Trustpilot

Up to 13 nights orientation available and 12months job support.

  • For full support opt for the horsemanship plus 8 day welcome package and job set up in Sydney .
  • If you are in country or have your work admin ready to go, no problem! Take the fast track 8 night programme on the horsemanship course and job to follow.

This is a unique equine experience for paid work abroad found nowhere else. A once in a lifetime opportunity for those passionate about horses. Receive a high level of teaching from our very qualified team, who will ‘Australianize’ your existing horse skills and set you up with a professional, paid job in the Australian equine industry.

 

Help clean up our oceans and learn to dive – or improve your current skills – on a beautiful beach in Barcelona. Spend your days foraging for plastic waste and old fishing nets, analyse your ‘catch’, and then wave goodbye as it makes it’s way off for recycling. You’ll have plenty of free time to explore this epic city of course, and you won’t be disappointed!

Not only does this volunteer opportunity involve caring for and working with horses, but what is more you will be volunteering in beautiful forest land, helping in the local community and giving disadvantaged people more opportunities – with the horses as your companions and modes of transport at most times!

Take care of abandoned cats who are waiting to be re-homed or enjoying living out their days in comfort. As well as the usual tasks such as cleaning, feeding and walking, you’ll also get a chance to help with plenty of ‘playtime’ and cuddles. Explore the fascinating city of Barcelona in your free time – from visiting the beach to checking out the sights, there is almost too much to keep you busy!

Join an expert team on a ‘Big 5’ reserve, situated on the edge of the beautifully wild Kruger National Park. With over 400 baboons in various stages of rehabilitation, you’ll get to learn so much about these amazing primates during your time at this bespoke centre.

Get off the beaten track to live on a beautiful Costa Rican beach, protecting the turtles that nest and hatch on the golden sands. Live like a local as you make a genuine contribution to marine conservation.

Join an international team of volunteers who are working together to care for rescued elephants in an inspirational sanctuary. Together you will be helping these elephants to have a life as close to the wild as possible, a far cry from their previous lives working on the streets or in tourist camps. Highlights include bathing and walking the elephants, allowing you to really get to know these gentle giants.

Volunteer at Eastern Europe’s largest bear sanctuary, helping to care for the world’s most beloved animal. Watch the bears enjoying their newfound freedom as you look after their basic needs in this beautiful woodland haven. Romania is described by many of our volunteers as “Europe’s hidden gem”, and with its vast number of outdoor, historical, cultural and city pursuits, you won’t want to leave!

Live on the wild side and get stuck in to the life of an assistant game ranger on a stunning game reserve, home to Africa’s Big 5. Enjoy the thrills of taking a safari, all whilst helping to promote the survival of African flora and fauna. Experience the lions roaring, elephants trumpeting and antelope running as you work out and about on the reserve each day.

Bears, birds, orangutans, monkeys, gibbons, deer, otters – and much more! – are being cared for by volunteers like you at this inspiring sanctuary on the outskirts of Thailand’s largest national park. Help to look after over 700 neglected animals, rescued from the cruel tourist trade, and brought to this sanctuary to recover. If that isn’t enough of a draw, there is even an on-site elephant sanctuary that you may be able to help at too.

Become part of an elephant research team, monitoring these gentle giants in their daily lives together. The project is located in a beautiful park, where you will be working closely with rescued elephants as they recover from previous trauma and stress. In your free time, explore the stunning Garden Route and immerse yourself fully in this wonderful corner of Africa.

Coach football, netball, hockey, cricket, rugby, tennis, basketball or swimming in one of the world’s greatest sporting nations, bringing your love for sports into some of Africa’s poorest townships. Coach just one or a combination of these sports to improve not only the children’s sporting abilities and teamwork, but your own as well. If that’s not enough for you, you can even get involved with childcare and teaching projects.

Work closely with wolves in a beautiful sanctuary in one of Portugal’s Nature Parks. These shy creatures are no longer able to live in the wild after having been kept in zoos, traded illegally or hunted by humans. Help to provide care and a life as close to the wild as possible to the largest members of the much-loved dog family.

Take the first steps to becoming a game ranger on this amazing 8 week course, working towards the highly regarded FGASA Apprentice Field Guide qualification. Live the life of a trainee game ranger on a lush game reserve, learning all about and participating in animal care, reserve management, game drives and more. If that’s not enough, your classroom is a Big 5 game reserve, with amazing animals at every turn.

Volunteer with over 200 exotic Amazonian animals in a beautiful rainforest sanctuary. From monkeys to forest cats, from caimans to birds, from tortoises to rodents, this wildlife haven is home to amazing animals aplenty. Contribute to their rehabilitation and care during the week, and explore this stunning corner of Ecuador on your weekends.

See the very best of Southeast Asia on this affordable backpacking tour. As well as the must-see highlights, spend time exploring the less-known parts of these amazing countries. Jam-packed with activities, there is something for every type of traveler.

A shocking 33% of food that is produced worldwide each year goes to waste. This project aims to tackle food waste in its own small way by collecting unused food from supermarkets and restaurants – and redistributing it to some of the poorest people within Lisbon.

Become a research diver on an exciting volunteer marine conservation project in Thailand. Get involved in daily dives to explore the health of the marine environment just off the stunning island of Koh Phangan. Suitable for new and experienced divers alike, this project allows participants to play in active role in tackling marine decline, all whilst enjoying the wonders of life under the sea.

Step off the trodden tourist trail and into the heart of stunning Sri Lanka, where elephants are still clinging on to life in the wild. Work closely with the local community to help promote the survival of the endangered Asian elephant, all whilst enjoying seeing these creatures roam in their natural habitat – a rare wonder.

Explore one of the most beautiful and untouched destinations on earth – New Zealand! Help local conservationists with their efforts to preserve some of New Zealand’s most beautiful locations. Chose from two gateway cities on the North Island and one on the South Island.

Actively help in the fight against plastics and rubbish clogging up our marine environment. On this project you will be doing daily dives to remove fishing gear, debris and plastics from the ocean around Lisbon. It is an amazing opportunity to make a difference and clean up our world.

Head into the heart of Borneo’s rainforest, helping to regenerate habitats and monitor local wildlife. From orangutans to pygmy elephants and from primates to crocodiles, you will be preserving these creatures and their habitat for generations to come. This is a once in a lifetime experience to live in a small remnant of paradise, immersing yourself in a way of life that has all but been forgotten.

Take part in a highly rated medical internship that gives you varied medical experience working on a mobile medical unit and within a children’s hospital. Work in a variety of medical settings and with a mixture of cases, shadowing doctors and nurses and actively contributing to the care of the patients.

South Africa is home to the amazing Marine Big 5 – sharks, whales, dolphin, penguins and seals – and their existence is under threat. Spend your days out on the water observing marine life, all whilst contributing to innovative shark conservation and eco-tourism measures. Help out at a penguin rescue centre and with beach clean ups to improve the damaged marine world. And if that’s not enough, why not tick something off the bucket list and go cage diving with sharks too?

Experience the rare desert elephants in the wild, helping these endangered animals and rural communities to co-exist in harmony. Enjoy all that desert life brings, from cooking over camp fires to sleeping under the stars, and throw yourself into the volunteer role, which includes tracking elephants, doing building projects and helping the local community.

Qualify as a CSIA Level 1 ski instructor in Whistler Blackcomb and join a world-renowned ski school, teaching children how to ski for the season. You get a job and staff accommodation for the whole season and get to enjoy the breath-taking scenery  and diverse cultural scene of Whistler Village.

This is the perfect opportunity to spend every day on some of the best slopes in the world suitable for all skill levels. While others typically require a Level 2 CSIA qualification to apply for Whistler Blackcomb positions, with Oyster, you’ll leap straight into an instructor role as a freshly qualified CSIA Level 1 graduate!

Join our 4 or 6 week Anwarter ski instructor course in Austria and have a guaranteed job for the rest of the season.

Our course is based in Kaprun, Zell am See, and you could then work anywhere in Austria as an instructor.

Want to tour Japan without breaking the bank? Join our 13 day adventure which starts in Tokyo and heads west towards Hiroshima. This backpacking Japan tour has been carefully created to ensure that your experience is authentic and unique. You’ll stop at all the hot spots along the way and get to experience all that makes this country so iconic.

Borneo has gone down in legend as one of the best places in the world for wildlife lovers. One of its most beloved species, the Bornean sun bear, is under threat of extinction, but you can volunteer to help tackle this tragic predicament.

Head to dynamic Vietnam – a country rising in popularity with the traveling community. Take part in cultural and sightseeing activities, gain a TESOL qualification and then teach in Vietnam for up to a year!

China – one of the largest countries in the world – is not only huge, but also diverse. Join our 25-day tour and travel an epic 3,392 miles, taking in the very best that China has to offer. Short on time? Opt for our shorter 16-day backpacking tour instead. This affordable and jam-packed tour of China will take you through spectacular countryside and into the busiest cities in the world.

Looking to see the best that India offers? Take part in a backpacking tour that will take you to the iconic highlights, as well as taking you to areas that are less explored. Choose to join either the 18-day tour of the north and west or opt for the shorter 13-day north India tour.

20 - 26 weeks

Whistler Ski Season Jobs

Applications for 2024/5 open.

Experience the buzz of working in the heart of a busy snow school as a member of support staff for Whistler Kids, or as part of the mountain operations team. Depending on your experience, we have a variety of roles available. Choose from being a kitchen assistant, preparing meals for the students and instructors; work as a den master, or as an Outdoor Ranger supervising the outdoor play facilities.

Whether it’s your first time seeing snow or you were born on the slopes, joining our team means discovering (or re-discovering!) a passion for the outdoors while building lifelong connections with teammates and guests from around the world.

Applications for 2024/5 season open late December 2023.

Front of House Experience : Work in one of Whistler Blackcomb’s most prestigious hotels or spas for a whole winter season. The work is tough but the pay is good and the days off are awesome! If you have hotel or hospitality work experience, use your skills to work in Whistler. All of the jobs are in Whistler Village and everything is within walking distance of the ski lifts. On days off, getting up on the mountain is a must!

Back of House Experience : This year we are also opening up the Chef and Kitchen team opportunities – if you have experience working in kitchens, or have just finished working in a culinary specific qualification or internship, you can join the teams at the one of the best 5* resorts in North America.

Join us in Whistler’s top hotels and spas for an amazing kitchen adventure! Picture yourself cooking up a storm in the heart of this famous ski spot. From creating tasty menus to working behind the scenes, you’ll be part of the action. Get ready for a thrilling ski season where your kitchen skills meet snow-filled fun. This is your chance to level up your cooking game with a big-name brand while enjoying the mountain buzz. Come join our team for a tasty journey that’s as exciting as it gets!

 

Bag yourself a qualification as a ski or snowboard instructor whilst on holiday in Whistler Blackcomb. Our 4 week course is designed to give you all the training you need to pass the CSIA or CASI Level 1 instructor exam. AST Level 1 is also included.

Express route to gaining both your Level 1 and Level 2 ski instructor qualifications in awesome Whistler Blackcomb.

Gain your CSIA or CASI Level 1 and 2 qualifications as a skier or snowboarder on our professional 11 week course in Whistler Blackcomb – North America’s number 1 ski resort. Avalanche Skills Training (Level 1 and 2) is also included so you get to experience the backcountry as well!

Gain unparalleled access to wildlife experts on a Big 5 game reserve, home to some of the most magnificent mammals on this planet. Shadow a vet on their rounds of the on-site rehabilitation centre and get stuck in to the veterinarian’s role on the wider game reserve – from darting animals to doing game captures, from health checks to autopsies.

Nepal – home to the tallest mountain and the deepest valley – is a country that everyone needs to visit at least once. Volunteer for women’s empowerment in Pokhara and take part in educational and health care initiatives. Live with a host family and other volunteers and witness first-hand the friendliness of the Nepali people.

Pokhara in Nepal is a dream location for volunteers looking for a city bursting with culture and beauty. Live in Lakeside a popular area in Pokhara and the start point of many world-famous treks. Teach English in Nepal in local school, working with incredible teams and energetic children.

Help to care for sick and injured animals in game reserves, vet clinics, farms and local communities on a mobile veterinary unit. See some amazing sights, help with some incredible animals and get unrivalled work experience on this internship in South Africa.

Head to Hua Hin or Chiang Mai in Thailand and gain an internationally accredited 120 hour TESOL/TEFL qualification which can be used to teach abroad. Want to live and teach in Thailand? Use your qualification to gain a job in a reputable school and experience life living the beautiful ‘Land of Smiles’.

Bring games, laughter and fun to disadvantaged children in schools or nurseries in some of Port Elizabeth’s poorest townships. Your enthusiasm will encourage the kids to be passionate about their education and their future – these kids are desperate to learn, and your time as a volunteer will help not only with their studies, but their life chances too.

Sunny Sydney is the place to live and work for up to a year (or extend for two or three on the amazing work scheme…) Following a fantastic 7 day orientation programme including local attractions, get support in setting up your admin and find paid work with membership to an exclusive online job database!

Earn money working full-time in a hotel in the resort town of Banff. Expect an entry level position, such as housekeeping. There are certainly worse places to do this job, on a tough day at work, you can look out of the window and see the awesome Rocky Mountains. On your days off, you can be hitting the slopes!

Spend your summer living and working in the popular resort town of Banff in Alberta. You’ll be in the heart of all the action that Banff National Park has to offer. Make the most of your days off with all of the hiking, biking and water sports that are available. How are you going to afford this for a summer season? This is where the guaranteed job comes in!

Experience life as a jackeroo or jillaroo by completing an introductory farm work in Australia course in the vast and beautiful outback. Learn to ride dirt bikes and horses, muster and work with cattle, pick up fencing skills, use chainsaws and operate tractors. Oh, and did we mention you are guaranteed a paid job at the end of the programme?

Why take a gap year?

Travelling is something we often fail to prioritise in our busy lives, but the benefits of exploring the world are huge. Many people question, “should I take a gap year?” Our answer is yes! There is so much to explore and there is no time like the present. If you want to travel, give yourself time to do it properly. Gap years allow you to take your time to really get to know a country. Gap years also allow you to:

  • Develop your skills such as organisation, communication, confidence, team work and initiative
  • Improve your CV to make sure that you stand out from the crowd to future employers
  • Take time to reach the right path – it’s not unusual to feel unsure about what you want to do next, either at university or for work. Taking a gap year allows you to take time out to give you the space to make an informed decision
  • Gain work experience – whether it be on an internship, a volunteering project or paid work, experience is essential for many careers and universities. Experience does not even need to be relevant to the field you might want to work or study in – just to demonstrate that you held a position of responsibility, had to stick to deadlines, worked hard and challenged yourself is the most important thing
  • Take a breather before the next stage – exams are stressful and tiring. Many students find that taking a gap year helps them to return to work or study feeling refreshed and motivated – which in the long term brings better results for you
  • Become more independent whilst also receiving full support from Oyster. A gap year is a great opportunity to do something independent and live away from home for a while
  • Make new friends and meet new people – exploring the world and joining a project that you are passionate about means that you will meet lots of like-minded people, and often make friends for life
  • Have a real adventure off the beaten track. Get to know a country, culture, language and project and really feel that you have got to know somewhere different in the world

How to take a gap year?

Oyster Worldwide will help to make your planning as easy as possible. We are happy to answer any questions to help you find a project that is perfect for you.

To take part, you simply need to pay the first £180 to secure your place and then you will get access to My Oyster – our online system, where you will find lots of information to help you to prepare for you gap year.

What do universities think about gap years?

“A gap year is a very useful time in which to improve skills, earn money, travel and generally gain maturity and self-reliance.”

– Cambridge University

  • Universities are overwhelmingly positive about taking gap years as long as they are constructive and worthwhile
  • If you arrange your gap year early then you can even talk about your plans in your personal statement – which goes a long way
  • Many degrees encourage work experience, such as medical and veterinary, so taking a year out in this case is very much encouraged
  • Do check with your university admissions departments to see what their exact stance is

“As long as you are doing something worthwhile in your year out, such as travelling, work experience or charity work etc, we recognise that this year’s experience will broaden your skills and experience.”

– Cardiff University

What do employers think about taking a gap year?

  • A constructive gap year can really enhance a CV, and can significantly improve your chances of getting an interview
  • Many employers find that applicants who have taken a gap year are more motivated, self aware and confident than their counterparts
  • Potential employees must be able to articulate their experiences to demonstrate the positives gained

“Taking a gap year was the single best decision I ever made, it has mapped out my whole career path and helped me decide on my future!”

– Charlotte, South Africa

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