Above all this is a programme for those who have  paid or unpaid experience with horses (upper intermediate to advanced). The point of the programme is to offer you a chance to earn money abroad and to expand your experience by taking home new equine skills.

To qualify for application:

• You must be aged between 18-30 and eligible for an Australian Working Holiday Visa 417 or Work and Holiday Visa 462 (includes UK, USA, Canada and most of Europe)
• You must have a very good level of English and be able to communicate clearly
• You must have a driving licence from your own country (if you are eligible in all other aspects then you may be considered by some employers – it is definitely worth enquiring)
• You must be able to provide a good equine engineered CV on application for the team to assess and present to potential employers
• References are encouraged
• You will need to provide photographs and/or film clips of yourself riding
• Weight and fitness levels are considered before acceptance on to the programme

Following your horsemanship preparation week, you will be working as a groom on an elite equine stud. The sort of work available is on top thoroughbred studs or with well known polo players. These quality establishments are pre-organised and you will have lots of information about what the job entails pre-departure.

You’ll have the chance to experience a new way of working with horses no matter what industry you work in or what sort of work that you have done before. As a horse-person you will be aware of all the physical jobs and hours that come with paid horse work, and it is important to know that we cannot not guarantee riding will be part of the paid package.

It is likely that if you are working in any one field, there will be cross-overs into others, and you will get to brush shoulders with many different contacts in the equine world. 

• You need to apply at least 2 months before you go, but we recommend booking at least 4 – 6 months in advance of departure
• Work visas can take anything from between 1 and 8 weeks so it is best to start the process as soon as you can
• We have set weeks and limited numbers so please enquire as soon as you can

This is unique if you’re looking for programs for horses or with horse association. Not only will you be training horses yourself and learning equine behaviour, you’ll be working for top horse owners and some of the best performance horses in the industry. Have fun with horsemanship, riding and handling for the maximum experience.

Australia is best known for its hot, dry climate. However it can also get very wet and cold. Inland areas are often chilly in the winter at night, even if day time temperatures rise. It’s best to bring layers and be prepared for the changes. Whenever you are going, make sure to pack for rain and cooler temperatures.

Australia is larger than Europe and thus the climate can vary dramatically depending on where you are. Spring is September to November, summer is December to February, autumn lasts from March to May and winter begins in June and lasts through August.

Typically the northern parts of Australia are warmer and tropical all year round because these regions are closer to the equator. In the north, there tends to be two seasons; wet (summer) and dry (winter). Southern Queensland experiences what’s known as subtropical, with a combination of wet and dry but also following the general rule of four seasons. Sydney and the rest of New South Wales are fairly mild in the winter with minimum temperatures often staying above 10°C. The summers are beautiful but can often reach scorching temperatures.

You 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 Victoria, snow may be abundant and temperatures are below freezing. It is much more seasonal down south so wrap up in winter! In saying that, Melbourne is known as the city with four seasons in one day and has experienced some of the hottest days in Australia on record.

The weather dictates a lot of the what happens in rural Australia and everybody is always talking about it. You may find yourself getting hooked on following weather forecasts such as BOM (Bureau of Meteorology).

When you arrive at Brisbane Airport you will catch the private shuttle bus to your backpacker hostel on Surfer’s Paradise, the journey takes about an hour. 

We suggest you arrive on a Friday before 3pm as there is a welcome orientation in the evening. You will receive detailed information about this.

Early Arrival

It is advisable to catch the same flight as the rest of the group in order to arrive together.  However, participants will be coming from several different airports so this is not essential. 

If you choose to arrive a few days early, this is no problem. We can still issue you a bus ticket from the airport, but only for this journey. In this instance, you will need to book extra nights at the hostel yourself. If you are staying in alternative accommodation, please make your way to the hostel on Friday afternoon for check in. 

Horse country is Australia wide, however there are a lot of horse studs located in northern New South Wales and Southern Queensland. This is mostly likely where the location for your job will be – our horsemanship course is located in the heart of this.

You can expect to start on the minimum wage. Under the terms of the Fair Work Act, those aged 18 may be paid only 80% of the adult wage, and those aged 19 may be paid 90% of the adult wage.

The national minimum wage is currently $19.49 per hour or $740.80 per 38 hour week (before tax), with reductions for tax and keep. That would mean taking home around 300- 350 AUD a week. (June 2020).

Most of our employers pay a minimum of 350 AUD after tax, with free food and accommodation. With expenses, this is much higher than average.

Pay rates and workplace conditions are set by Australian law. All people working in Australia, including those from overseas have rights and protections at work. These cannot be taken away by contracts or agreements. If you have questions about your pay and conditions while in Australia, you can contact the Fair Work Ombudsman for free help. You can also contact the Fair Work Ombudsman by phone within Australia on 13 13 94 (Translating and Interpreting Service 13 14 50).

To be able to qualify for a 417 or 462 work visa, you must be between the ages of 18 and 30, and hold a passport from one of the eligible countries stated by the Australian Embassy. 

It is important that your level of English is sufficient to be able to operate safely with horses. When working, it is vital that you understand verbal instructions to ensure that you and others are safe.

One of the reasons that we telephone interview you before signing you up to the programme is to ensure that you are able to communicate well enough in English.

• There are always things to do with horses in your free time
• You’ll meet other grooms and be able to socialise at local events and in the small towns
• There is always a local pub
• Head to the coast for the weekends or enjoy the many national parks on offer
• Post job placement, you’ll have the whole of Australia to explore and travel

Yes! We’d love for you to enjoy the horsemanship course with your friend. We will do everything we can to obtain a job for you and your friend(s) together, but you may have to be more flexible with job offers.

This course has limited spaces with between 6-8 equine elite on each. We want to focus on giving you the best experience through small groups. It is important you are provided with lots of knowledge for our employers who expect a high standard.

The courses run throughout the year but ensure that you book early to get a place as numbers are limited fill up fast.

You should visit your doctor or travel nurse to find out what vaccinations you will need. Typically you will need your routine travel vaccinations to be in date and it is essential that your tetanus is up to date. Australia does not require any additional vaccinations to Europe.

This will vary depending on the exact location of your job but there will always be medical facilities in a town or city near by. The studs that you will be working on will have procedures for emergencies. It is possible to get an air ambulance to remote locations.

The hospital closest to the training facility is 30 minutes drive.

You should expect to leave the Gold Coast on Saturday and arrive at your job over the weekend to start on Monday morning.

Most jobs last for about 3 months, sometimes longer. It is possible to work for one employer for up to 6 months on a working holiday visa.

It is likely you will meet lots of people in the equine world and subsequent jobs could follow if you want to continue working throughout your visa.

You will have extensive information on your job offer before you depart for Australia. We want to manage your expectations before you arrive so that you know exactly what you are going to be doing. In unique circumstances, it may be possible to find you another job, but you must be prepared to wait at your own expense for us to find you something suitable.

If you walk out on the job then it is unlikely that you will be offered another. Communication is key and if you aren’t getting on well with your job you must let the team know in order to help you.

Some equine studs are able to offer this option but it is not guaranteed.

It is essential that you have a full driving licence to be able to work in rural Australia.  The ability to drive a manual vehicle not only makes you more employable, it also means you are much safer to work.

Here are a few reasons why:

• The majority of the jobs on offer are on properties that can only be reached by car. Employers will always require their workers to drive somewhere, be it in or around the property.  A major job role for our workers is transporting horses or people to games, races or events
• Holding a driving licence means that you have reached a certain level of comprehension of how cars and gears work. Knowledge of using gears is important when driving four wheeler quad bikes or tractors – this may be required at your job. These are not skills that we expect you to have before you arrive but knowledge of gears is important
• Safety, safety, safety. Using machinery and driving when you do not have a licence is dangerous. We do not want you or the employers to be put in compromising situations

The Aussies love their meat. Expect fairly simple meals that will fill you well for all the hard work you will be doing. There is usually a beer to accompany most of what you eat! Other than that, you will find all the typical western foods with a few extras thrown in such as vegemite and milo!

In saying this, there are plenty of vegetarian and gluten free options available, and places on the coast are very accommodating with dietary requirements. In many cases you will be cooking for yourself in groom’s accommodation so you will be able to eat exactly what you like.

It is usually limited in rural areas but WiFi is accessible in most places.

Eastern Australia is 10 hours ahead of GMT (GMT +10) but if your job is located slightly further afield then this might vary

Providing you follow all instructions given by your employer, you should feel secure working in Australia as you would be at home. Probably more so.

Whilst Australia is developed country, it is important however, as in any big city, to be aware of your surroundings, keep your belongings in sight and keep your wits about you. Crime levels in Australia are low.

Australian electrical appliances operate on 240v at 50hz but the socket outlets are not compatible with the other countries’ plugs. This means you will need a specific Australian adapter.

This paid work abroad programme aims to help you hit the ground running once you arrive in Australia. It therefore involves support and advice, rather than supervision. You will have a lot of interaction with our local rep (Georgie) during the first week or so. When you get to your job, you will probably feel able to do most things independently or with the help of your employer. However, you will still be able to to call on us at any time for support.

Oyster has responsibility for your safety on all activities directly organised by us. However, during your free time, and after the first week of intensive support, we will not be in control of your activities and you will need to take responsibility for making safe decisions. We will provide plenty of guidance about this. We will also be able to provide help in an emergency for up to 12 months.

If you’re planning to be in Sydney for a bit and looking to take part in some real Aussie activities, join our surfari weekend which departs every weekend from central Sydney excluding the winter months of June – August. The super surf team will look after you as one of the family, and you’ll make lots of friends with other young international travellers. You can plan your surf weekend around your work and travels.

The surf development programme is also available all year round.

Take a Gap Year in Australia to one of the most popular destinations in the world for work and travel. Some of the greatest attractions for people wanting to work there include that the English language is spoken, the laid back culture is very appealing, the weather is great and there is a variety of work on offer.

This Gap Year Program gives you the opportunity to embrace life down-under, safe in the knowledge that you have support and a group of young like-minded people around you.

Travelling in Australia is safe and easy and by obtaining an Australian working holiday visa, you can get a paid job to keep the cost of living down. Start by getting a job in Australia on this gap year program to kick start your Aussie Adventure.