FAQs Australia

Where will I be working?
The majority of jobs are in Queensland and some may be in the neighbouring territory of New South Wales. All are in rural Outback locations. Queensland is in the North East corner of Australia which makes it perfectly situated for you to travel down the popular East Coast after your job ends. top

When I can go?
Oyster send participants to arrive in Brisbane at around 6.30am on the last Thursday of every month. top

What age do you have to be?
To be eligible you need to be between 18 and 30 when you apply for your visa. Most participants are aged 18-24. top

What happens on the Training Course?
You spend 5 days gaining an introduction to Outback life. You will learn the basics of motorbike riding, tractor driving, chainsaws, horse riding and cattle mustering. Its great fun, tiring and will stand you in good stead with your employers. top

Will I be alone on the placement?
No, you will be met at the airport and join up with a group of around 20 other people from different parts of the world – all participants have to have good English. You will get to know the group well during your 3 day stay at the beach before your course begins. On your training course you will be split into groups of 4-5 and will be based at a Training farm, living with a farming family. If you make a good friend during the training you can be found a job with them. Even if you don’t choose to work with someone else, there will be other people working at your job that you will become good friends with. top

Can I apply with a friend?
Yes and you can be found jobs together in the Outback too. Please mention this on your application form. top

What will the weather be like?
Queensland’s weather is split more into wet and dry seasons. The wet season is from November to May and is the hotter and wetter half of the year. January to March are particularly wet and the temperatures are hotter averaging between 30ºC and 50ºC due to high humidity. The dry season is between May and October with temperatures averaging 20 ºC. There are clear blue skies and little rain. top

What work can I do?
There are three main types of work which we offer: hospitality – bar, restaurant and hotel work, home-school teaching for the children helping on the farm, or farm work; working with sheep, cattle or crops. top

What are the steps to getting a job?
Firstly you should apply to us by filling out our application form and pay the £50 non-refundable deposit, this forms the first part of the program cost. We will then call you to talk about the work and arrange an informal phone interview. We will then email or post you a detailed pack with forms that you must return to us to formally accept your place. top

Why do I have to pay a £50.00 non refundable deposit?
For two reasons, to ensure we get serious applicants, and to cover the administrative cost of recruiting, interviewing and support you receive from us while you are making your decision to go to Australia. The £50.00 can either be paid on our website with a credit or debit card by clicking on the PayPal link or by sending a cheque to our office or by bank transfer. To pay the balance of £945 you can pay by Paypal but we will have to pass on Paypal’s 3.4% charge. Alternatively you can pay by cheque, or by bank transfer. top

Am I guaranteed a job?
Yes, we guarantee that you will get a job after taking part on our training course. Our Australian partners have been training and finding jobs for people for 17 years and nobody has ever failed to get a job. top

Who is eligible?
You should be between 18 and 30 years old and be from the list of eligible countries given by the Australian Embassy for the Working Holiday visa: UK, USA, Canada, Ireland, France, Finland, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Taiwan. You need skill in the English language to a good conversational level or better!> top

Do I need qualifications?
You don’t need any qualifications just a “can do” attitude, bags of enthusiasm and willingness to have a go. Any relevant experience that you have, may mean that you may earn more in your wages. A Full Driving Licence is desirable but not essential. If you cannot drive you must hold a Provisional (Learner) Licence. top

What is included in the price of £995?
Included in the price, is the cost of your 9 day induction and training course, transport to the beach and training farm and your food and accommodation throughout. (You will need a little money to cover food and trips in Brisbane and on the beach). You will get a meet and greet at Brisbane airport, admin in the UK and ongoing support whilst you are in the UK and Australia. You are also given an Aussie hat. top

What is not included?
The price of your visa (set at Au$195 until July 09), your flights (from around £670 to £900), insurance and the cost of transport to your job from the training farm (budget a maximum of A$500). You will also need funds for food and activities when you are in Brisbane and at the beach. top

Can you change the job if you don’t like it?
Yes, if you don’t like the job after giving it your best shot, another job will be found for you. top

How long are the jobs for?
The minimum length of the job is 3 months and you can spend up to 6 months in the same job. If you want to have another job after 6 months, we can find one for you which should be better paid after 3 or 6 months of experience. top

How long can I stay in Australia for?
On your first working holiday visa you can stay for a year working in Australia. If you have done 3 months of farm work or more then you are eligible to apply for a second working holiday visa which will allow you to extend your trip for another year. This cannot be done if you are a citizen of Chile, Thailand, Turkey or USA. top

What are the working hours like?
The hours will be similar to those in the UK. 5-6 days a week and 30-40 hours a week.
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Do I need to buy clothes before I go?
No, just take what you have. You will be taken to a shop when you arrive at your training course where you will be given the opportunity to get decked out in Australian farm clothes so that you don’t stick out too much. An Aussie hat is included in the price! top

How do I get a visa?
You apply online once you have had your phone interview. Once you have accepted a place we will email or post you an information pack with all the links you need. It normally takes around 48 hours to get a visa but do allow longer. top

I have a criminal record. Is that a problem?
Not necessarily, you would need to tell us more before we could take your application further. top

Will I have access to the internet and telephone?
Yes. Although it is likely to be by satellite link. This is usually good but not as good as a landline. top

Can you tell me more about flights?
You need to arrive at Brisbane by 6.30am on the Thursday that your program begins. Book a direct flight into Brisbane, don’t fly via Sydney or Melbourne, there is no need and it takes longer. There are about 40 international arrivals into Brisbane every morning. Oyster are ATOL bonded and can book your flight for you or we recommend you go direct to Australian Specialists - Hallmark Travel on01342 312305 ask for Charmaine Hallmark. They have a reputation for excellent service as well as the lowest fares. top

When do I need to apply?
As soon as you can, we have a limited number of places for each program. You need to apply at least 2 months before you go. In certain circumstances, we might be able to accept late applications but not less than 6 weeks. top

What will insurance cost?
Our recommended policy costs £206 for 6 months and insures you for working rather than just backpacking. There are cheaper policies but generally you get what you pay for. top

How much will I be paid?
This does depend on what level of skills and experience you have. Wages range from around Au$350 after tax per week, up to Au$800 per week for a tractor driver. top

What's special about Oyster?
Our team in the UK and overseas have considerable experience in arranging gap year placements abroad. Our UK staff have all undertaken Oyster projects and others and know what makes a great gap year. We offer carefully chosen placements in different parts of the world to deliver this. top

How long have you been going?
Most of our placements have been running since 2000 and we have been operating under the name of Oyster since 2006. We will be happy to put you in touch with those who have travelled to our placements in the past. They will be able to tell you directly about the service and expertise offered by the UK team and our representatives abroad. Australia is our newest destination launched in 2008 - our partners have been running this program since 1992. top

Is Oyster a member of the Year Out Group?
Yes, we are a full member of the Year Out Group. Our procedures have been assessed and the Year Out Group has taken into account that our placements and staff are well established. top

Find out more

Contact Roger (01892 770771; roger@oysterworldwide.com).