<p>There are lots of websites devoted to gap years, but wading through them is confusing, and some look, frankly, rather sketchy. Many sites appear to be "brokers" of job positions, travel packages, etc., and not the actual organization who works with students. My niece is interested in taking a gap year in Australia - possibly interning, volunteering, and traveling. Can anyone recommend a good resource? Thanks!</p>
<p>[Semester</a> in Australia](<a href=“http://www.nols.edu/courses/locations/australia/ausemester.shtml]Semester”>http://www.nols.edu/courses/locations/australia/ausemester.shtml)
Nols has great programs. They also have a semester in New Zealand</p>
<p><a href=“Gap Year Programs | Africa, Asia, America, Nepal, China | Dragons”>Gap Year Programs | Africa, Asia, America, Nepal, China | Dragons;
Not Australia but Where There Be Dragons also has great programs</p>
<p>Apply for a visa and just turn up. Follow the hordes of Europeans from hostel to hostel for a year. Pick a few bananas to make money. Never eat bananas again because of the spiders. If you speak English this is so easy, I don’t know why you would attempt to work with sketchy agents.</p>
<p>Thanks, mom60 - I’ll check those out!</p>
<p>cupcake, are Americans eligible for working holiday visas to Australia?</p>
<p>But I do agree with your general sentiment - it is odd how American parents (and kids) insist on coddling ‘study abroad’ programs, whereas European and Australian teenagers are backpacking independently or with friends at 18.</p>
<p>Keepittoyourself, possibly the European teens are more familiar with public transportation.
My daughter used Projects Abroad to help her put a volunteer vacation program together- they aren’t in Australia however.</p>
<p>We are talking about an 18 year old woman traveling alone. I don’t think she is coddled because she does not want to arrive in a country where she’s never been before and knows no one without some sort of itinerary or pre-established contacts. The idea that she would just “turn up” and go from hostel to hostel on some sort of moveable feast is a bit much. </p>
<p>It is simply common sense that she make plans beforehand and understand what she is getting into. Furthermore, planning ahead will allow her to make the most efficient use of her time there and not waste resources on figuring things out. </p>
<p>Emerald, I checked Projects Abroad and it looks like they have many interesting opportunities. What did your daughter do on her project and was she happy with her choice?</p>
<p>Youngest D worked two jobs for five months ( airfare was her biggest expense) to save enough to spend almost six months working & traveling in India with a detour on the way home to see a friend graduate in Leeds.</p>
<p>She loved it ( although London caused culture shock- she worked for about one month at an organic farm & for four months at a school/orphanage.
Now she has the confidence to plan her own trip, but at 18, it was nice to have a number to call where there was a good chance that there would be an adult on the line that spoke English. It made me feelJ a tiny bit better when she was traveling through Goa and I hadn’t heard from her in over a week.</p>
<p>Organizations with solid track records for student exchange that also have volunteer opportunities for recent high school graduates include:
[AFS</a> Intercultural Programs | Connecting Lives, Sharing Cultures](<a href=“http://www.afs.org%5DAFS”>http://www.afs.org)
[Youth</a> for Understanding](<a href=“http://www.yfu.org%5DYouth”>http://www.yfu.org)
[Rotary.org:</a> Students and Youth - Home](<a href=“http://www.rotary.org/en/StudentsAndYouth/Pages/ridefault.aspx]Rotary.org:”>http://www.rotary.org/en/StudentsAndYouth/Pages/ridefault.aspx)</p>
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<p>Given that that’s what tens (hundreds?) of thousands of European, Australian, and Canadian teens do every year between high school and college, I’m going to have to disagree with you there.</p>
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<p>Sure but isn’t part of the point of this sort of vacation to learn how to figure things out on her own, and handle new situations?</p>
<p>“Given that that’s what tens (hundreds?) of thousands of European, Australian, and Canadian teens do every year between high school and college, I’m going to have to disagree with you there.”</p>
<p>My UK friend’s 19 yr… old daughter is doing that right now. She doesn’t even have a set itinerary. She started somewhere in Southeast Asia and pretty much winging it from there.</p>
<p>US citizens can get a one year “Work and Holiday Visa” as long as you’re under the age of ??? (I can’t remember the exact age, but it’s around 30). Unfortunately they can’t get the one-year extension for doing agricultural work. It cost $270 and you have one year to enter Australia from the date you get your visa.</p>
<p>My daughter is in Australia now on this visa. It has taken her quite awhile to find work. The first job didn’t work out and she is only getting limited hours on her current job. You can stay 6 months on one job and then need to change.</p>
<p>Australia is extremely expensive, so have plenty of money. And the method for renting apartments is absolutely crazy compared to here in the USA!</p>
<p>How about being an au pair? There’s a family in Europe that’s on their 3rd au pair from our high school. </p>
<p>I would have to imagine there’s an Australian family that would want an American teen to help out, as there’s no language barrier. (They do drive on the wrong side of the road, however).</p>
<p>I would not have let my 18 yr old daughter travel through India/ southeast Asia by herself without an itinerary.
She had a very loose one- but at least there was something.
She had already been in India for several months before she went to Goa for a month, at the same time as Scarlett Keeling. ( not the same beach however)
[Man</a> arrested over British girl’s murder in Goa - Telegraph](<a href=“Man arrested over British girl's murder in Goa”>Man arrested over British girl's murder in Goa)</p>
<p>Planning ahead isn’t illegal.
;)</p>
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<p>Then you are coddling her. Refusing to pay is one thing, and I support your right to do that (the perfect gap year is 6 months working and saving, followed by 6 months of travel). But if you mean you would try to forbid it… I have no words.</p>
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<p>If you were to tell us where you live, I’m sure we could find a newspaper story about a nearby murder.</p>
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<p>No, and sometimes it is a good idea. But sometimes it just reflects fear and can suck all the fun out of life.</p>
<p>If your niece has funds- LeapNow is a program that helps to put together personalized experiences. Two of older Ds friends from high school took a gap year in Australia where they worked on a sheep station ( using motorcycles) and earned their divemasters off the Great Barrier Reef. One of them had also lived in Melbourne during junior yr when his dad had a Fulbright to lecture and do research.
It’s personalized but can be spendy- although travel costs are probably the bulk of it.</p>
<p>If you were to tell us where you live, I’m sure we could find a newspaper story about a nearby murder.</p>
<p>I’m sure. I’ve mentioned elsewhere that D attended an inner city high school, there are murders in the parking lot.
I also have more respect for our city police than foreign police who are often corrupt.</p>
<p>If I were " coddling" her as you put it, I wouldn’t have allowed her to travel extensively without me while she was still in middle school.</p>
<p>I really don’t think it is appropriate to criticize another parent who comes to CC seeking info about the college years.</p>
<p>Years ago on CC posters commented negatively on those focusing on the need for full financial disclosure upfront with their children. Now it is the mantra of this site.</p>
<p>Having CC as the go to info site for all things college and gap years is what makes the site so valuable and would not be so without its posters. So chiding them for “coddling” their children when trying to plan and formulate ideas is the contrary of the purpose of this site.</p>
<p>Many times planning a gap year plays a large role in the application process so having a “plan” can almost become a necessity, esp. in the essay and interview process of college apps. And this is just not for pre-college but for post grads applying to grad and professional schools.</p>
<p>Those of us who have been here 10+ years respect and value the info and advice of others who have utilized the processes. It again is what makes the strength of CC and its posters an invaluable resource.</p>
<p>Please keep that in mind when posting.</p>
<p>Kat</p>
<p>You’re right - sorry, I was a bit terse. How people deal with their kids is their own business, and I’m sorry if I was rude. I find the idea of adults not being allowed to travel without an itinerary horribly depressing, but obviously others disagree.</p>
<p>I was living on my own when I was 17, but my daughter was still living with me.
Adults generally live on their own and do not count as others dependents.
Perhaps you disagree?</p>