Gap year - travel and work in Australia

[wondabar]

DD has applied for deferred entry to uni and is now embarking on her Gap year. She had a supermarket job for the past 18 months to fund it and is eager to go and see the world. Her plan is to go to Oz with an organisation like Gap360 and do an East Coast tour followed by a week of Oz jobs which will hopefully equip her with the tools to find a job out there until her friends join her in December to then travel to Asia. As she didn’t want to spend months working in the UK, she has decided to go out alone which is why she will do the group tour. Has anyone had experience of their DC doing something similar in Oz and was it easy for them to find a job? Did they stay in hostels and did they rate them? Were they able to meet like-minded people
of similar ages out there? Would love to hear of any tips.

My niece went to Oz the New Zealand but with a friend. They met lots of others who they made friends with. The cost of food was very high and I know she told her Mum she had to eat McDonald's a lot because it was all she could afford. My sister used to top up her bank account for her. She saved before she went like your DD but needed more than she took with her. She was gone for 7 months in total and had a lovely time. She did have her money belt stolen from her in a hostel in Oz at one point though. Keep a card and money separately.

My DC went to Australia for a year. Was unsuccessful looking for jobs in hospitality so ended up fruit picking/packing in Bundaberg on the east coast. The local farms take their casual staff from the hostels in the town. Was there for three months and earned enough to buy a car with two friends from the hostel and travel for the next four months around the country.

@Hillarious did your DC go with an organised group or on their own? Did they go out with friends they already knew or did they make friends out there?

Went out to meet a friend who was already there. Travelled until they ran out of money then did the fruit picking to replenish funds.

DD2 did this. Got a job in a bar near Manly beach almost on arrival and then worked on a farm in the outback through a contact she made in a hostel. She had a great time.She said the hostels were fine - largely young people from the UK and Ireland. 8 to a room and mixed sex.

Going with a reputable agency such as Gap360 or Kilroy is a good idea from my experience. Your DD could consider a welcome package to get her settled and help will the job search while there, as well as meeting other people in a similar situation. Most things will and can get sorted while there and I’m sure she’ll have the best time of her life.

what has your DD decided on? My DS is about to set off, also alone… it feels a LONG way for them to go!