Australia Invites Young People to Come Out and Play and Work and Then Play Some More!

Australia Invites Young People to Come Out and Play and Work and Then Play
Some More!

Special Deals Offered by STA Travel and V Australia; Students Can Travel and
Work in Australia for Up to One Year

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Are you 18-30 years old and
looking for that next job or about to graduate and wondering what's next? If
so, then look no further than Australia's work and play opportunities.

Tourism Australia has partnered with STA Travel and V Australia to offer
different travel and work options for those 18-30 including:
-- Roundtrip airfare from LAX to Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane on V
Australia from $676
-- Work & Travel package - 1 year work and holiday visa, 2 nights'
accommodations, orientation, job leads and more
-- Different vacation options (with land and air) including
-- Surf Melbourne from $1,002
-- Dive the Reef from $1,572

-- Western Explorer from $1,659

Australia's two-year-old "Work and Holiday" Visa program allows American
students and recent graduates (ages 18 to 30) the opportunity to work and
travel in Australia for up to a 12-month period. Australia is the first
country with which the United States has entered into a work and holiday visa
arrangement.

Australia is not for spectators. Filled with fun, adventure and the
friendliest locals, Australia is the kind of place that encourages you to
'give it a go.' STA Travel and V Australia offer travel deals all over
Australia including road trips (with campervan rentals) in New South Wales,
Victoria and Queensland, touring options in Western Australia, cage croc
diving in the Northern Territory, wine region day trips in South Australia and
tasting tours in Tasmania.

"The ability to go to Australia for up to 12 months, get a job and experience
our unique and diverse adventures is very appealing to many young Americans.
And what could be a more enjoyable way of adding to one's resume?" said
Tourism Australia Vice President Americas Daryl Hudson.

One of the easiest ways to pay for all this play is by working under
Australia's Work and Holiday visa. You can live like a local with such jobs
as bartender, surf instructor, lifeguard, ranch hand and more. STA has job
training packages to prepare you for the various industries and to connect you
with the right organizations.

Young people might consider a year of travel to Australia either before
college or before entering the work force. While the "gap" year has been
popular for years in Australia and Europe, it is a new concept for American
students, and one that is becoming increasingly attractive. Princeton
University now has a new 'bridge year' program allowing students to defer
enrollment for a year so that they can go abroad.

"Taking up to a year to work and play in Australia becomes a real possibility
for many people when they realize resources are there to help them be
successful - accommodations when they arrive, job training and leads, and to
be connected to a nationwide network of young people looking to explore all
that Australia has to offer," said James Bell, Commercial Vice President STA
Travel.

It's more convenient than ever to travel Down Under with the launch earlier
this year of V Australia, Richard Branson's newest international airline,
currently offering flights to Sydney and Brisbane, with a Melbourne route to
be added in December this year.

"Young people have a special affinity towards the Virgin brand and V Australia
is no exception. The Australiana style journey begins the minute our Guests
step on the aircraft," said Scott Swift, Executive General Manager, V
Australia. "Additionally, through our domestic sister airline, Virgin Blue,
travelers have direct, easy and affordable access to all corners of the
country."

U.S. citizens wishing to come to Australia must be aged 18 to 30 and can
either apply for the visa online or by completing an application form and
lodging it with the nearest Australian Embassy or Consulate.

Visit: www.australia.com/workandplay for more information.

SOURCE Tourism Australia

Katie Keating, for Tourism Australia, +1-310-482-4278,
katie.keating@fleishman.com