It's Whole, New World
Sydney Morning Herald
Wednesday February 13, 2002
Taking a working holiday doesn't have to mean pub jobs in London. The opportunities for the modern backpacker are much more varied.
For the modern backpacker, a tie or a pair of heels are just as important as the latest edition of the Lonely Planet guide when heading overseas. Sure, there are still plenty of young travellers working in pubs and on building sites, but increasingly they are taking better paid jobs in fields such as accountancy, banking and secretarial work and even in highly sought-after professions such as teaching and physiotherapy.
And while Britain is the magnet for backpackers, not all the jobs are in London.
"Nothing could be nicer than teaching in James Herriot country in the Yorkshire Dales or something like that," says Alan Collingwood, managing director of Travellers Contact Point, an agency for independent travellers.
Too many people think only of London but they'll find plenty of work in other nearby large cities, such as Dublin and Edinburgh, and further afield in Europe, he says.
Meanwhile, for those with a penchant for the outdoors and who don't mind getting their hands dirty, there is the Willing Workers on Organic Farms (http://www.wwoof.org) program, under which food and accommodation are provided in return for farmwork.
In general, Aussies looking for work overseas have one big plus on their side - their almost universal popularity.
"We've got a real reputation for being hard-working and friendly and good to have around the office, so you'll tend to find that it's not overly difficult to find work," says Lance Batty, commercial manager of TNT Magazine, which features travel and work information for backpackers.
Alan Perry, of Camp Counsellors, agrees. "If I could find 3000 Australians who wanted to work at summer camps, we could find places for them," he says.
Camp Counsellors recruits counsellors for children's summer camps in 40 countries and finds many first-time travellers use those jobs as an introduction to independent travelling. Counsellors get free food and accommodation and, in the US, can make up to $2693 for a nine-week stint. Camp Counsellors is one of the few options available for those wanting to work in the US because of visa restrictions.
There are plenty of places to start the hunt for a UK job: TNT Magazine (www.TNTmagazine.com) or Recruitment UK (www.travellers.com.au) magazines are excellent starting points. Specialist backpacker travel agencies such as Travellers Contact Point or Backpackers World Travel also have a lot of information.
If you are a nurse, teacher or accountant, many agencies will interview you in Australia.
Try Michael Page Finance (http://www.michaelpage.com.au/) for the finance industry, or Select Education for teaching and Healthstra for nursing.
Tips for overseas workers:
* have at least six months left on your passport
* get appropriate travel insurance
* read up on the country you are visiting
* allow up to four months for visa application processing
* give friends or family a copy of your itinerary
* photocopy important documents
* don't put valuables in a bumbag
* open a bank account at the destination before travelling
* get an international driving licence (contact the RTA)
Angels earn their wings
For Katie Pearce, nannying in the United States last year was a chance to do what she loves and see the world.
Pearce was dissatisfied with studying psychology and always had enjoyed babysitting, so she answered an advertisement for nannies in Britain and the US.
Working through the Australian nanny agency Dial-An-Angel, Pearce was introduced over the phone to seven families in America.
She chose to work with a family with three girls aged six, nine and 12.
"The girls were the age I had had experience with, so I was confident I could handle it," she says. "I felt we had a rapport when I spoke to them."
Pearce helped the parents, who spent 12 hours a day at their respective offices.
She worked five days a week and occasionally would babysit on a Saturday night. She did the washing and light housework and was paid $320 a week.
Her contract was for one year, which is the limit for working visas in the US.
Pearce was often homesick and appreciated the monthly get-togethers arranged by Dial-An-Angel with six nannies in the Chicago area.
Pearce says the best part of her experience, apart from the travel she was able to do when the assignment finished, was the time she spent with the children.
"I adored them to bits and it was my choice to spend more time with them. I miss them now," she says.
Back in Australia, Pearce interviews prospective nannies and co-ordinates babysitters for Dial-An-Angel.
She says that when she assesses prospects she looks for some experience with children, good references and the confidence to get the most out of the experience even when the "going gets tough".
© 2002 Sydney Morning Herald