Work and learn overseas

These options are for young food and fibre producers wanting to expand their agriculture knowledge overseas and undertake international work experience.

There are many international Young Farmers and Rural Youth organisations that can help you work and/or study overseas, as well as sponsorship options to help you get there.

Why not visit Scotland Young Farmers? Or work on a dairy farm in New Zealand?

There are many opportunities for you to expand your agriculture knowledge overseas and come home with a wealth of personal and professional experience.

Many young food and fibre producers just like you have explored the far corners of the globe. Making great friends and fond memories, they have used their time to expand their agriculture knowledge and returned to Australia with the tenacity to be the next generation of industry leaders.

Work and study opportunities overseas could include:

• wine harvesting in America
• dairy farming in the United Kingdom
• attending an international young farmer conference.

Sponsorship

Want to work or study overseas but need some help getting there? There are opportunities to apply for scholarships to help you – simply find the one that best suits your plans and apply.

• Australian Agriculture Scholarships Sponsored by Coca-Cola and the Australian Council of Agricultural Societies
  Each year up to 35 young people are awarded scholarships to the value of $2000 to pursue further education in an agriculture related field at University or Tafe. In previous years recipients of the ACAS and Coca-Cola scholarship fund have also been offered opportunities to travel overseas to attend the international conference of the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth to expand their agricultural knowledge and meet other people from rural areas who are changing the face of modern farming practices.
• Nuffield Australia Farming Scholarships
  Nuffield Australia awards Scholarships each year to farmers in Australia. The objective is to increase practical farming knowledge and management skills and techniques generally. These scholarships give Australian citizens the opportunity to study farming practices in New Zealand, Europe, Asia and the Americas and those countries best suited to the Scholar. They will also promote a closer understanding between farmers in the countries visited.
• The Churchill Fellowship Scholarship
  To be eligible for a Churchill Scholarship you need to be over 18 years old and have a project of 4 weeks to approximately 6 weeks that requires overseas investigation.
• Melbourne University Travelling Scholarships
  At Melbourne University, over $2 million in funding is available each year to help support eligible students. We have a range of travelling scholarships, grants and bursaries to help enable you to study overseas.

More information

Here are some helpful websites to get you thinking about possible opportunity to expand your agriculture knowledge overseas.

• The International Farm Youth Exchange (IFYE)
  IFYE Representative programs are for individuals 19 to 30 years old and typically last 3 to 6 months. Participants in these programs live and work as part of the family. Participants move to a new family every 3 to 5 weeks, so they can gain a broader perspective about life in their host country. This is a great site to start planning your experience, with lots of useful information about preparing for your trip.
• World Wide Farmers Exchange
  Worldwide Farmers Exchange (WFE) is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation sponsoring programs for young farmers and agriculture students from every continent to learn practical agricultural techniques on farms in the United States, while experiencing life in a different culture, and sending Americans to other countries for a similar experience.
• New Zealand Young Farmers Exchange Program
  New Zealand Young Farmers (NZYF) is a progressive and dynamic social network for rural youth which develops the leadership and personal skills of its members through participation and achievement. NZYF promotes some exchange opportunities from like-minded countries and organisations but you must have an interest in agriculture and be willing to support exchanges both ways.
• The Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs
  Travel plans sorted? All ready to go? Don't forget to check out any visa requirement you might need for travelling and working overseas. Remember to also visit Smart Traveller and check out important information about the country you are visiting.
• Smart Traveller
  Great travel advice and tip for countries the world over. Don't forget to visit this website before you leave home to ensure a safe and happy journey.