How much for Australia?

[yodafogey]

My 19yr old dd plans to spend a gap year on a work visa in Australia. The initial plan is to stay with the family of an old school friend in Brisbane. The family have not asked for any money to keep my dd however I would very much like to offer them some payment. How much would be suitable? What is the cost of living like in Australia?

It's high. I suppose it will depend on what she is doing and how long she is staying. Food is expensive. The main supermarkets are called Coles and Woolworths so you could have a look on their websites to get a rough idea.

If I were hosting a teenager from another country, on a gap year, I wouldn't want any money from them. It would be my opportunity to thank all those who helped me out when I was a teenager trying to travel the world on a shoestring.
This is presuming they are staying for a couple of weeks, not the whole year.

Yes I agree. If she is just staying for a couple of weeks to find her feet and get over her jet lag, it's not an issue. We would be glad of any visitor at all as you don't get many as its so far from everywhere.

Thank you, will check those supermarkets out. Dd may stay for up to three months. If she hasn't managed to get a job by then, we'd prefer her to come back home.

Have your DD do a bartending course and also get certified in infant and child cpr. A cousin of mine worked his way around Australia and then back to Ireland bartending all the way. Friends got nannying jobs that kept the wolf from the door.

Send a nice gift for the hostess and make sure your DD can cook a family meal or two so she will be a good guest.

I'd probably send your DD with some UK-only stuff as gifts for the family - if they're expats themselves, ask them what they miss most and would like.

Other than that, what others have said - train her in the arts of being a good houseguest - how to help with cleaning, cooking, doing her own laundry (with permission) if she can't already, that kind of thing.

Also, get her to join the YHA before she goes - because if she does start doing any backpacking, it may get her cheaper accommodation (it used to), and she may get reduced entry to various things as well.

Another point - clothing out here can be viciously expensive as well, so she shouldn't expect to be buying too many clothes out here if she can avoid it - get her to bring a decent "capsule" wardrobe, everything washable.

If she has problems with insect bites, get her some antihistamine cream in the UK as well - they don't sell it out here at all, only antihistamine tablets.

Hope she manages to get a job and has a great time!