FAQs Australia Conservation

Where will I be working?
You have the choice of which region you would like to work in; you have a choice of 15 gateway offices to begin your project from. If you are planning on volunteering for longer than 6 weeks we recommend you adding in a second or third starting point to your trip along with some independent travelling time. top

When I can go?
Oyster sends participants to arrive and start their project at their chosen gateway office for 11am on any Friday year round with the exception of Christmas. top

What age do you have to be?
To be eligible you need to be between 18 and 70 years old as well as having a reasonable level of fitness. Most participants Oyster sends to Australia are aged 18-24. top

Will I be alone on the placement?
No, this is one of the best elements to the trip. You will join a group of between 6 and 10 people who have the same interests as you, from all over the world. You will be spending your whole week with the rest of your group, with everyone getting involved in the cooking and preparation of meals as well as other domestic chores. top

Can I apply with a friend?
Yes, and you can be placed on the projects together. Please mention this on your application form. top

What will the weather be like?
The answer is that it varies a lot! The same for the rainfall. Typically the northern parts of Australia are warm to hot all of the year. It makes sense as it is closer to the Equator. In the north, the summer is also the rainy season. The coastal areas around Sydney are mild in the winter with minimum temperatures often staying above 10°C to 15°C. The summers are warmer and are typically in the mid twenties range. One should be warned that there are some instances where Australia may become very cold during the winter, especially at the higher elevations in Tasmania and the Victoria, snow may be abundant and temperatures are below freezing. top

What project work can I do?
There are many different types of project work, for you to do, for example: beach restoration, planting trees, weed control, animal surveys, track construction and boardwalk restoration. top

What are the steps to taking part on the conservation project?
Firstly you should apply to us by filling out our application form and pay the £50 deposit, this forms the first part of the program cost. We will then call you to talk about the project 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 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 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 your payment 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 without the additional cost.

top

Who is eligible?
Anybody with a valid passport which is accepted under the tourist scheme is eligible. You must not have TB or have a criminal conviction which required you to be imprisoned for longer than 12 months. top

Do I need qualifications?
You don’t need any qualifications at all, just an enthusiasm to join in with the group and a passion for the environment. top

What is included in the price?
Included in the price is the cost of your orientation in our partner’s gateway office, project-related transport and your food and accommodation whilst you area on project. You will get ongoing support whilst you are in the UK and Australia and you are given membership to our partner’s organisation which provides you with guided nature walks on some of your days off. top

What is not included?
The price of your visa (if applicable), your flights (from around £670 to £900), insurance, the cost of any accommodation or spending before your project begins and the cost of transport from the airport to your chosen gateway office. You will also need to cover the cost of any work clothes or recommended Kit from the packing list given before you depart. You will need a little spending money for excursions and activities on your days not working on the projects, top

Can I choose my project?
No, you don’t choose your project but you can choose where you begin your trip from which may have an influence on your project type i.e. there will be no beach restoration work in Alice Springs! Each project that you take part on will be doing different things so you will get a good experience of each of the different types of project work. top

How long are the projects?
The projects are either for one or two weeks, however you can do as many projects as you like with a minimum of 4 weeks. You will be working for 5 days per week with 2 days free which will include your travel if you are moving from one project to another. top

How long can I stay in Australia?
This would be dependant on your visa; most tourist visas are for 3 months which are free for citizens of European countries. There are also tourist visas available for 6 months or a year, but for a fee to the Australian immigration department.  top

What are the working hours like?
The hours vary but typically they will be 8am until 4pm with lunch, and morning and afternoon breaks. You will usually be working 5 days a week with 2 days free for relaxing and sightseeing and if you have finished a project you will move to a new project on a free day. top

Do I need to buy clothes before I go?
Yes, you will need to have work clothes for your project - long shirts and trousers, strong boots to protect your feet, work gloves and sun protection. You will be given a full packing list before you depart. 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 12 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?
This will depend on your project and where you are staying; unless you are staying in a hostel you probably won’t have internet access until your days off and this would rely on you being close to a town.
Telephone access is a similar story; mobile phone reception will be dependent on where you are. It is likely you will be staying close to a pay phone however. Project leaders will need to have communications in case of an emergency as well. top

Can you tell me more about flights?
You need to arrive at one of our partner’s offices in cities across the country by Friday at 11am on the week you want to start. You may decide that you want to travel a couple of days before you are due to receive your orientation so that can get over your jet lag. Oyster are ATOL bonded and can book your flight for you or we recommend you go direct to Australian Specialists  - Hallmark Travel on 01342 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 £138 for 3 months and insures you for volunteer work rather than just backpacking.  There are cheaper policies but generally you get what you pay for. 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.
‘The programme as a whole was excellent, very reliable. It was flexible enough to keep volunteers using the best of their abilities. The representative is brilliant. It’s no surprise so many people return to Romania and with Oyster. I definitely will.' Tamsin Clube 2007 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

“I think the programme as a whole was very well organised. I never had to worry because I felt like I was a part of a well planned placement where I could join in with the Nepali life as much as possible and always knew what I was doing” Alice Foren 2008

Find out more

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