Welcome to the land 'Down
Under...' Skip with Kangaroos, dive the
Great Barrier Reef, catch the surf on Bondi Beach, marvel at the size of
Uluru, BBQ Shrimps or drink an ice cold tinny.........
Whatever you do, visit Australia! The
sheer size, amazing natural wealth, awesome scenery and huge
variety of plant and animal life make this unique destination one of the
most incredible places on earth!
Our programmes are located in
Western Australia (WA), in and around the laid-back sunshine city of Perth. Why Perth?
To get an experience of real Australia,
head for Perth! WA is much less touristy, there's more left to be discovered and
you will have lots more opportunities to mix with the locals.
Western Australia has earned its reputation as the
'State of Excitement' -
this action packed destination will give you a taste of the real
Australia!
ABOUT AUSTRALIA: Australia’s
most striking feature is it's variety of landscapes.. with endless
miles of unspoilt beaches (over 7,000 beaches - more than any other
nation), tropical rainforests, mountain ranges and hugeareas of
desert - the famous 'outback'. The natural
scenery is unbeatable.
Australia is
the sixth largest country in the world but has
the lowest population density (20 million) with
just 2 people per square kilometre. In this vast country the population of Kangaroos
outnumbers humans by 2:1...
How big is
Australia?
There
are
3 time zones within Australia.
It
takes around 3 hours to fly between Sydney and Cairns, up the east coast
of Australia.
Australia is around 24 times the size of the British Isles
There are
cattle ranches in parts of Australia that are the size of Wales in the UK!
Australians are known for their love of life and enjoyment of the
great outdoors. While Australians have a relatively short history they
have quickly developed their own unique culture - with their love of the
humble meat pie, the arts and music, sport (Australian Rules Football is
the national game), the beach and BBQs.
Visitors maybe confused when
first arriving in Australia. While it's common knowledge that Australians
speak English, you may hear a unique colloquial language. You'll hear words such as
‘G’day’, 'fair dinkum',and 'cobber'. Don't
worry, you'll get the
hang of it and will be talking like an Aussie in no time!
Teaching Refugee Children:
Want to do something really worthwhile? Teach refugee
children from war-torn countries. No qualifications required.
Coach
and Play Sports Project:
We have nearly 20 different sports
for you to choose from, plus you can coach refugee children from countries
like Sudan and Somalia and Afghanistan to begin a new life in safety.
This is an excellent project!
Conservation:
Wildlife Sanctuary Project:
A seriously rewarding placement for nature lovers. Work in two
remarkable sanctuaries taking care of a variety of different types of
animals that need help
Work
Experience:
Placements available in TV presenting and
more, in Law, and in Sports Massage Therapy.
SPECIALS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
ABOUT PERTH:
Our programs are based in
Perth, the gateway and capital city of Western Australia (WA). Of the almost two million people that live in Western Australia,
the vast majority reside in the state’s capital. Perth was settled on the
banks of the Swan River in the 1800s and leaves a lasting impression on
all of its visitors.
Perth’s brilliant blue skies and warm sunny climate must be
experienced to be believed. Perth is said to have the most days of sunshine
of any capital city in Australia. There
is always plenty to do in this sophisticated and scenic city – enjoy water
sports on the Swan River, sample local wine or explore the 400
hectares of natural bushland in central Kings Park.
Perth is also the home of the world’s oldest operating mint (where
gold and silver production can be seen),
numerous museums and art galleries, historic buildings full of character, a
five-star resort and casino and a great variety of shopping - all of which
are only minutes from the Central Business District. Perth boasts over 80 kilometres of white
sandy beaches to sunbathe on – the most popular being Cottesloe and
Scarborough, both within easy reach of the city.
Northbridge is Perth’s cultural and entertainment area, just
a few minutes walk north of Perth City the other side of the train
station. Northbridge is home to a number of pubs, nightclubs, bars, cafes,
shops, galleries and oh so many restaurants!
Perth is an ideal base from which you can explore the diverse
surrounding attractions too. You can visit wineries at Margaret River, swim
with wild dolphins in their natural environment at Monkey Mia, explore the
colourful port city of Fremantle or holiday on Rottnest Island. Rottnest, or ‘Rotto’ as it is affectionately known, is a small
island inhabited by native marsupials, situated just off the coast of Perth. It's famous for its excellent
snorkelling, diving, surfing and swimming.
WA is also home to some of the best and largest surfing waves
in the world, white sandy beaches and a virtually untouched coral reef
stretching for 260km!
Why Perth? Over 5 million tourists arrive in
Australia each year, many of them heading for Australia's popular east coast.
The east coast is certainly not to be missed, but to get an experience of real Australia we
recommend that you avoid the crowds and head for WA. It's much less
touristy, there's more left to be discovered and you will have lots more
opportunities to mix with the locals. After all, that's part of the reason
you're there!
We recommend a 1, 2 or 3-month placement
in WA followed by independent travel - we can assist with flights and ideas
of things to do in other parts of Australia if required (see also 'Things to
Do in Australia, below).
THINGS TO DO IN AUSTRALIA:
Although
Australia is the largest island in the world with more beaches than
any other country, it is also the smallest continent, as well as the
flattest, lowest and driest! Thereare manyunforgettable sights to see... exploring this incredible land will make you
feel as though you have stepped into a postcard.
Cities on the East Coast include
Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Cairns. Sydney has one of the most instantly
recognisable
Skylines in the world, where sunset views of the Opera House and Harbour
Bridge are unforgettable. If you're feeling brave you can arrange to climb
the Harbour Bridge - a 52 tonne structure! Sydney also has excellent
nightlife, cuisine from around the world, many parks and museums, and not
far from the city some incredible mountainous scenery. Many people don't
realise that Sydney is not actually the capital of Australia - it's nearby
Canberra, the countries political centre. Manly beach and the famous Bondi
Beach, two popular surfing spots, are both located near Sydney.
Melbourne
is the state capital of Victoria and is the second largest city in
Australia. Melbourne is very much about lifestyle with its vibrant energy,
staggering choice of restaurants, funky boutiques, café-filled laneways,
cool bars, unbeatable galleries, luscious parks and village-like inner
suburbs. New futuristic designs combined with the Melbourne of old create a
fascinating mix of architecture and ensures the skyline is constantly
changing. A standing joke in Australia is that Melbourne can experience four
seasons in a day but this is really just another example of how they have it
all! It truly is the city to have a cultural experience but
don’t just see the many galleries, experience the local passion of Australia
Rules Football (AFL). Victorians are passionate about AFL, so head down the
Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and enjoy a game – don’t forget to grab a
meat pie!
Byron Bay and
Noosa, located further north and close to Brisbane, are very
popular for surfing and are good for professionals and amateurs! Further up
the coast you'll reach Fraser Island, the largest sand island in the
world. This protected region has over 100 freshwater lakes, ancient
rainforests growing out of sand, and dunes stretching for miles.
The
Great Barrier Reef, located along the East Coast of Australia, is the
largest coral reef in the world and wonderful place to learn to dive or
simply snorkel. North of Cairns the region of Cape Tribulation has
some spectacular beaches backed by rainforest.
In Central Australia, Uluru is a must see. This sacred
Aboriginal Meeting place, located in the middle of the outback, offers
inspirational views, particularly at sunrise and sunset. Camping trips under
the stars are popular. Nearby Kings Canyon, a less well known 'Grand Canyon'
is another unforgettable site and something that everyone should see on a
visit to Australia.
On the West Coast of Australia,
between Perth and Broome, there are miles and miles of perfect sandy
beaches. Excellent wreck diving is abundant around Perth and this is also
one of the best places to learn to dive in Australia. There are also plenty
of snorkelling and other water sports on offer around Perth. As the majority
of Australia's 20 millions residents live close to the coast, beaches are an
important part of life, and there are certainly plenty to choose from.
Surfing, Snorkelling, Diving, Sailing
and all other water sports are plentiful - so much so that Australian Dollar
Notes are waterproof, just in case you should leave them in your shorts by
accident!
LIVING IN AUSTRALIA:
Australia's way of life was initially
dominated by the heritage of its British settlers, who adapted their
notably British traditions to a country with a much warmer climate.
Sports, Outdoor activities, Music and the Arts all feature heavily in
Australian culture. Since the arrival of European and Asian immigrants
Australia has developed into more of a multi-cultural society, and many of
the main cities are now very cosmopolitan.
The first
Australians are known as Aborigines, the word "aboriginal" meaning
"native". They are estimated to have populated Australia for around 50,000
years, or roughly 200 times longer than "white" Australians.
Different groups evolved in different parts of Australia
and today there are hundreds of cultures and languages which are different
but share the same basic beliefs.
During the early
parts of the European settlement Aborigines were displaced and persecuted.
To this day there is still some discrimination against Aborigines, but
they now have equal rights to other Australian citizens.
In Western Australia, and particularly Perth, a number
of local Aboriginal-owned and Aboriginal-operated tourism businesses make
it easy for locals and visitors to participate in unique indigenous
experiences through Aboriginal arts and crafts.
Typical Aboriginal Art, painted here on the famous Didgeridoo
MAP OF
AUSTRALIA
AUSTRALIA is huge
and there is so much to see and do.
See above for great ideas on what you can do during your
placement (in and around Perth) and in the rest of the country.
.
+44 01903 502595
