Australia Long-Term Work

If you’re planning on spending a substantial amount of time (more than three months) working in Australia, search for a job well in advance. International placement agencies are often the easiest way to find employment abroad, especially for those interested in teaching. Online employment databases such as CareerOne (www.careerone.com.au) also provide thousands of listings for jobs throughout Australia. Although they are often only available to college students, internships are a good way to ease into working abroad. Many say the interning experience is well worth it, despite the low pay (if you’re lucky enough to be paid at all). Some traditional Australian jobs may be easier to obtain with proper training. Leconfield Jackaroo and Jillaroo School offers 11-day training packages on traditional bush methods necessary for work on outback cattle stations. While they do give references and endeavor to assist graduates with finding employment, job placement is not specifically included in the course. (☎02 6769 4230; www.leconfieldjackaroo.com. Courses start at $895; $150 deposit required.) Be wary of advertisements for companies claiming to be able get you a job abroad for a fee—often the same listings are available online or in newspapers. Some reputable organizations include:

• BUNAC, 16 Bowling Green Ln., London, EC1R OQH (☎+44 020 7251 3472 or +1-203-264-0901 in US; www.bunac.com). Helps organize working holidays, arranges visas, bank accounts, and tax file numbers, and helps find jobs and accommodations. US$595 (visa fees included) plus mandatory travel insurance.
• Travellers Contact Point, 7th Floor, Dymocks Building, 428 George St., Sydney, NSW 2000 (☎02 9221 8744; http://travellers.com.au). Organizes visas, flights, travel insurance, and hostel bookings for working holiday travelers and helps find work and accommodations in Australia. Open M-F 9am-6pm, Sa 10am-4pm.
• Visitoz, Springbrook Farm, 8921 Burnett Hwy., Goomeri, QLD 4601 (☎07 4168 6106; www.visitoz.org). Offers training and job placement in 2 areas: agriculture and hospitality. English-language instruction on a farm is also available. Program fee of $1890 includes job placement, a training course, and help with travel arrangements, visas, insurance, and obtaining a Tax File Number.
• Work Adventures Down Under, 2330 Marinship Way, Ste. 250, Sausalito, CA 94965, USA (☎+1-415-339-2728; www.ccusa.com). Organizes travel arrangements and job placement for the duration of your visa. Services include visa processing, tax registration, pre- and post-arrival aid, and access to their Job Service. The programs cost US$560-1650, plus an additional $35 application fee and $65 per month for mandatory insurance. American passport holders can choose to apply for just the “Basic” package, which does not cover visa, flight, or insurance arrangements. THe package costs US$360 plus $35 application and $65 insurance fees.

The most economical way to plan an internship is to organize placement on your own, but this can sometimes be difficult for someone without connections. Listed below are several internship and work experience placement programs that will help take care of the leg work.

• Australian National Internships Program (ANIP), Building 3, 1 Block, Old Administration Area, Tennis Court Ln., Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200 (☎02 6125 8540; www.anu.edu.au/anip). Arranges internships in public policy for college and graduate students from Australia and abroad. Costs between $5500-8700.
• AustraLearn, 12050 N. Pecos St., Suite 320, Westminster, CO 80234, USA (☎+1-800-980-0033; www.australearn.org/programs/internship/intern.htm). Offers not only study-abroad options, but internship opportunities in a variety of fields as well. Unpaid. Anywhere from 6- to 16-week internships available; costs range from US$3500-5500. Housing in a homestay or shared apartment included. Scholarships available.
• Australia Internships, Suite 1, Savoir Faire Park Rd. Milton, Brisbane, QLD 4064 (☎07 3305 8408; www.internships.com.au). Organizes internships lasting anywhere from 6 weeks to 12 months in fields ranging from accounting to forestry. Some internships can be completed for academic credit. Costs vary greatly depending on the program, length of the internship, and any optional additional services requested, but include the development of a custom-designed internship, assistance with the visa process, and counseling support services. Non-refundable $500 application fee.
• Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE), 300 Fore St., Portland, ME 04101, USA (☎+1-207-553-4000 or 800-407-8839; www.ciee.org). This program doesn’t just assist in study abroad but in working abroad as well; tucked into their study-abroad listings is a resource for international internships.
• International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE), IAESTE Australia, Swinburne University of Technology, P.O. Box 218, Hawthorn, VIC 3122 (☎03 9214 8577; www.swinburne.edu.au/spl/iaeste). Your home country might have a local office; apply for hands-on technical internships in Australia. You must be a college student studying science, technology, or engineering. “Cost of living allowance” covers most non-travel expenses. Most programs last 8-12 weeks.
• International Cooperative Education, 15 Spiros Way, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA (☎+1-650-323-4944; www.icemenlo.com). Finds summer jobs for students in Australia. Semester and year-long commitments also available. Costs include a US$250 application fee and a US$700 fee for placement.

Teaching English

While some elite private American schools offer competitive salaries, teaching jobs abroad pay more in personal satisfaction and emotional fulfillment than in actual cash. Perhaps this is why volunteering as a teacher instead of getting paid is a popular option. Even then, teachers often receive some sort of a daily stipend to help with living expenses. In almost all cases, you must have at least a bachelor’s degree to be a full-fledged teacher, although college undergraduates can often get summer positions teaching or tutoring. Finding a teaching job in Australia, however, can be tough. There’s plenty of competition for a limited number of posts, many of which pay poorly. Still, candidates with experience shouldn’t have too much trouble securing a job.

The vast majority of schools require teachers to have a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) or Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) certificate. You may still be able to find a teaching job without one, but certified teachers often find higher-paying positions. Placement agencies or university fellowship programs are often the best resources for finding vacant teaching posts. The alternative is to contact schools directly or to try your luck once you arrive in Australia. In the latter case, the best time to look is usually several weeks before the start of the school year. The following organizations are extremely helpful in placing teachers in Oz.

• Teach International, Level 2, 370 George St., Brisbane, QLD 4000 (☎1300 558 890 or 07 3211 4633; www.teachinternational.com). Provides information on securing TESOL training and offers extensive job listings.
• Australian College of English (ACE), Level 4, 11 York St., Sydney, NSW 2000 (☎02 9389 0133; www.ace.edu.au). Established in 1981, ACE offers English courses through programs operating out of Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Cairns, and Darwin.
• English Language Company (ELC), 495 Kent St., Sydney, NSW 2000 (☎02 9267 5688; www.englishlanguagecompany.com). Located in the heart of Sydney, this program gets high marks for the many classes it offers.
• ESLBase, (www.eslbase.com). This website features a comprehensive list of Australian schools that specialize in teaching English to foreign-language speakers.

Au Pair Work

Au pairs are typically women (although sometimes men) aged 18-27 who work as live-in nannies, caring for children and doing light housework in foreign countries in exchange for room, board, and a small spending allowance or stipend. One perk of the job is that it allows you to get to know Australia without the high expenses of traveling. Drawbacks, however, can include both mediocre pay and long hours. The average weekly pay for au pairs in Australia generally falls between $150-250. Of course, much of the au pair experience depends on the family with which you are placed. The agencies below are a good starting point for most job hunts.

• Au-Pair Australia, P.O. Box 1164, Glebe, NSW 2037 (☎02 9571 6121; www.aupairaustralia.com.au). Matches applicants to families in need of au pairs; based in Oz.
• InterExchange, 161 6th Ave., New York City, NY 10013, USA (☎+1-212-924-0446 or +1-800-287-2477; www.interexchange.org). This American group has been arranging au pair placements for over 20 years.
• Childcare International, Trafalgar House, Grenville Pl., London NW7 3SA, UK (☎+44 20 8906 3116; www.childint.co.uk). A British group that specializes in placing au pairs.

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More Working in Australia

Short-Term Work