As soon as we receive the £50 we fix a time for an informal telephone interview with you. If, after interview, we were unable to offer a place we would return the £50 to you.

The 'can do' country

Time to prove we're not whingeing Poms! The Aussies expect hard work and a positive attitude: in return you'll be set up with an employer for initially up to six months, trained up for the job and paid around A$350 (around £180) per week, plus free tucker and a swag (OK, free bed and board).

The great thing about our Australia Gap Year placements is that you can earn enough to finance another few months' travel - or pay off your trip. And if you'd like more work, we can sort it up to the 12-month point.

STOP PRESS! We can now arrange paid work in Sydney's retail, bars, restaurants or offices for those who prefer an urban lifestyle. Support, training course, the first week's accommodation and help with job finding all included at £795 (food and accommodation after the first week excluded). Just let us know your preference when you apply.

Sweat but no tears

Generally speaking, job opportunities come into the category of farming:

• Farming: tough physical work, with jobs ranging from animal husbandry and rounding up sheep or cattle, to fencing, fruit harvesting or grape-picking.

If you’re a good rider, were brought up on a farm, have worked with vets or driven tractors, done building work or secretarial or cooking, let us know - sometimes particular skills can lead to further possibilities.

Please note: At the end of your training course, we guarantee you a job in the Outback, however if you are a vegetarian or want to find work with a friend then you may have to wait slightly longer to get your job.

You MUST have a driving license or have a test booked before you travel to Australia.

Getting there

You’ll be met on arrival at Brisbane International airport and your paperwork - including visas, transport and setting up bank accounts - will be sorted out. Then it’s straight to the beach for three days of rigorous relaxation.

Next stop is a family-run farm near Brisbane, where you spend five days on an initial training course that includes job interviews. The course is respected by employers and will get you off to a really good start. You get to drive a tractor, ride a motorbike, muster cattle, learn to fence, change a wheel and work in the heat. Its hard but fun and you make great friends as there are only 4 of you with each farm instructor.

We’re right behind you

You’ll have experienced local support throughout your stay in Australia from Joanna and her team - plus 24 hour help from us in the UK, should you need it. The family running your initiation course will help sort out travel arrangements to get you to your new job. And if you want help finding another job, they will supply your details to around 1,800 employers.

Accommodation

You will stay on a farm either with the farmer’s family or in workers accommodation.  If you are in a hospitality job accommodation will normally be on site or close by.  There is considerable variety and we ask you to be flexible, you might be sharing a room or you might even have your own room with aircon on a farm with use of a pool.  You will find out all about the accommodation when you are offered your job so there will be no surprises.  Accommodation and food are provided free of charge  - in return you are expected to treat your  accommodation with respect and be a friendly, helpful house guest.