Paid work for tough Poms
Oyster's farm work programme opens the door to jobs all over Australia's vast outback. We help you get started with a fantastic 5-day course at a training farm and a job-finding service - all kicked off with a relaxing stay at the beach!
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 and be paid around A$350 (approx £180) per week, plus free tucker and 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 help you sort it up to the 12-month point.
At the end of the application form for Australia, you will be asked to pay the first £50 of the program fee. Once we receive this, and your application form, we will 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
What will I be doing in the Outback?
Aussie farms are remote and need help with all sorts of farming and maintenance jobs. These could include rounding up sheep and cattle, mending fences, picking crops or doing essential work around the farm.
You'll need to be ready to help out with whatever needs to be done, and to work outdoors in all weather - no whingeing Poms, please. It's tough, physical work, but at the end of the day you can sit out under the stars sharing beers and stories with your work mates. And you'll sleep like a log! Read our blog for more information.
Is it all work?
No! You'll have a day exploring Brisbane when you arrive and then three days at famous Rainbow Beach, getting to know your companions and enjoying the lengendary Aussie sun, sea and sand. At the end of your job you can plan some extra travel - or get back to the beach again.
Our ideal candidate
Our ideal candidate for this type of work is someone who has a full driving licence, has farming work experience (either arable or livestock) or experience in both riding and taking care of horses, is a determined hard worker and physically fit to do farm work. Having said this, a positive attitude, friendly demeanour and being a hard worker count for a lot.
You MUST have a driving licence or have a test booked before you travel to Australia.
Tell me more
You’ll be met on arrival at Brisbane International airport and your paperwork - including visas, medicare 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 a specialised farm skills training course. 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. It's hard but fun and you make great friends as there are only 4 of you with each farm instructor.
During this time you'll be helped to find a job via their dedicated website. If you’ve got extra skills or experience (advanced riding, veterinary, tractor driving, building work or even secretarial and cooking skills) let them 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.
Representative
Joanna
Australia's an easy place to adjust to, but there may still be times when you want a bit of advice or help. Our Outback participants end up working all over the country, so you won't have a rep nearby as with our other placements. Instead, you'll have access to support from Joanna and her team in Goomeri - plus 24 hour help from us in the UK, should you need it.
Supporting you
At Oyster we specialise in providing friendly support and advice to those we send away. We'll help you get all the preparations in place so you can look forward to your trip with confidence. Once out there, the support continues with your induction in Brisbane, job-finding service and ongoing help from Joanna and Oyster. It's a big country, but you won't be on your own.
Accommodation
You will stay on a farm either with the farmer’s family or in workers' accommodation. 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.
Cost and what is provided
Cost
Oyster's Outback Programme including 3 days at Rainbow Beach costs: £995
If you don't want a guaranteed job it's just £850
What is Provided?
- An excellent and well-regarded farm training course (5 nights). Certificate, food, accommodation, work hat, t-shirt, sim card and internet access all included
- A guaranteed job, with help finding subsequent work for the duration of your visa (12 months)
- Being met at Brisbane airport on arrival (1 night hostel accommodation)
- A restful holiday at Rainbow Beach when you arrive (3 nights hostel accommodation)
- Excellent preparation from Oyster, including one-to-one interview and informal briefing
- Advice on obtaining a working visa
- (Optional) Help finding a competitive and suitable return flight to Brisbane (cost around £900)
- Full financial protection through our ATOL bond if Oyster book your flights
- Help and advice from our UK office
- Support and advice in-country if you need it
- Food and accommodation at your workplace
- Travel (by bus) to Rainbow Beach and the training centre
What do I need?
- A passport valid for 6 months beyond the end of your placement
- You must be eligible for an Australian working holiday visa (UK and 18 other nationalities)
- Hold a full drivers license
- Hold either a Visa or Mastercard credit or debit card
- Insurance - we can recommend you a policy
- Cost of return flight to Brisbane (we can book for you) - approx £900
- Cost of changing your flight if you need to - approx £30
- Your travel costs to the airport
- Cost of travel from training farm to job (budget for up to A$500)
- Independent travel and accommodation costs when not working
- Some money for food during your first 4 nights at Brisbane and on the beach
- Appropriate clothing (we will advise)
- Living costs (hostel and food costs) while not working i.e. when travelling over several days to a job or if you are inbetween jobs
And one more thing:
We chose our farm course for its high standards and its great teacher pupil ratios - 1 teacher to 4 pupils means you'll have plenty of attention.
