A helping hand
is on the way

“We have many people on stations who are desperately seeking carpenters, painters mechanics, handy persons, gardeners, cooks, child minders, surrogate grandmothers/fathers etc ect”

People, who wish to visit, will be expected to pitch in and help, as it is not a 'free holiday stay' scheme.  Remember, though, this is your holiday, so leave yourselves time for recreation, sightseeing, reading a book, whatever.

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Welcome to the Outback Helpers Scheme site.

How it all started…

In the Feb/Mar 2002 issue I wrote a letter to the OUTBACK  Magazine ‘Feedback’ in response to an Outback Helper's letter in the previous magazine.

April/May issue received two responses to my letter, and I received various emails.  

As a result, another couple, Adam and Margit, and my husband, Greg, and I decided to set up a scheme called 'Outback Helpers', whereby people wishing to be 'outback helpers' can contact us for contact with host stations and farms in their chosen area or state – Australia wide.

Jenny and Greg

Quite often, we, on the stations, have jobs that need doing, (EG. painting, some carpentry work, a major spring clean in the house, a major garden overhaul, mustering.)  They may need time to do something other than housework and other maintenance tasks, often it is not possible or practical to employ staff to do that. We might  only need someone for a few days, a week or a month.

As you may know getting professionals out to the 'bush' is extremely costly and many travelers (both young and the not-so-young) who have a wealth of experience (EG.  Carpentry, mechanical, dressmaking, cooking, painting, breaking in horses, etc) would love the opportunity to stop off for a little time and help out.

People, who wish to visit, will be expected to pitch in and help, as it is not a 'free holiday stay' scheme.  Remember, though, this is your holiday, so leave yourselves time for recreation, sightseeing, reading a book, whatever.  Keep in mind that you are a helper, not an employee … albeit a willing helper.

It has been very beneficial to both sides; it is a chance for the volunteers/helpers to experience something new and exciting, and perhaps a chance to supplement their income/pension.  For the hosts it is an opportunity to enjoy the company of people who have traveled around, and also enjoy a little respite from trying to do everything, with not enough time to do it in.

Ted and Jean

We do our best to place helpers and hosts together at a time that suits both, but, of course, this may not always happen.  It is up to the 'helper' and ‘host station/farm’ to negotiate between themselves, suitability and the final arrangements before you visit.

We believe that this has been a 'much needed' opportunity for many.  Ted and Jean have been 'Outback Helpers' themselves, and my husband and I are on the other side of the coin, as a ‘Host station’ … so between us we co-ordinate both sides of the Scheme from opposite sides of the country!

It appears that there is some confusion about how the Scheme works... in regard to finding Properties and registering with us.

We do not advertise lists of Properties on the Website due to the fact that we require people to register with us first..
We do not want just anyone who is viewing this site to be able to get addresses and so just turn up unannounced and saying they are registered with us, we do need a few checks and balances.

Anyone who "joins" this Website as a member through the forum does not automatically become a Member of the Scheme.
That has to be done by filling in a Registration form  which are on the FORMS link on the menu. This website was created just so we can get the word out on the Net and be visible as to what we are all about. We then ask people to Contact us via the website EMAIL so we can attend to their inquiries by email.

Once a person is Registered with us we then issue a list of properties and then its up to the Volunteer to contact their preferred property directly and work out arrangements.