Program Reviews

Help was always available for every aspect of travel or work! When I had work issues or problems with accommodation or whenever I had a single question about anything I always had AIFS' support! At times I had problems with accommodation & the get Australia team were there for me. They also helped me get a job by going through my CV with me & improving it. They also booked my travel which was great because I got great advice as well as having discounted prices on not just Australian travel but also travel in New Zealand!

My host family were incredible and looked after me so well. I really did feel like a member of their family. One of my favourite memories with the girls comes from my love of the story the 'Gruffalo' the girls had never heard this story so being my all time favourite I ordered them a copy. I read it to them countless times, including silly voices for each character!! Then one day I put on some music whilst we were doing some craft activities. Florence And The Machine 'You got the love' came on, to which the youngest girl heard it as you 'You Gruffalo'!!! so we spent probably the next half an hour dancing around the house singing to the newly named Gruffalo song!! For the rest of the time I was with the family and I played music, the girls always requested the Gruffalo song. Now whenever hear that song it always reminds me of those amazing six months I was lucky enough to spend in and amazing place with and incredible family.

Being placed in the outback gave me a chance to see the real side of Australia that being in a city wouldn't have allowed me to see. Yes it was isolated, yes it was a 4 hour drive to the supermarket, yes I saw snakes, yes I saw spiders, yes there wasn't a huge social scene but being out there gave me the chance to see things that I may never see and experience again. One of my favourite being the sunsets, even after six months the sunrises and sunsets out there still amazed me, the creatures that I saw, kangaroos, wallabies, blue tongued lizards, emu, cockatoos, pelicans, the list could go on and on. Sure if you go to a zoo you will get to see them, but I got to see them all in their natural habitat and living in the wild, I even saw some Kangaroos boxing!! I swam in the river which was like being in a bath, learnt to fish, spent many evening beer in hand in the pool watching the sunset followed by a barbecue, Bliss!!

Ok so there are a list of cons to living in the outback but the pros well and truly out weigh them. the lifestyle is so relaxed away form all the hustle and bustle. Just you, your host family and nature that goes on for miles and miles around!! Where else could you get that.

Oh and if all those experiences aren't valuable enough, I got paid to do the job! Which funded sine incredible travelling afterwards!

Would I do it all again? YES without a doubt!

Travelling through australia was the best thing I could have done after graduating and I was always very happy that I have chosen AIFS as my organisation and supporter. They were there for me when I needed help and that was all I needed. Thank you!

I always wanted to become an au pair and live abroad for some time. After finishing my A levels I decided to spend 6 months in Australia.

It was the longest time that I had left my family and friends so far and it helped a lot that AIFS arranged for a group of us to be on the same flight. We also attended the orientation days in their office in Sydney together. The AIFS team was wonderful and so helpful! They gave us a ton of tips and also organized our trips to the host families.

My time in Canberra went by in the blink of an eye it seems now. My host family and I were a good match and I will forever be thankful for the wonderful time I got to spent with them. The children became something like my younger siblings and when my six months placement came to an end it was very hard to say goodbye.

During my time in Canberra I also got to know a lot of other au pairs through AIFS and one of them still remains a close friend of mine. We see each other at least once a year and both agree that going to Australia was the best decision we could have made! Not only have we found a true friend so far from home, we also have grown a lot as a person while living abroad and of course traveling Australia has also been an amazing experience!

All in all I made unforgettable memories that I get to keep for a lifetime!

I would recommend for anyone to go abroad as an au pair as it gives you the opportunity to experience a different culture in a very unique way and will not only help with improving your language skills but also make you a more responsible and independent person. - All while you are making a lot of new friends and are having a great time with a family that invites you to share their life with them.

And if there will be any problems, which is normal as being an au pair isn't always easy, AIFS provides amazing support. They are always there for you whether you just need to talk or require help in any other way!

After I did my A-levels back in Germany I decided to spend a year abroad to travel, experience a different way of life and to improve my English. After 6 weeks in a host family I did not really get on with the host mum that is why I was in rematch. Within one week I had offers from over 5 families which I visited and finally I found the right match for me - thanks to AIFS. The staff was amazingly supportive!! My new host family was great. They made me feel welcome all the time, they also invited me to join them for friends and family celebration and on holidays twice. As I was living in a big city I made friends easily most of them where also Au Pairs from AIFS. My year abroad definitely made me a more independent and confident person and I would always recommend it to everyone!! The completion bonus at the end of the placement is great to use for travelling afterwards around Australia, New Zealand, Fiji or Asia.

I had a once in a life time experience in Australia thanks to the get Australia program!!The advice and support that was given from start to finish was invaluable from both the London and Sydney office ! they gave me the confidence to be able to travel to the other side of the world and were highly response to any questions or queries I had whilst I were there! I would highly recommend this program!

My adventure began with my application at AIFS early 2013. I was about to finish my Abitur (German A-levels)and really wanted to go somewhere far from home.
Filling in the application form and sorting everything out was a long-term process I definitely underestimated. It's a lot of work, but in the end so worth it.
When I finally found my host family I knew it was the one I wanted to live with. I skyped with the mum and instantly knew that I'd get along with her perfectly. We constantly wrote E-Mails and skyped a few times.
I first planned on leaving Germany in October but because my host fam wasn't in need until January I got everything sorted in the meantime and got myself a small job to earn some extra money.
The group of girls AND boys flying over to Oz was relatively big. It was great fun on the flights and in the hostel during our orientation days in Sydney. It was all very well organised and sorted, as well as the help before flying out. Well done, AIFS.
Most of the girls were placed along the east coast and mostly caught a bus or train. Some others who lived further away or like me along the west coast jumped on a plane. All the tickets and timetables were provided by the host family and given to us by AIFS during our stay in Sydney.

I got to Perth on Saturday night and was immediately greeted by my hostmom with a kiss on my cheek, while my hostdad, typically Australian, shook my hand. It was great getting to the house and seeing my new home for the next few months- Perth.
I still remember how it looked like for the first time and probably won't ever forget the excited and slightly anxious feeling. Being so far away from home was going to be difficult. But thankfully my host family and their friends helped me get settled in rather quick.
I looked after two adorable little boys. The youngest one was 4 months old the older one 1.5 years. I absolutely love them, and seeing them growing up was and still is an amazing gift.
My hostmom then told me about a Facebook group for AuPairs in Perth, where everyone is able to chat and meet up and make new friends. That's how I met one of my best friends, who I travelled through Oz, New Zealand (yes I went there) and the Pacific with.

The plan was to stay for 7.5 months and then fly back home and go to university. That never happened...I decided to stay longer Down Under than initially planned and travelled around, made new friends and saw so many different places, uncountable. Spending Christmas at the beach, wearing you bikini and celebrating New Years in Sydney is definitely an experience and so so worth it.

The good thing about 'Straya is that everyone is so open and friendly, that it's easy to find friends.
I had lots of girls I met up with for weekly play dates with the kids or for a couple of beer and a "barbie" at the beach.
My host parents are like an older siblings to me. We get along so well, and are still texting a lot. They're my second family, my second home on the other side of the world.
It's not easy to get yourself settled in a new family and I was very lucky to have such great support.
I wouldn't want to change my experience for anything in the world. I had amazing opportunities, found even better friends and made some of the most unforgettable memories.
Being able to do what I always wanted to do and have the support of my family and the organisation was more than I ever hoped for.

The headquarter of AIFS in Sydney was a great point to start from. I got great support for looking for a job, finding hostels and getting helpful tips for travelling. You can also book some trips in the office or just give a call and they will help you.
Australia is a great country for living and travelling! Don't spend to much time in the cities. Get a car, find some mates to travel with and start your adventure! The north and north-west of OZ with all the national parks is really great to visit.
Get your stuff and have a great time! Wish you all the best :)

Was in Australia from Nov 14 to June 15. I worked mostly on farms and made good experience. Worked on different farms and made completely different experience. Had also a really good travel time and perfect support from the AIFS travel desk! Awesome Year!

The first time i walked through the streets of Sydney it was just amazing to me! I'm doing an internship in the marketing department of a cultural exchange program. My first work day was great! I've got fantastic collegues and a great mentor. She always helped me, if i got any questions. During my internship i've improved my English as well as my work experience.
I've learned to work with different program tools. I also was accountalbe for the social media programs, which helped us to gain more customers.
To work in a different country - which isn't your hometown is a challenge. But it helps you in so many ways!
Australia is such an amazing country and really worth visiting! And if you were so lucky that you also can work here, then you should do it! It's a different attitude to life in Australia and i only can say that i love that! The people here are more positive than in my hometown. I can't imagine that my great internship is over and i must leave this great place to live. So everyone who's think about doing an internship in Australia exactly in Sydney - Just do it!