[Stevo112]

Hey guys, so i'm thinking of maybe applying for a working visa in the summer to do some voluntary school work. I've recently done some in a school and have enough experience to go into a school, and I could happily provide numerous references and all that. I'm just wondering if someone could give me some advice on the following issues;

1. When is the school term in Australia? I was thinking of going around New South Wales but the whole country is an option!

2. It would be absolutely 100% voluntary work (although i'd be up for some extra paid work in either teaching or something like fruit picking). Would there be any issue in getting a work visa or any other sort of visa for this type of stay? I was thinking 2-4 weeks in the country.

3. I would be contacting schools directly. Would this be something they'd be interested in?

4. What checks would they need to carry out? I have done a CRB check but not sure how it differs in Aus...

[downthepan]

but summer is when the schools are on holiday

[Stevo112]

my aussie friend advised me that they are on break around June

[gemini89]

First hit on google for Australian school holidays here. It depends on the state, but by the looks for it the 'main' school holiday period (equivalent to the UK's 6 week break over our summer) is from mid-December to the end of January. Then they have a few weeks in April (around Easter), another short break in June and then the last one at the end of September.

My only other advice would be to definitely go for longer than two weeks, if you can (money-wise). Seems a shame to travel so far (and pay so much for a flight!) and volunteer for most of the time, without seeing some sights. You can get a year long Working Holiday Visa direct from the Australian gov website (apply online) but it seems a bit of a waste just to use it for such a short amount of time.

[Origami Bullets]

(Original post by Stevo112)
Hey guys, so i'm thinking of maybe applying for a working visa in the summer to do some voluntary school work. I've recently done some in a school and have enough experience to go into a school, and I could happily provide numerous references and all that. I'm just wondering if someone could give me some advice on the following issues;

1. When is the school term in Australia? I was thinking of going around New South Wales but the whole country is an option!

2. It would be absolutely 100% voluntary work (although i'd be up for some extra paid work in either teaching or something like fruit picking). Would there be any issue in getting a work visa or any other sort of visa for this type of stay? I was thinking 2-4 weeks in the country.

3. I would be contacting schools directly. Would this be something they'd be interested in?

4. What checks would they need to carry out? I have done a CRB check but not sure how it differs in Aus...

1. The academic year runs from January - December.

2. It's really not worth only going for 2-4 weeks - you'll spend the first week or two orientating yourself and getting all your paperwork sorted, and then you have to start looking for jobs. By the time you've found a placement, and any criminal record checks have been completed (and they'll probably take an age because they'll want to check both your UK and Australian criminal records), it'll be more than time to come home again. Within teaching, I remember seeing adverts for paid supply teachers in the paper - but I think they all wanted people to have a PGCE / similar.

3. Try seek.com.au, although contacting them directly could also work.

I've written a FAQ on working in Australia - it's a sticky on the gap year forum, and it will be of some use to you if you read it.

[Calllu-m]

Look into being a gap student at a boarding school. They often come here for the same reason.