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Welcome to your program
You'll spend two weeks right outside of the Gold Coast of Australia working at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. You will have the opportunity to shadow and learn from veterinary professionals in the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of Australian wildlife. On the weekend, you'll visit Moreton Island with a full-day boat and island tour including snorkeling around the Tangalooma Wrecks.
You will also have a "Free Day" to explore. You can read more about your "Free Day" here!
Program announcements:
ETA Visas are required for all students. ETA visas can take up to a month to be approved. This is due March 1 with CampDoc. ETA visa directions can be found here.
Housing
Rooms are dorm-style shared rooms in the YHA hostel. You will share your room only with other Loop Abroad students and/or staff of the same gender. Bathrooms in public areas of the hostel may be shared with other hostel guests. There is no central AC but will have fans. Shared rooms will have lockers, but students must bring their own locks. There will also be a pool for students to enjoy.
Food
Breakfast is your typical American breakfast including cereals, bread, fruit, yogurt, spreads, and bagels. You will also have the option to stop at a local coffee shop each morning. Lunch typically consists of burgers, sandwiches, chips, variety of bowls. Dinner is on your own there is multiple restaurants within close proximity or can buy groceries and cook at the hostel. We advise against bringing food into Australia due to strict customs regulations and high fines.
Flights:
At the start of your program, you should plan to arrive on April 19. You should plan to arrive on a flight that arrives at OOL by 5pm. Please note that shuttles will run throughout the afternoon but you may need to wait a few hours at a restaurant near the airport for a small group of students to have gathered and then be picked up. There are no planned activities on arrival day so you will need to stay at the student housing until the welcome dinner.
At the end of your program, you should plan to depart on May 1. We will have several shuttles to the airport that morning. You may have to arrive at the airport early for your flight. Therefore, you should plan to depart on a flight that departs OOL before 11 am.
Packing
The only items you are required to bring are those on the “required” lists. General required items (like your passport) are found on the ALL PROGRAMS packing list above. Program specific required items are found below under the REQUIRED section. For the rest of the items, you are welcome to use your discretion. There may be items missing from this list that you’d like to bring, and there may be items on this list that you don’t want to bring. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask!
Required for this program
A locker lock. There are lockers outside the ‘front’ of the hospital where you will keep your backpacks here daily.
Closed toe shoes
Money for dinners. This program does not include dinners. You can bring cash or card, but watch for international fees and make sure your card company knows you are traveling so they do not lock your card. The cost of dinner will depend whether you choose to eat at a restaurant or cook (food is more expensive than in the US).
Suggested for this program
Shower Shoes- A cheap pair of flip-flops will work fine.
SwimSuit- The pool is not heated but if the weather is warm enough students will be able to swim. You will also want a swim suit for the island tour.
"Head torch" aka a head lamp!
For free time, casual clothing is appropriate. You may want at least one “city” outfit
FAQ
Housing at YHA is close quarters and there is not a lot of room for extra stuff. We ask that you pack lightly. We advise against bringing food into Australia. Any food you carry into the country with you must be declared on your customs forms on arrival. Failure to declare food items, even if they are permitted, can have large fines from the customs department at the airport, so please be sure to clearly declare any food you are carrying.
WIFI: Students will have WIFI at both housing locations but WIFI is not reliable at program locations. If you are interested in a travel phone plan, please talk to your phone provider before your program starts.
Bedding: We will provide you with sheets, pillows, and blankets.
Towels: 1 Towel is provided at each housing location and can be exchanged for a new one. Washcloths are not provided, we recommend bringing a luffa.
Laundry: You should not plan to do excessive laundry. There will be Laundry available for around $ 9 USD. You will need to bring coins and laundry detergent. Some students have brought laundry sheets to wash clothes in the sink in between washes.
Outlets: Outlets are different - you will need an adapter. This global one is a popular style and can be used in almost all locations around the world. You can also get a set of these small adapters and just bring the one you need if you prefer.
Dress Code: The dress code is "smart casual." You will be working with animals in a hospital during the winter in Australia. This means: long pants, closed-toed shoes, and scrub tops would be great but are not required. NO tank tops, spandex shorts, or sandals will be permitted in the hospital. The hospital is set up with large glass windows so that guests can see the hospital's operations. You will be visible to the public and in a sense, represent the wildlife hospital to all the public who walks by. Most keepers and vets wear boots but the requirement is just closed-toed shoes.
Money: Most students spend around $200 USD on a two-week program. We HIGHLY recommend contacting your bank and ordering Australian Dollars before leaving for the program. There will be an ATM where students can withdraw money, and there is an ATM transaction fee each time. Almost everything we do in Australia is included in your tuition, with the exception of dinners and activities/meals during the free evening.
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