorter duration courses available. You can offer your time to help others, take a skills course such as learning how to scuba dive in the South Pacific, or take a paid internships or guaranteed job that will enable you to earn the money to travel beyond your host town or city. Australia is one of the most incredible gap year destinations on Earth!
Whatever your reason for liking the region, there are plenty of opportunities down under to work, volunteer, or just hang out as part of your adventure. Our advertisers offer courses in the big coastal cities like Sydney, Melbourne and Aukland, as well as many small settlements in the dry Australian interior, with names like Coober Pedy, Cunnamulla, and the famous Alice Springs.
A Projects Abroad teaching placement is ideal for anyone who would like to make a positive contribution across the developing world. Your role will include working with local schools, NGOs or universities, where you will find yourself taking classes or teachers with lessons.
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Projects Abroad
Projects Abroad offers the chance to care for underprivileged children in orphanages, day care centres, special-needs centres and kindergartens. As a volunteer you will enhance the growth, development and well-being of the children.
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Projects Abroad
Do you want a career that will take you across the globe? Do you want to live and work in the world's top ski destinations?
Become a ski instructor with EA Ski & Snowboard Training and fast-track your career in the snow industry. Choose from 30 resorts across five countries. More Details..
EA Ski and Snowboard
Our Short-term Special projects are group trips for 16-19 year olds and run throughout the summer months. If you have time to spare over the summer holidays then why not join us on one of our short programmes designed especially for you.
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Projects Abroad
Want to get turn your love of skiing or snowboarding into a career?
Become a ski or snowboard instructor. Receive world-class training, gain internationally-recognised qualifications and get a guaranteed paid job offer at the ski resort of your choice. More Details..
EA Ski and Snowboard
A Projects Abroad teaching placement is ideal for anyone who would like to make a positive contribution across the developing world. Your role will include working with local schools, NGOs or universities, where you will find yourself taking classes or teachers with lessons. More Details..
Projects Abroad
Why not learn new languages in a diverse community in the developing world? With help from our teachers you will improve your speaking, reading and writing skills through one-on-one tuition and group sessions. There will also be plenty of opportunity to practice your new skills with your host family More Details..
Projects Abroad
Projects Abroad offers the chance to care for underprivileged children in orphanages, day care centres, special-needs centres and kindergartens. As a volunteer you will enhance the growth, development and well-being of the children. More Details..
Projects Abroad
Volunteer on a Conservation & Environment placement with Projects Abroad and help to conserve some of the world’s most beautiful and fragile ecosystems. You may find yourself diving on our Shark Conservation project in Fiji, working in the heart of the Amazon rainforest or working with sea turtles More Details..
Projects Abroad
Popular Asian Destinations:
Australia, New Zealand
Quick Asia Facts:
Population - 30 million
Languages - English, Maori, and many other Polynesian languages and native languages
Visa Information:
You will need a visa to visit Australia and New Zealand, the type depends upon the duration of your stay.
What is the attraction when it comes to Australia, New Zealand and the many Pacific Islands? Is it because they are about as far away as you can possibly get? Is it because many Australians and New Zealanders are our distant ancestors and therefore speak the same language? Is it because everything from the landscape down to the trees, is so very different? Or perhaps it is because the weather that we like to moan and fret about is so much warmer and brighter.
Want a thrill-seeking tour of Australasia as part of a round the world trip? Fancy learning to be a surfing instructor or lifeguard with a course at some of the best beaches in Australia? How about teaching sports to underprivileged children in New Zealand? Or you could take part in wildlife conservation in Western Australia?
I have recently returned from a 12 month working gap year in Australia, a trip that was one of the best experiences of my life! I travelled on a 12 month package with Real Gap which started off in Sydney with an amazing week of sight seeing, meeting new people and partying! Real Gap's rep was really helpful, especially during the first week because even though I was excited and looking forward to the adventure, it was still a daunting experience. The work experience program was very helpful in helping me set up my bank account, apply for an Australian National Insurance Number, sign up for job support and providing me with guidance in Sydney when I first arrived. They also helped me find my first job which allowed me to get the hang of how it works over there, after which I felt confident enough to go solo, do my own thing and find my own work with the knowledge that if I needed assistance Real Gap would be there to offer help and advice.
If you go to Australia on a working holiday or working gap year, be sure to go with an open mind and don't expect to land your dream job right away. I started off fruit picking on a vineyard for a few weeks which was hard work, but ultimately enjoyable and paid reasonably well. It also allowed me to work in the beautiful Australian countryside and get rid of my English sun tan! I then signed up to a recruitment agency which was owned by a friend of a friend and they landed me plenty of work, which varied from unloading a 40ft shipping container filled floor to ceiling with tins of Tuna, to helping move and set up furniture for a catalogue photo shoot! Although some of this work was hard going, it allowed me to see new places, experience working life in another country and meet new people who could provide me with other opportunities. I was never destined to be the best Tuna unloader (my office hands were too soft!), so I was fortunate to get an interview through a friend at a Industrial Castings company (it turned out to be one of Australia's largest companies) and I secured an office based Sales Co-ordinator role which was fantastic. This gave me a great opportunity to build my confidence, learn new skills and really immerse myself in the Australian lifestyle. The extra money was great because it meant I could plan weekend trips to various places of interest, I was able to buy a car so I could get about more easily, and I was able to play rugby and surf every weekend. At the end of my time in Australian Gap Year I was offered a position with the same company in their Perth office, and although this would have been an amazing opportunity, for one reason or another I had to return home (not before I enjoyed a 4 week road trip up the east coast to Brisbane!)
If you're planning on taking an Australian Working Gap Year, give yourself plenty of time to do everything you want to do because the country really is that big. There's plenty of work out there but as I mentioned earlier, go with an open mind and don't be afraid to get your hands dirty because it will be worth it in the end. I'm really glad I used a company like Real Gap because they were fantastic in helping me get established, secure my first job and I'd imagine it was far easier and less daunting than doing it by myself, but once you're out there make the most of it and take every opportunity that comes your way.
