Australian & International Agricultural Exchange

Agricultural Experience in Australia

Prerequisites:

Aged between 20 and 30 years
Single and no family ties
Minimum of 12 months practical experience in one or more areas of agriculture,OR, currently at a University or Agricultural College student wanting to gain additonal practical experience for "credits",OR, have completed a recognised Tertiary Course in Agriculture
Must be able to communicate in English
Free of a criminal record
Need to be in good health and no physical disabilities that will prevent you from doing "heavy" work
Need an International Driver's Permit
Applicants seeking placements in Oenology and Viticulture must have the Degrees or Diplomas or Certificate in Oenology and Viticulture.

Program Duration

Intake Dates

3 months
6 months
9 months
12 months

mid-JANUARY
APRIL-after Easter
late JULY
late SEPTEMBER

AREAS of PRACTICAL AGRICULTURE

Mixed Farming
Dairying
Livestock (mixed)
Sheep

Cereal Cropping
Beef Cattle
Pigs/Swine

YOUR PLACEMENTS

Trainees nominate THREE fields of Agriculture in which they would like to work.
First choice is not always available.
Trainees on twelve months program will experience work on two farms.
Trainees receive an allowance while participating in this program.
Trainees on arrival in Australia will spend two nights in Melbourne to participate in a Seminar prior to travelling on to their host family.

Cropping

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This is mainly Cereals [Wheat, Barley and Oats]. Farmers are using Grain Crops such as Oilseed Rape, Pulse Crops [Peas, Lupins, Faba Beans, and Vetch] as a means of improving soil fertility by conducting a rotation crop program on their farms.

Cropping begins in mid-March and culminates with the harvest ranging between mid-November and late-January, depending on the region of Australia where you are working.

Beef

Most of these activities are locate on Cattle Stations in the very hot regions of Australia. Work is limited to the months of March to October. MUST have Horse Riding Skills.

Livestock (mixed)

Two or three Livestock enterprises are used on this type of farm. There a very few placements available.

Sheep

Sheep stations are in the remoter parts of Australia and climatic conditions limit the times of the year when work is avialable.

Dairying

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The Dairying season depends on the company who buys your milk. Some Farmers are milking all the year, which means that their cows are being 'dried-off' at various times of the year. Other Farmers have a specific season which means that all their cows are calving at the same time of the year.

The busiest times of the year are from late-July to late-May.

Mixed Farming

Due to varying climatic conditions within Australia, the Australian Farmer has to consider operating two or three farming enterprises to ensure a regular supply of Income

Mixed Farming usually consists of a Cereal Cropping program and a livestock enterprise.

Besides the regular seasonal activities involved with a Cereal cropping enterprise such as soil preparation, sowing the seed, weed control, harvesting the grain the Livestock enterprise involves activities that can be carried out in between these major cropping activities.

Pigs

These are intensive type operations. Trainees will be required to commute to work every day.

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