Paid Gap Year in Australia

Live & Work as a Gap Assistant in an Australian School

11 Month Placements Only

Overview

Are you a fan of white sandy beaches, lush rainforests and stunningly perfect sunny weather? Perhaps you’re a sports fan or enjoy bonding with mates over an outdoor BBQ. If you answered ‘yes’ to one or more of the above, then a gap year in the land down under is calling your name!

Our Australian Gap Year Program offers you a taste of the Aussie lifestyle that a tourist could only ever dream of working as an assistant at a prominent Australian school, you’ll be completely immersed in every aspect of typical Australian life. From the stunning tropical coastline of Northern Queensland to the rugged and impenetrable forests of Tasmania, we offer a wide variety of school placements through Australia!

How Letz Live prepares you for your gap year

Occupying five per cent of the world’s land area and being the sixth largest country in the world, Australia may seem overwhelming to people who want to go on a gap year program. This is what Letz Live is for. We are partnered with renowned schools across the continent to make your search for a gap assistant placement easier.

Our paid gap year programmes fee in the Land Down Under include:

Placement at a leading Australian School

Your placement as a Gap Assistant in a leading Australian school is carefully selected by the Letz Live team. Rest assured there will be a great placement ready for you, with well-equipped accommodation for your time in Australia and one that can be best suited to your attributes and skills.

Trusted & Reliable Work

We visit our host schools annually, to ensure their continued suitability to host our participants. This means we know everything about your school and are on a first-name basis with the staff you will be working with.

Dedicated Team

Our team have personally experienced their own gap year living and working overseas at a young age. Our team will be your key point of contact in the lead up to and throughout the full duration of your placement in Australia.

Face-to-face visits from Letz Live

Our team will visit you during your placement; these are usually in either the first or second term of your arrival. We believe it helps to see a friendly face, have a chat about your placement and general gap year progress.

‘Welcome to Australia’ 3-day Orientation

Best known as the place for networking with other Letz Live participants, our 3-day orientation is an exciting time. Your Letz Live team organises airport transfers to your school, 2 nights accommodation, daily breakfast, welcome dinner plus leisure activities as an introduction to Australia and to get to know your fellow gappies.

Training Course + Certificate

Letz Live’s programme provides unique training of the Australian Boarding Schools Association certificate course as part of the 3-day orientation prior to arriving at your school. The in-country training provides all participants with comprehensive knowledge of boarding school life and ensures they are well prepared for core responsibilities and duties. Add this to your resume under skills and/or certificates.

Mobile Phone SIM Card

You can phone home quick as a flash! You’ll have a local Australian mobile telephone SIM card ready to plug into your device to keep all your family and friends at home updated.

Discounted Travel Insurance & Tours

Our inhouse travel team, Letz Travel stays in touch throughout your placement to assist with flights, insurance and holiday tour ideas throughout Australia, the South Pacific and even South East Asia.

Bank Account Assistance

We’ll assist you with international money transfers and pointers on establishing an Australian bank account.

Ongoing and Unlimited Support

We are only ever an email or phone call away. We are proud to support our gap assistants. We boast an Australian Headquarters, a team in New Zealand, South Africa and the United Kingdom. There is always a team ready to support our Gap community.

Dedicated Social Groups

Gain exclusive access to your Gap Year’s group page. The group aims to connect all gap assistants for each programme. It’s a great way to get to know who will be placed at your school or nearby and share plans throughout the year.

A Network of Gappies

Share, laugh, live and connect with past gappies via our Facebook and Instagram pages.

Life Experience

By living in another country, you are forcing yourself to take charge and gain independence. While we’ll be on hand to offer guidance, the thrill of blazing your own trail and making a life for yourself in a foreign setting is enormous, and the personal growth that you’ll experience is immeasurable.

Let us simplify the application process for you.

Applications for January 2025 placements have closed. We're happy to accept and process late applications, however preference in the first instance may be given to those who applied by April 2, 2024.

Application close time!

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Departure

Placements commence in late January & mid July.

Duration

11 month placements are available with occasional 6 month opportunities

Remuneration

Approximately AU$250.00 – $450.00 per week + food + accommodation during the school term.

Application and Programme Fees

All of our Gap Year programmes are subject to a non-refundable application fee which is payable at the time of your online application. The application fee includes all costs associated with the processing of your application and interview.

Only applicants who are offered and subsequently accept a placement will be charged the remainder of the programme fee.

Origin	Application Fee	Programme Fee
Africa	AUD $125.00	ZAR = R24,995.00
Europe & United Kingdom	AUD $125.00	GBP = £1,350.00
Everywhere Else	AUD $125.00	AUD = $2,690.00
Returnee Participant	AUD $125.00	AUD = $1,500.00

Eligibility

Applicants for our Australian Gap Year program must:

Be aged between 17 and 25 years old at the time of their arrival into Australia
Have a valid passport from their home country
Have no serious pre-existing medical conditions
Have no prior convictions, with the ability to provide evidence as required
Be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and able to show a recognised certificate
Have completed secondary schooling prior to arrival in Australia
Be willing to undergo a medical examination as part of the visa application (if required by Australian Immigration authorities)

Australian and New Zealand passport holders are not eligible for this programme

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Frequently Asked Questions

Below you will find the answers to some commonly asked questions regarding our Australian Gap Year Programme. Can’t find the answer to your question? Get in touch with one of our friendly team today and request an information pack!

How many positions do you have in Australia and where are they located?

On average we have anywhere between 150 and 200 participants in Australia each year split across our two intakes (January & July). We have partner schools across Australia. From the Cairns in the North, to Hobart in the South, Sydney in the East to Perth in the West…… and everywhere in between. Some schools are located in capital cities, whilst others might be a little further afield. Wherever you are placed, you will be provided with a uniquely Australian experience.

What support is available to you whilst I'm in Australia?

We’re very conscious that this is your gap year and with this in mind our input whilst you’re in Australia is totally your call. Of course, we’re always available should the need arise and can offer you all of the support (or space!) that you want throughout your placement; in short, we’re guided by you but be sure, our team in Australia is only a text message or email away!

When are you notified if your application has been successful or not?

Assuming that you have applied prior to the application closing dates stated above, we will aim to notify applicants as per the below schedule:

• January Intake: Applicants notified between June and August.
• July Intake: Applicants notified by the end of April.

Can I be placed with a friend at the same school?

Unfortunately, due to the nature of school programs we are unable to guarantee that you will be placed with a friend. But don’t let this stop you! There will be plenty of opportunities to explore and travel together during school holiday periods.

In addition to the programme fees, what else do I need to pay for?

In addition to the programme fees, the following are not included in your Letz Live programme fees; Your airfares, travel / health insurance, visa & entry clearances in addition to police clearances / Working with Children permits.

I am interested in the 11-month program, but the Working Holiday visa only allows me to stay at one employer for a maximum of 6 months. How is the 11month program possible?

Great question, one that we’re asked on almost a daily basis. Simply put, our participants do not enter Australia on a Working Holiday visa. Our programme uses another visa whereby the school sponsors the participant for either 6 or 11 months (depending on the agreed placement timeframe). This allows you to enter Australia and partake your Letz Live gap placement before returning home at the conclusion of your placement. What makes this deal even sweeter? Assuming you’re eligible for a Working Holiday visa, you can keep this up your sleeve for a later date!

Whilst we cannot apply for the visa on your behalf, don’t stress. We will provide you with detailed instructions and some helpful hints and tips to obtain your visa in a timely manner!

How many gap assistants are placed at the same school?

Every school is unique in their requirements although we presently have no schools that take a single gap assistant. Therefore, you are likely to be placed at a school in Australia with at least another young person on the Letz Live programme!

What happens during the term breaks / holiday periods?

During the school holiday periods, you’ll be able to explore and travel around Australia at your own leisure. Why not make the most of our amazing flight deals and take a quick trip to see New Zealand, Fiji or even South East Asia? The world is your oyster!

Do I need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter Australia?

The Australian Government no longer requires travellers to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter Australia. Some placements however may require their staff to be fully vaccinated as a condition of their appointment.

What does the programme fee include?

The fee includes:

Your placement as an assistant at a leading Australian boarding school, carefully selected by our team (we visit our host placements annually to ensure their continued suitability to host our participants)
A position within a school that will pay you an allowance!
Food and accommodation for the duration of your placement (throughout term time)
Our famous ‘Orientation’ program which is held prior to the commencement of your placement
Orientation includes, 2 nights accommodation, meals, training course + you meet countless other participants!
A dedicated ‘Program Manager’ who will be your key point of contact in the lead up to and throughout the full duration of your placement with us
Ongoing and unlimited support from local ‘Country Manager’ based in Australia
Australian mobile phone SIM card
Access to a variety of discounted tours throughout your trip
Gappies support group to meet other participants prior to arriving

How the gap process works

Apply online

Send us your Gap Year application for your chosen destination & programme. It’s as simple as that!

Interview

Online video interview.
We discuss your preferences, the placement & the programme.

Offer accepted

We put forward your application with partner schools. It’s up to you to accept the offer, then pay the programme fee.

Take off

Our in-house travel team can assist with flights, advice, insurance & visas for a smooth start to your Gap Year.

Support

Vital ingredient!
Our Global HQ is available + our travel team for travel ideas + your country manager.

Visit the land down under on your gap year

Australia may be the world’s smallest continent, but it’s also the world’s largest inhabited island. Each of its six states and two territories has something unique to offer when you spend your time in the country on a paid gap year program.

It would be impossible to tour all of Australia on one vacation, so a year on an Australian gap year program gives you the time you need to experience backpacking, camping and diving in all of the renowned destinations.

Let us simplify the application process for you.

Explore Australia on your gap year

Nick Hare, the founder of Letz Live, returned to Australia late in 2004 after a Gap Year in the UK. He made lifelong friends and learned immeasurable life lessons during his time away from home. He wants other young people to have a similar experience, with Letz Live making gap year preparation easier for you.

On a Gap Year programme, you get to spend an entire year living and working like a local. This gives you a better understanding of Australian culture than any tourist vacation can. Also, spending time on the other side of the world can help you have a better grasp of how things are at home and what you really want to do with your life.

Let our team take you on a journey of a lifetime. Fill out an application form to become a Gap Assistant in Australia today.

My time in Australia was incredible

Dylan S

Want to read more from past gap participants?

See reviews

Paid Gap Year in Australia

Live & Work as a Gap Assistant in an Australian School

Overview

How Letz Live prepares you for your gap year

Our paid gap year programmes fee in the Land Down Under include: