United Backpackers

Placement organization

Name of organization: United Backpackers
Town/city: Melbourne and Port Douglas
Country: Australië
Website: http://unitedbackpackers.com.au/

Name of student: Anne Pel

Specialist area: ITMC
Placement period: 2014-2015

Information about placement organization

Type of organization: Accommodation
Organization’s activities: Backpackers hostel
Target group of the organization: Backpackers
Company culture: I worked under the general manager.
Number of employees: 50
Dress code: casual
Did the organization meet the agreements you made beforehand? Yes, I truly had an amazing time and would recommend it to anyone looking for a similar experience!

Information about your placement

In which department(s) are you working? I work with management, this means that I have worked in all departments of the company.

Marketing, Events, Front Office (Reception, Back office, Housekeeping
Brief description of your daily activities: Differs per day. Some days I work at reception, some days I work on my company assignment (sustainability) and other days I do stuff for the events or for marketing and promotion.
Brief description of your company assignment: I’m doing a green project. I look at how sustainable the company already was before I got there and how it could be improved. I also started implementing some of these strategies already.
Comment briefly on your supervision by the organization: They are very laid back. They tell me what to do and then expect me to be able to do it without to much supervision. However, when I have questions they are always eager to help!

Requirements for students on placement

What kind of personal skills are required for this placement? team player, social, very very social!, flexible, stress proof
Additional company requirements for this placement? MS Office, writing skills, Photoshop
English: Advanced
Spanish:
French:
German:
Italian:
Other languages:

The trip

Mode of transport to reach your destination: Airplane

Accommodation

How did you arrange your accommodation? I live in the hostel I work at for free
How did you go to work every day? I walk down the stairs to the office..

Visa / work permit / vaccinations

Do you need a visa? Yes, I had the Working Holiday Visa because I did do some side jobs every now and then that did pay.
Do you need a work permit? no
How did you arrange the necessary documents: online via the embassy in Australia
How much time did it take to arrange the necessary documents? 30 minutes
Did you need certain vaccinations? No
How long in advance?

Language course

Did you take a language course before you started your placement? No
Would you recommend to have a language course prior to this placement? No, I hope your english is good enough after doing your study in it for 3 years

The costs in euros

Travelling expenses (e.g. return ticket): € 1200
Accommodation (monthly): € 0
Local transport (monthly): € 100
General costs of living (monthly): € 500
Costs of visa: €
Costs of work permit: € 300
What did the company pay for/to you? Accommodation, some tours at the destination

Culture

How did you prepare for the country’s culture?
Not really, it is also a western country. It is pretty similar to the Netherlands.
Did the culture of the country influence your performance during the placement in any way? No

Future students on placement

Future students are free to contact me for further information: Yes
My e-mail address: anne030890@gmail.com

Other information

Recommendations on what to do and what not to do: Just be yourself, be open and open yourself to new experiences.
Leisure possibilities in the city/surroundings of where the placement took place: Great Ocean Road, Philip Island, Shrine of Remembrance.

Flights to Sydney are only $60 return.

Media

Youtube link Youtube placement video link