LIVE IT UP!

Volunteering - The Real Working Holiday Experience

Volunteering always sounds like something the ‘Australian of the year’ type of person will do, because they have so much time on their hands to show just what giving is truly about. Why is it that we feel it’s so much harder to choose to volunteer overseas than to work overseas? The unknown is often feared, but for backpackers especially, it’s an opportunity to experience the REAL world.

While travelling around destinations such as South East Asia, South Africa or South America, it’s fairly easy to get caught up in the everyday backpacking life, meeting new friends, eating and drinking the local delicacies and finding the most cost effective way to get from A to B, after all, this is what makes backpacking so much fun. But many backpackers leave without ever really experiencing that true, local experience they spend their travels searching for.

Volunteering in these destinations give you the chance to get up close and personal with the culture you are visiting and suddenly the backpacker experience isn’t just about the people you meet, travel and eat with, but about the lives you affect in the local community.

 

The common motivation for working hard in Oz, saving all our money and hitting the travelling road is more than just being a backpacker, it is to immerse ourselves in a completely different culture and gain valuable life experience. For many young Australians this means setting up base in London or Vancouver and settling into an everyday routine similar to the one you had at home, but for those lucky few who opt to volunteer instead, the experience gained is incomparable.

 

Whether your placed as a teachers assistance in South Africa, conservation in Costa Rica or construction in Peru, volunteering will provide you with an unforgettable experience and with the increasingly tough job market here in Australia and overseas, many employers look at volunteering experience very highly.

 

Travel and volunteer, it is a completely different experience. You’re travelling out of your comfort zone to help people who really appreciate it and you will gain the knowledge and reap all the benefits to further your career and skills!

 

Oh and why not check out http://www.iep.org.au/volunteer/volunteer.aspfor some awesome volunteering options around the world. 

Happy Travels!

Fran.

  

 

Aussie Invasion of American Summer Camps

Movies and TV shows have been exposing Aussies to the joy of summer camps for years, revealing images of lakeside cabins, pine-tree forests and camp counsellor romances.

When it comes to the sheer size, diversity and popularity of camps, nothing in Australia even comes close. We're talking over 10,000 camps spread throughout the States and 11 million children heading to camps every year - there is nothing to that scale here in Australia - so many Aussies decide to pack their bags and venture to Summer Camp USA.

The Great Aussie Invasion as it becomes known sees Australians packing their inflatable kangaroos, Aussie flag towels, bikinis and board-shorts, smuggling caramello koalas and minties in and cranking up their Aussie twang... all in the name of proudly educating American kids (and counsellors alike) what it means to come from that big island down the other side of the globe.

The cultural exchange part of working at a camp is one of the highlights for Aussies, who may cop a bit of flak for using language like arvo, thongs and how ya goin' but are often incredibly popular just for being different and sounding like the infamous Crocodile Hunter.

A little big of education will be required: no you can't canoe to New Zealand on the weekend, yes we do speak English as a first language, no we don't ride kangaroos to work, yes we do eat kangaroos, and so on...

As we head into February, IEP is seeing many applicants being placed at camps and applications will be closing soon. As a little bit of an incentive to get people over the line and onto the program, we're looking at helping you get your Aussie Invasion Kit started with a couple of pieces of Australian memorabilia. The word isn't out yet on what these treats will be for 2010 but they will be guaranteed to make you stand out as an Aussie at camp and help you decorate your bunk and provide you with Australian themed possessions that will no doubt come in handy during some dress up event at camp.

Bring on Aussie Invasion of Summer Camp USA 2010.

PS If you've ever been to camp and taken something especially Aussie...post a comment and inspire the newbies who are packing their first Aussie Invasion Kits.

Winter Olympics 2010-All Eyes on Canada

The secret is out, Canada is the place to be! With the Winter Olympics just around the corner, Whistler and Vancouver are on the brink of erupting into Olympic mania and all the fun that goes with it.

For Canadians, the last few years have been all lead up and anticipation to this massive world event where the incredible snow and natural beauty of Canada will be revealed to people all around the globe.

For Australians, especially those with pay TV,there have been plenty of images fed to us recently, of cities like Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal and winter resort areas such as the infamous Whistler and Banff National Park.

The lakes are impossibly blue, the mountains looming and majestic and shots of summer time wildlife such as bears, elk, moose and deer strike a thrilling reaction in those of us who are unfamiliar with North America's native fauna.

For the sports freaks, the Olympics will showcase the best of winter sports including ice hockey, alpine and cross country skiing, figure skating, the luge and bob-sleigh, to name just a few.

Hosting the Winter Olympics and Paralympics will no doubt increase tourism to Canada, not just during February when the games are on, but with the international exposure the Olympics will bring, word will spread and people who have never considered Canada as anything more than a little brother to America will pack their bags and head for the land of maple syrup, moose and Poutine!

But why be a tourist when you can live and work there for up to two years? If you're between 18-31 and hold an Australian passport you could be eligible for a working holiday visa. Visit IEP's Work Canada site to learn more.

Volunteer South Africa During the World Cup

The soccer World Cup competition is exciting. No matter where you are in the world, there is that building anticipation, that bubbling under the surface of pure excitement. If you're a massive soccer fan (that's football to the rest of the world) then this is the event to top all events.

It's no wonder then, when we recently announced a unique opportunity to volunteer in South Africa while the world cup is on, interest seriously went through the roof.

The idea behind these two 17 day projects is to work with disadvantaged South African kids and teenagers teaching them sports skills and getting them off the streets and onto the sporting fields. Teaching them the concept of team work and discipline wll help them learn some valuable life skills at the same time.

For the few lucky Australians who will land a place on this program their food, accommodation and travel insurance will all be included in the price and they will have ongoing, in-country support from IEP's South African partner SASTS.

An optional four day tour provides the perfect opportunity to explore some of the incredible nature that this country has to offer. Beaches, deserts, and National Parks, not to mention spotting some of the amazing wildlife. canoeing, bungy jumping and generally making the most of the destination.

Although participants won't be able to attend live world cup matches, it is the hype and excitement surrounding the competition that they will definitely be in the thick of, there is always the chance to visit one of the free Fan Parks around the country to watch a game on the big screen.

Being a shorter placement than usual volunteer options, this is perfect for professionals wanting to take a short break and overseas trip or for any sports lover who wants to contribute something to the local community.

Apart from the obvious positive aspects of volunteering, this is the sort of opportunity where in years to come you can tell people "I was in South Africa during the 2010 World Cup" but rather than just being a hooligan at football match, you got to make a real difference.

For more information visit www.iep.org.au or email naomi.joyce@iep.org.au

The Ultimate Schoolies: And it's not on the Gold Coast

This time of year, as end of school exams draw to an end, thousands of Year 12 students are getting pumped for their ultimate celebration adventure: Schoolies!

While thousands of schoolies head to the Gold Coast for all sorts of wild and fun debauchery, there are those who choose to avoid the crazy crowds and celebrate the end of their school life in other ways and in other places.

If you're keen to avoid the typical schoolies event (and avoid those creepy toolies as well) then why not leave the Gold Coast behind and take your schoolies adventure far beyond Australia.

The Extra Long Schoolies in Canada

Forget a couple of weeks away, try 6 months of fun, parties and playing on some of the most incredible, snow covered slopes in the world. Work a ski season in Canada. If you're planning for next year, line up your job in August withIEP's Work & Ski Canada Job Fairs and have it all sorted for when you arrive. This schoolies adventure is open to school leavers who are over 18 and can commit until the end of the season (end of April usually)

The Meaningful Schoolies-Volunteering

Forget about blowing all your dosh on getting drunk and entry fees into Gold Coast clubs, if you're the sort of person who wants to make a difference, experience a totally new culture and maybe even learn a new language, then spend your schoolies trip away volunteering in Peru, Costa Rica, South Africa, Cambodia or the USA. Placements of 2-3 months are recommended.

Schoolies London Style: A UK working holiday

No city parties like London does. Trust me, a trip to 'The Church' followed by the 'She-bu Walkie' backed up by 'The Redback' all on the one Sunday will be crazier than any Gold Coast Schoolies trip. With two years on the working holiday visa you'll have plenty of time to experience London, the whole of the UK and a fair whack of Europe as well!

If you want any tips on a different sort of Schoolies, shoot me an email and I'll be happy to give you my tips. naomi.joyce@iep.org.au

Aussie Girls Work New York Fashion Week

When the 12 month J1 Student Work and Travel visa came into play we knew this was an awesome opportunity for Aussie tertiary students to experience the culture and lifestyle of America and maybe even gain some career experience as well.

For five IEP Work USA participants who share a love of fashion, this visa opened the doors for them to work at the world famous New York Fashion Week.

Mareesha of Victoria had contacted IEP from New York, in an effort to reach other IEP members who were interested in volunteering at the Fashion show where she had already lined up work.

You’ve got to love the speed in which social networking can work. A short message sent out over Facebook about the chance to volunteer with top Aussie designer Kit Willow led to a group of our IEP girls gaining some pretty incredible experience in both fashion design, creation and fashion photography.

Mareesha enjoyed working alongside other talented Australians at such a prestigious event but admits it wasn’t all lights, camera, action.

“Although our roles weren't glamorous, I was mainly hand sewing and beading, and Caroline (another IEP participant) was often sent on 'Devil Wears Prada' missions, it was great to see the organisation of the show: casting the models, fittings, seating arrangements, and juggling the creative side versus the selling side.” Mareesha said.

Another Work USA participant, Chitti, had embarked on her American adventure with the hope of working in photography. Their contact at Willow introduced her to friends who worked for Fly Productions and they offered Chitti an internship to work with them on four shows during Fashion Week. Chitti worked the door at two shows, giving her plenty of opportunity for celeb spotting, but it was the backstage and runway photography work that provided her with a real taste of working in fashion photography.

The Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week for Spring/Summer 2010 took place from the 10-17 September 2009 at locations throughout New York including Bryant Park and New York Public Library.

Apart from Kit Willow, other Australian designers on show this year included Toni Maticevski, Anaessia (Michael Angel) and Lisa Vanikiotis.

It was not just the hands on experience that proved worthwhile for the IEP participants, but the opportunity to network with people within the industry, leading to other possible internships and even paid positions.

The pilot visa, which was recently extended for another year, has provided hundreds of eligible Australians with the opportunity to pursue their professional career, while travelling throughout the United States.

Australians or New Zealanders interested in the 12 months Work USA program need to be full time tertiary students who have completed at least a year of their course already or recent graduates who plan to enter the USA within 12 months of finishing their degree.

If you’re interested in working in the USA and think you might be eligible, feel free to email me at naomi.joyce@iep.org.au

The Organised Traveller Vs The Spontaneous Traveller

There is an unspoken belief that a true backpacker carries her life on her back, throws caution to the wind, chooses her path day by day and stumbles across gorgeous little dwellings that will house her for the night and offer her the true cultural experience that a backpacker craves.

Then there is the organised traveller who books every aspect of their trip down to the airport shuttle and who selects the restaurant for dinner directly from Lonely Planet’s highest recommendation. There is no room for spontaneity or surprise as the schedule does not allow it.

In reality, a combination of both styles of travel usually delivers the most satisfying trip.

While the organised traveller may be taking the safer route and sometimes the less exciting one, with no opportunity to change direction based on local advice or the people they meet, they do have time to compare prices and quality so will often end up with the better hostel, tour or mode of transport as well as paying less by paying in advance.

The impromptu traveller can end up spending more money and more time attempting to book accommodation and transport as they go, meaning less choice and running the risk of having to trawl from door to door looking for a hostel with an empty bed, perhaps ending up having to fork out for a hotel due to lack of options. (Working in hostels in London and Edinburgh, these type of travellers are ones I’ve met many a time and had to break the news to them that there is no bed for them to lay their weary head)

An impromptu trip more often than not leads to more exciting and fascinating stories as the path they travel on winds around some crazy corners which at the time might be scary or annoying but in reflection are the basis for brilliant travel stories.

There is something exhilarating about not knowing where you are going, who you will meet and where you’ll end up, although there is also something comforting about knowing you’ll have a place to stay when you arrive at your next destination.

There will always be both sorts of travellers on the road and as long as there is a pack on their back and a sense of adventure in the air, they will always have a place on the backpacking trail.

Are you a planner or spontaneous traveller?

If you have an questions about working holidays you can contact me at naomi.joyce@iep.org.au

American Summer Camps-what it's really like

There's an exclusive club in the United States that every year, more Aussies are signing up to. Stories from inside the club that are leaked to those who aren't involved speak of rituals, chanting, secluded locations, outrageous costumes and performances and a group mentality that will never be fully understood by those in the outside world.

The club is summer camp.

The 'world' to which over 15000 American children escape to every summer and where camp counsellors from around the globe join forces to educate, support, entertain and motivate kids, is a world often so far removed from the real world that there can never be a full understanding of what summer camp is like until you've been.

Recently, one IEP Summer Camp USA email really struck a chord with me and made the desire to join the club stronger than ever. The following is summer camper Kate's, experience at an American camp, an experience that has had an enormous and positive impact oh her life.

My camp, Camp Rim Rock, finishes up next week, and it will be the end of my 14 week stint in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of West Virginia.

I never realised how close the staff would become over the summer. It feels like I have known some of them for ages, and I know we will stay friends after camp.

There aren't any real downsides, I mean I have been on-duty up to 23 hrs a day, 6 days a week for 14 weeks and it is tiring but worthwhile for all the fun and friends. I have never had so many dress-up opportunities or chances to do crazy things like be dunked in a dunk tank, sing about Walmart, perform interpretive dance and magic tricks, learn to ride horses, generally sing and dance a lot, teach American kids how to play pass the parcel, cricket and AFL and just have pretty much non-stop fun for three months. It is hard work but unbelievably rewarding.

While I was initially apprehensive about working at an all-girls camp, it has turned about to be an advantage. No one cares what they look like, the kids are free to dance like crazy and run around camp without the pressure of boys.

It is so hard to sum up what has been the best summer of my life. I have been living a 'simple' life, walking outside to use the bathroom, always having dirty feet, rarely making contact with the outside world, sleeping under the stars every now and again and being outdoors all day. I would do it again in a heartbeat and can not put into words how much fun I have had. It is not the job itself that has made my experience, but the people I have worked with who turned the summer into an adventure to remember.

Thank you IEP for making it all possible!!

Kate

 

It is stories like this that keep camp counsellors going back for more year after year and encourages other Aussies to take the plunge and join the club that is Summer Camp USA.

 

Applications for Summer Camp USA 2010 program are now open and you can find out more about how to work at a camp in the States by clicking Summer Camp USA.

 

You must love kids, be aged 19-35 (skilled 18 year olds will be considered) and be available for 8-10 weeks between May/June and August.

 

Email me if you are an Australian and want to know more about Summer Camp USA naomi.joyce@iep.org.au

 

 

12 month J1 USA Visa Set to Continue! Great News!

We've been on a rollercoaster over the past few months. Us, being the crew at IEP as well as every eligible Australian university or TAFE student who has wanted to work in America for a year and have been waiting on tenterhooks to find out if the Exchange Visitor pilot program visa was going to continue.

We were told yes, we were told no, we were given the possible end date of the visa, we were told it might continue for a few extra months and with so much uncertainty, we had been pushing to get eligible applicants over the line by 31 October, and by that  I mean over the border line of the US of A.

Then, out of the blue came that gorgeous email from the US State Department declaring that the pilot program would be continuing for at least another year at this time. Like music to our ears.

And so the frantic rush began, we wanted to get the message out there to everyone and anyone who ever glossed over our website and then thought they wouldn't get on the program in time or that they needed to finish their final semester before they went over.

Let's face it, this was a pilot program and it takes a bit of time for word to spread that this sort of incredible opportunity is out there. People want to hear from others who have done it and two years just isn't enough time to gather enough momentum.

So we're grabbing this extra year with both hands and holding on tight.

I'm sure there are those of you out there who have never even heard of this visa and won't know what all the excitment is about so here is the low down.

The Work USA program allows Australian or New Zealand passport holders who are full time tertiary students and who have completed at least a year of their course already or recent graduates who plan on entering the US within 12 months of finishing their course, to work anywhere in the USA in practically any field for up to a year.

This kind of flexibilty and freedom is pretty rare when it comes to US visas which is why the extension of the program is such exciting news.

IEP is currently a registered sponsor of this visa and on our Work USA program eligible Aussies can spend a year working and travelling in America with very few restrictions. They don't need to work in their field of study and they don't need to have a job lined up before they go over.

Of course there is more to the program and if you are interested you can learn more about it at our website Work USA

Any questions can come through to me at naomi.joyce@iep.org.au of course, I might still be out celebrating the good news!

Working at a Ski Resort in Canada

There is something exciting about working at a Canadian ski resort that draws thousands of young Aussies in every year. Whether it is the unknown of living, working and playing surrounded by snow unlike any snow found here in Australia, maybe it is the images of the party lifestyle that communal living conjures up or maybe it is the appeal of living in a country where the culture is familiar and yet strikingly different that leads to Australians between the ages of 18-31 packing their parkas and making their way to the big, beautiful country that is Canada.

There are a number of myths that do need to be dispelled and some facts made clear, as the Canucks gear up for their next winter season and their first bout of recruitment in Australia and New Zealand through IEP's Work & Ski Canada Job Fairs.

Before jumping on in and making your way to Whistler (because let's face it most Aussies haven't heard of anywhere else) there are a few pointers that can save you time, money and bitter disappointment.

• Make sure you are able to stay for an entire season. If you need to return to uni at the beginning of March, chances are employers are not going to be interested in hiring you. With most winter seasons running from late November until April (or even May) resorts do not want to re-recruit half way through the season because half their staff turned in their lift passes and headed home. 5-6 months is generally required.
• Many employers will hold independent job fairs in Canadian cities at the beginning of October. If you rock up in November or December hoping you can land a job and a bed in staff housing, chances are you'll be competing with hundreds of others with the same idea. With most jobs already taken, you could end up spending way too much money on hostels and too much time on panicking that you won't find a job. On IEP's Work Canada Fully Loaded program, you will get the inside scoop on which employers are holding their interview days in Canada in October, so you don't miss out.
• If you can't arrive in Canada that early, then securing your job before you leave Australia is definitely the best idea. IEP holds job fairs in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland in August, taking the hassle out of the recruitment process.
• There is more to Canada than Whistler! There is no doubt that Whistler is a massive, beautiful resort but Canada literally has hundreds of resorts that offer a more unique Canadian experience where life is cheaper and more laid back. Whether you are after massive slopes, a party lifestyle, a more wholesome lifestyle, a great place to learn to ski or even an employer that isn't a resort but is set amongst some picturesque scenery, there is an option out there for you. Don't limit your choices by insisting on heading to the resort your brother/cousin/mate worked at-there are SO many options out there.
• The pay will probably suck. Many ski resorts pay anywhere from CA$8-$15 an hour but keep in mind the experience you are having and the awesome benefits many employers offer. Free or heavily discounted season passes (sometimes to more than just their own mountains), free and discounted meals, cheap housing, cheap rentals and snow equipment purchases. Many employers will run staff trips and parties.
• You will need working rights for Canada. The most common option is a working holiday visa. For Australians you need to be over 18 and apply before your 31st birthday. The visa is $190, proof of funds is AU$4000 and you can apply at www.whpcanada.org.au (if you are on an IEP program we can help you with getting the visa).
• Don't expect time off over Christmas and New Year (unless the resort closes on these days) as this is usually the busiest time. Similarly, for 2010 if you have a contract for the entire season, you will probably not be allowed time off to go and check out the winter Olympics in Vancouver.
• Employers don't control the snow. Expect less hours at the beginning of the season especially if the snow starts falling late and make sure you have enough money behind you to get by.

Wherever you end up, working a winter season in Canada is bound to be one of the most exciting experiences of your life. Keep your options open, remain flexible and make the most of the incredible winters Canada is famous for.

If you have any questions about working a winter season in Canada (or a summer season) you can reach me on naomi.joyce@iep.org.au