The Globetrotters eNewsletter Travel Advice Corner
Anna and Magda wrote in asking for help with voluntary placements in
Australia: we are two girls living in Germany, age 19, just finished our
A-levels (Advanced school leaving certificate). Our reason for writing
is, that we would like to do a voluntary practical year in Australia.
WE would be very grateful if you could give us further help in this. Best
regards Anna and Magda.
The Beetle responds: As you are both under 30, you are most likely eligible
to apply for a working visa in Australia. So maybe if you contact the
Australian embassy in your country, they can advise you about this. Roughly
speaking, you are not allowed to do a “professional” job, so
you are only allowed to do casual work such as potato, fruit picking or
short term work. No one piece of work can be over 3 months either.
The Beetle suggests that you search on the internet using the words
“voluntary work Australia”. This is a good site to start with:
Volunteer Search in addition,
the April 2002 Globetrotter e-newsletter 2002 had an article by
"http://www.conservationvolunteers.com.au/">conservationvolunteers
email
"mailto:info@conservationvolunteers.com.au">conservationvolunteers
about conservation volunteer opportunities. There’s also always
the WWOOF organisation, see:
"http://www.wwoof.com.au/">Wwoofing, which caters for people who
want to work on organic farms. There’s also:
"_blank">Working Holiday MakersAustralian Department of Immigration
and Multicultural Affairs.
ATCV (Australian
Trust for Conservation Volunteers) accepts Australian and foreign volunteers
for a wide range of conservation projects throughout Australia.
"_blank">Australian Jobs Guide by Nomads World features visa information,
job packages, agencies and a harvest guide for fruit picking/harvest work.
"_blank">Diving in Australia has an employment database.
"_blank">Pelican Point Windsurfing in W. Australia has employment
opportunities for instructors.
The Cape Tribulation
Tropical Research Station accepts volunteers for conservation projects.
Travel Jobs Network,
a service for Australian and New Zealand job seekers.
TNT Magazine
has an excellent section on finding temporary work in Australia.
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The Beetle received an e-mail from the parent of a college student,
studying in L.A. They wanted to know where their daughter and two friends
could go on an inexpensive package for their spring break April 12-18,
2003. Hawaii maybe?
The Beetle agreed that Hawaii, (but not Oahu – which can be a
little touristy and expensive, when the other islands have far more to
offer) would be a great option. It is possible to buy reasonably priced
fly drive holidays around the Hawaiian islands, where our reader’s
daughter and friends could share a room at a very nice hotel at a good
price. With only 6 days, I would recommend either the Big Island alone
or alternatively split between Kauai and the Big Island. If a car and
swish hotel is too expensive, then it is possible to find moderately priced
accommodation on the Big Island, so this should cut the cost, but a car
is definitely a must!