Program Reviews

Hi ^^ my name is Esra from Turkey. Ive been in Sydney during 3 weeks. First weeks are a little bit hard for me because im only with myself and i have to do everythings myself. But hard days are gone i foubd a house and started working. Everything is getting better and better. Of course Alliance Abroad has always been with me . I always ask for help to Nina and Anita. Everything is much easier with their helps. And if you thinking about coming here but you are afraid. Dont think anymore . Even the worst thing you will come across in here, there will be amazing experience for you.

AAG offered everything that I needed to start my life in Sydney. They helped make the transition smooth and simple, from setting up interviews to assisting me with getting a visa and tax return. Without them, I would have been totally lost.

Hi guys!! I couldn't find a job in melbourne(i arrived at the begining of winter) so i decided to participate to the AAG program and after 2 interviews I get a really good 6 month experience in one of the most prestigious hotel in Melbourne!! It's not easy everyday and I work long day shift but the things I learned here will help me all along my career!! I'm entirely satisfied with the experience and I recommand everybody to do it!! You are SURE to get a 6 month job in a good company!!

Why Australia? Why not Australia, I think I speak for heaps amount of people when I say Australia is on their bucket list. It's one of those places that people dream of either visiting or living. As for myself, I moved to Australia in the summer of 2014 (or winter of 2014 depending on which side of the world you're on). The reason for me moving here was actually a great unexpected surprise. A few months back I was living in Athens, Ohio, I dropped out of school and was working part time at a bar n grille joint on court street. Night after night, drinking my life away, I was stuck between a rock and a hard ( 148 hour style) and I seemed to be literary doing nothing with my life. With summer approaching fast I was moving back to Cleveland to live with my folks and had no clue what my future held for me. Upon waking up one morning, still drunk from the night before, I did what any person 12-40 years of age does first thing in the morning; checked every social media account I owned before stumbling out of bed. Opening up Facebook I saw I had a message from my mom, I opened it and what I found is what changed my life for the better. It was an ad for a cooking contest that was sponsored by AAG and if you won, you received an all expenses paid trip to Australia to work under a working holiday visa for a year. A working holiday visa is basically how it sounds you apply for a visa through the Australia government and after answering a couple questions, making sure you're not a criminal and 400 bucks later you are granted a working holiday visa. The contest rules were simple, cook a dish that represents Australia to you. See here's the thing, I've been working in kitchens for half my life so I can cook some fierce food that would make any mouth water. Therefore, after reading the rules and regulations I called up my good friend Tommy who owns a videography/photography company called GeniusFilms located in Cleveland, Ohio ( see what I did there, you're welcome Tom). I explained to him the whole situation and asked him if he could film me cooking a dish and he quickly agreed with a "hell yeah". Fast forward a few weeks later. Tommy and Greg (co-owner of the company) started to set up cameras and bright lights in his kitchen and man let me tell you I felt like I was on an episode of chopped, it felt pretty fricken incredible. At that point, my nerves started to set in and what's the best way to calm the nerves, that's right you guessed it, I shot gunned a couple beers . The meal I prepared was grilled Lamb chops over an Asian Coleslaw, you can check out my YouTube video if you'd like, just type in Lance Zacher and you'll see me wielding my main hand chopping weapon of cutlery. After filming the video I was on the road again on a 3 hour journey back to Athens. A few weeks later after Tom and Greg were done editing the video they sent it to me via email. I kid you not, the dead line for the video was April 30th at midnight, I uploaded and sent it in at 11:58pm, talk about to close for comfort. Fast forward 2 months. Thinking I lost the contest because I never received a phone call nor email I was back to not knowing what the hell I was going to do. One afternoon I receive a phone call from Austin, Texas, not knowing who it was I did what any good lass or chap does from the information generation, let that shit go to voice mail; before returning the call. Beep beep, beep beep, I look down and saw I had a new voice mail. Texas? I know absolutely no one from Texas I said to myself. I listen to my voicemail and the first words I hear were "Congratulations! Lance, you won the contest". YESSS!! I scream at the top of my lungs, my mom came barreling in the kitchen like a crazed wildebeest running from a lioness. I won the contest Ma, I'm moving to the land down under. Instantly I start playing Men At Work, who wouldn't.

In addition, AAG ultimately changed my life for the better. They are professional, very knowledgeable on the process of bringing you to Australia and they help you with each step along the way. Would I recommend AAG to others. You bet!

Thank you again AAG, without you guys none of this would have been possible.

I hope that this story inspires anyone who reads this. Life can be ruff sometimes and when you're at a low point you never think it'll get better. Well, I'm here to tell you that it does. Never give up and keep chugging (like "Thomas the train"...or beer which ever you prefer)

Cheers,
Lance

Really loved my original coordinator, she responded to my emails immediately! My newer one was good but took a while responding which was frustrating. More information needed to be given to us about our jobs and meetings that weren't given to us.

AAG walked me through it all!

From the beginning the interview was very thorough. They care and you can tell. With the most detailed questions, they not only analysed my experience but my wants, desires, skills, behaviors, future goals, and so much more.

After this interview, they sent me in one email everything I needed to make this trip happen and in the most safest way possible.
The things I was walked through was some of the most simplest things to the more difficult as in:
Obtaining a: Passport, Visa, Health/Travel Insurance
Teaching: How to build and "fluff" a resume, master an interview, what the Australian culture is like, safe traveling tips, tricks, and practices
Aware me of: Costs of living, wordage, fun festivals and events, location of housing
And so much more

Since arrival I have done so much and have yet had a bland day. I get contacted a minimal of once and week to see if I'm okay and offer assistants and all that they can. They met me in person within 24 hours of arrival and gave me a rundown of how public transport works and where all the free entertainment is.

AAG has pair me with a career that given me the chance learn, grow, laugh, and implement my skills to build a suitable resume for the future.

So whether your thinking about the fun, the career, the traveling, the experience, the culture, or even just starting of fresh with somewhere new....

I would recommend AAG to hold your hand through that walk of life.

See you when you get here,

Frankie C.

I came to Melbourne in July 2014 for a 6 month internship in the Business/Events program.

AAG helped me get a business internship with a really great company, working for really great people. I honestly couldn't have asked for a better placement. It's given me experience in marketing (my degree is in marketing), international business and business development, a look into the way the Australian and Victorian governments work, and overall just how to interact with people differently.

The really important part of a review that people really want to read about, though, is the negative aspects (if any). Overall, my experience with AAG has been a relatively positive one. But there was definitely a lot of uncertainty and stress (and, frankly, dissatisfaction with the program) surrounding the housing aspect.

What got me is that we paid a program fee to help us cover every aspect of moving here, and the only support we got is a few website links that, honestly, we could have found ourselves (so why did I pay for that?).

The housing was far and away my biggest stressor. Luckily I was able to find a place in a week, but only after spending that entire week camped out on real estate websites and sending countless emails to real estate agents and landlords, but I have talked to others and some people had a much harder time than me.

The other issue is the salary. I was told that it covers basic costs, but if I'm being honest, it barely does. When it comes down to it, $1500 is not a lot of money, and it's quite hard to live off of. I have a place in the CBD, which is $1200/month. That has left me with only $300 per month for everything else, like groceries, utility bills, and anything else. I realize that there are other options farther from the city and with roommates, etc. that are cheaper, but I feel like it shouldn't be a salary so low that participants have to perform acrobatics just to get a living situation that will allow them to cover necessities and leave extra for socializing, etc. Because ultimately, people don't join this program to go live somewhere and struggle to get by. I was also told that some people opt for second jobs. Again, I didn't join the program to have a day job and then need a second job just so I can afford to have a life (and then not have a lot of extra time for that social life). I'm lucky that my parents are amazing and helping me out while I'm here, but there are others who don't have that luxury.

But, like I said, I love my job and AAG has definitely exceeded my expectations in that aspect.

Also, they put a lot of effort into organizing social events and getting participants together. It's important to be with other people that you can relate to, especially living so far away from home. It's easy to make friends in that respect because you've always got tons of opportunities to be with AAG members.

Alliance Abroad is a great program! They provide everything they say they do, as well as set you up with an individual counselor that makes any questions clear and goes above and beyond to make sure you on the path to have an amazing adventure! I got Rosemary, and she was beyond great in every step, even with my never ending questions! I got the perfect job in the perfect situation I wanted, all thanks to alliance abroad and Rose. I recommend this program to anyone looking to go to Australia, and definitely worth the money in all they do for you and your future career!

The thing I enjoy about work is that I enjoy doing what I do and I work with a great staff and making everything accommodating to me. I find the train system is totally accessible and would recommend this program to anyone with or without disability

The decision to go to Australia was made long ago before I actually went there. Things happened very fast and within 3 weeks I booked my flight, got a job (after several mock interviews) and started into my adventure.
After spending the first three nights in a hostel I found a flat shared with 4 other nice people. Finding a room wasn't easy, but I didn't want to leave in the hostel by the start of my internship. So I made a profile on flatmates.com.au and browsed through tons of ads. After three long days of visiting flats I found a relatively good one in Glebe, a young suburb which is also close to everything you need (and to the office I'm working in).
Once work started things slowly settled and I began to feel at home in Sydney. It's important to have your day-to-day business!
On the weekends I took several trips with people I got to know in diverse Facebook groups. That's something I highly recommend: search for people in your age/ with same background etc. It makes things much easier if you find people you can hang out with.
In the beginning everything's very unclear - though you might have planned a lot - but that's what it's all about: you never can plan everything. Just jump into the cold water and see what happens. And even if you have your doubts in the beginning, you'll definitively get to a point, where you say: It was all worth it. And once you reached that point, you know you got what you were looking for!