Planning the best Australian working holiday for your gap year
August 29th, 2014Australia is a great destination for students who want to take a gap year. The country has a warm climate and a good mix of urban and country terrain. As such, there many different kinds of work opportunities in Australia, from office work to farming, fruit-picking, and even jobs in ski resorts. You will be thrilled to know that a student can find a job in any of these areas.
Taking a gap year after college is a great
way to explore the world and gain some real-life experience. A round-the-world trip is an excellent way to gain some maturity and will benefit you greatly in your academic and career pursuits. Before you leave for Australia, you will have to secure a working holiday visa. This visa is issued to persons aged 18 to 30 allows you to work in Australia for 12 months. Once you have taken care of your travel admin, you can start looking for a job. Because Australia is such a dynamic country, you will find hundreds of types of jobs, from fruit picking to teaching people how to surf.
Fruit Picking
Things to do during your gap year
Much like fruit farming, fruit picking is a seasonal job. While the job may appear easy, it requires physical labour often in hot weather. Nevertheless, it is a good way for you, as a traveler, to earn money because you do not need a qualification or experience. What’s more, you will get a chance to experience Australian nature. November to April is the busiest period for fruit picking and the main harvest normally takes place in February. Fruit picking is however an all-year chore in regions such as northern coastal areas in New South Wales.
Queensland
A third of Australia’s fruit and vegetables is grown and harvested in Queensland. It should be easy to find work here as farmers often hire migrant laborers and helpers. The Queensland region produces many different crop including bananas, vegetables, sugar can, beans, as well as wool, cotton, and cattle.
New South Wales
New South Wales is said to be one of the best places to find work as a fruit picker. Farming in general involves cattle, pigs, and hay, but as a fruit picker you will likely work with apples, and perhaps wheat and rice.
Victoria
The fruit picking season extends from November to April and peaks in February in Victoria. Cobran is the predominant fruit picking area as it has a variety of fruit. Other crop is farmed in the Yarra Valley.
Remember that if working outdoors is tedious, you can offer to lend the farmer a hand with indoor farm work.
Surf Instructor
To be a surf instructor you have to know how to surf. There are many surf instructors and schools from which you can learn the sport. You will learn not only to navigate the waves, but also get into shape, learn lifesaving, and volunteer at a registered surf school. Surfing in Australia is a serious business so the entry requirements are very specific. Once you have mastered the skill yourself, you can begin teaching others. The surf capital of Australia is the Gold Coast in Queensland. The Gold Coast has around 57 kilometres of coastline and is home to some of the most popular surf breaks in Australia.
After a long day of surfing, taking a time out at one of the Gold Coasts hottest casinos is not a bad option too. Winning a bit of cash on the side while enjoying a night out isn’t a bad thing either, especially when gap year funding can sometimes be on the low side. And hey, for those who don’t want to face the crowds at a land-based casino, there is always Euro Palace slot games that you could try out online.
Dive Supervisor
If you have any experience diving then perhaps you will enjoy sharing that experience with others by overseeing dive lessons. Diving is a popular hobby on the Australian coast and there is always hundreds of positions available. As a dive supervisor you will be responsible for coordinating and supervising all diving activities. Be aware that you need certain qualifications and training in this field to fill this position.
These jobs capture the spirit and culture of Australia. So not only will you earn vital travel money, but you will get a chance to experience Australia as it is.
Open House
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Wayne