For university students, trying to strike a balance between the need to earn money and the desire to travel abroad can be difficult.
A working vacation program could offer a way for students to do both.
Andrew Coldbeck, owner of The Job Shop in Western Australia, is visiting the Canadian Prairies hoping to find students to do just that.
He was at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon Nov. 3 explaining work opportunities in Australia available for Canadian university students in farm machinery operation and livestock rearing.
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The goal of Coldbeck’s temporary working holiday program is to allow agriculture students to relate their fields of study with experience in operating farm equipment or livestock management while visiting Australia on an extended holiday.
“This isn’t a new concept,” said Coldbeck. About 8,000 Canadians come to Australia on working visas every year, he said.
“What I am aiming on doing is establishing an ongoing arrangement” for university students to work in Australia temporarily, said Coldbeck.
Students interested in the program must first apply for an Australian working holiday visa, which allows the applicants to stay in Australia for up to a year, said Coldbeck. Students can re-apply for an extension of an additional year.
Once a visa has been granted, students must contact Coldbeck to arrange a job placement. Students are also responsible for travel related expenses.
They can expect to receive about $20 Aus an hour, with meals and accommodations provided by their employers.
Jay Balfour is a fourth year agriculture business student who was present during Coldbeck’s presentation.
With eight years of farm experience, the opportunity is appealing, he said.
It is a way “to see how other people do agriculture in the world … and how different the industry is somewhere else,” said Balfour.
He said if he goes, he would spend a few months working and about a month travelling throughout Australia.
Earl Bohachewski, a fourth year agronomy student, welcomes the opportunity to farm in Australia but said he will hold off on making a final decision until after graduation.
Students interested in the job offers must have a Canadian passport.
