Australia Outback Ranch Training

Minimum age

Participants must be aged 18-30 (due to working holiday visa restrictions).

 

Accommodation

Your first three nights will be spent in a comfortable hostel in Sydney. After that the next six nights are spent at the training ranch. After the training programme you have the option to travel around Australia or to start work.

 

Meals

Meals are included whilst you are on your training course at the ranch. Food and accommodation is often included with your job placement. If it is not, you will usually be paid more to cover these extra costs.

Beers and soft drinks are not included. you can buy your own refreshments in town or help yourself to the drinks in the fridge on the training ranch. The ranch operates an honesty system, it's approx $2 a beer and $1.50 for soft drinks. Water and cordial is available for free.

 

Is this trip for you?

This outback farm training course is actioned packed and not for the faint hearted! It guarantees to teach new skills and to build on existing skills. Completing the course allows the trainers to assess you to ensure the job duties are most suited to you. The course is hard work, but also a fun filled and an exciting experience.

Requirements for the course
 

English

• Understand, speak and write fluent English
• Comprehend instructions – on the job the employers will not have time to repeat instructions, and may put you and other staff in danger doing so have the ability to ask questions and make conversation

Personality

• Accept and embrace cultural differences including food, activities, and conversation voluntarily get involved with all activities
• Use initiative
• Be motivated to take on anything that is put in front of you

 

Please Note

You must hold a drivering license. We strongly recommend that it is a full manual driving license - a student without a full license will have limited job opportunities. In addition, if you are vegetarian, or if you wish to be placed with a friend/partner, it may take longer to find a job.

 

It is absolutely essential that you have the correct insurance cover, especially if you intend to work with horses and use machinery.

 

Job Finding Services

After all your training our ranch team will match you to a placement that suits you best. The team will take into account your skills, where you want to be located and whether you want to be nearer to a town or if you want to experience the real Aussie outback and be stationed on a remote ranch.

 

If you successfully pass the course, you will receive an offer of a job as soon as possible. The time it takes to receive a suitable job offer depends on the availability at the time and the number of jobs that suit your skills. Most people go straight to a job on the grounds that they would rather have money in their pockets before travelling around Australia. However, if you decide you want to travel around for a while before settling into a job, then that is fine by us! You can pick and choose when you work and when you play. You have the security of knowing that the ranch team will help find you jobs for up to 12 months.

 

The ranch has contact with many employers throughout Australia so you can work your way around the country taking jobs as it suits you; employers do prefer two or three months work though, and not just one or two weeks.
Please be aware that you will be working for full wages like any other Australian in that position, the farms and stations you will be placed at are real working farms and although you will have a great time, positions should be taken seriously. Employers will usually work alongside you and at times the jobs are tough and demanding. A good reference is usually required before further work is offered.

 

Important notes:

• If you are looking for work it is your responsibility to contact the ranch team to inform them of your needs. Clearly, if you do not let them know that you are looking for work they cannot find you a job. By keeping in regular contact with the ranch they will be aware of your needs and address them as soon as is possible.
• A good work ethic as well as willingness to learn and get stuck in is often more important than your actual skills, so make sure you bring an open mind and a hard working attitude!
• Placement types are many and varied and you will have the choice as to whether you want to work somewhere close to a town or in a more remote area, although this will be dependent upon availability. Please be aware that the remote placements can often be quite isolated with maybe only one or two other employers. The ranch will give you lots of information about the job placement when it is offered to you and you will also have the opportunity to call the employer and ask any questions before leaving the training ranch. It’s important you find out as much as possible about your potential placement and are sure that you are happy to accept it. Although it is possible to change placements once you are there, this is not encouraged, as it is disruptive for yourself and your employer.
• Although it may not affect the outcome of the training course, for health and safety reasons, we need to be made aware of any learning difficulty such as dyslexia or ADHD etc (no matter how mild) so we can pass this information onto the Ranch team.
• Positions during the Australian summer months (December and January) can be limited due to the heat and stress on the stock and horses at ranches. Adverse weather conditions caused by monsoon rains can also affect the availability of animal and horse jobs in Northern Australia during February and March.
• The ranch strongly recommend students have a full manual drivers license (however they will not turn away a potential student with a provisional or automatic - it will just limit job opportunities).
• If you are a vegetarian, or if you want to be placed with a friend/partner, it may take longer than usual to offer you a job placement.

Do you want to work with horses? If you are wishing to work in the equine industry (working with horses in any kind of role), you will need to prepare and take with you a CV that should include details about the following:

 

• Age started riding
• Number of years of consistent riding and frequency
• Ownership of horse (number of horses)
• Riding competition i.e. eventing, dressage, show jumping, showing etc
• Work experience part-time/full-time in stables, pony clubs, vet assistant, polo groom, etc (please supply references from employers)
• Qualifications, such as, certificates, diplomas etc (supply copies)

Please note: To take part in horse riding and quad bike activities there is a maximum weight limit of 100kg (15st 11lb). If you are over this weight you can still take part in the programme, just not these activities.

 

Rates of pay

Food and accommodation will almost always be included with the job. On average you can expect to earn around AUD$250-320 per week… and as your outgoings are generally quite low it’s a great opportunity to save some cash ready for your travels.
 

Advice & Safety

Throughout your programmes you will have the support and guidance of the programme co-ordinator and team. You will be provided with competent assistance and help with any questions or advice you may need during your stay.

 

You will be assigned a personal travel advisor who will co-ordinate your programme with you. Feel free to contact them at any time before you go, or when you are on your travels.

 

In addition, you will have access to a 24 hour emergency contact number so you can contact one of our staff at any time should you need to.