Melbourne Office	Sydney Office
PO Box 13278 Law Courts Post Office Melbourne VIC 8010 Level 3, 362 La Trobe Street Melbourne VIC 3000 T: (03) 9329 3866 F: (03) 9329 1592	Locked Bag 5065 Sydney South NSW 1235 Level 18, 233 Castlereagh Street Sydney NSW 2000 T: (02) 9299 0444 F: (02) 9299 0399

Melbourne Staff Executive Director Brad Holland Marketing Manager Jarrod Scott Marketing & Web Coordinator Shannon Kimber Marketing & Relations Coordinator Jenita Spirtovic Operations Manager Kristine Kilby Program Coordinator - Operations Jaina Jina Program Coordinator - Operations Kristy Papas Accountant Trevor Barnett Summer Camp USA Coordinator Kate Kenna Program Assistant Nicole Chadderton

Sydney Staff Program Manager Melissa Chapman Marketing/Public Relations Coordinator Naomi Joyce Employment Coordinator Amanda Hough Program Coordinator - Inbound Peter Doran Customer Service Coordinator Linda Janes

Staff Profile

Name: Naomi Joyce
Title: Marketing & PR Co-ordinator
Countries Visited: England and Channel Islands, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Czech Republic, Japan, Thailand.
Where have you lived overseas and for how long? London - 8 months on and off; Woodstock, Oxfordshire-3 months, Worthing South England, few months on and off, Edinburgh 1 month, Guernsey Channel Islands-5 months.
Favourite places you've visited? Ireland for the culture, Berlin for the history and Greece for the partying.
Worst place you've visited? Ancona in Italy - just a ferry port and we stayed a night-very dodgy guys hanging around in the street and I got sick from the kebab I ate.
Most memorable travel experience? Crazy times living and working in the hostel in London-meeting AMAZING people from all over the world and never knowing which night is going to end up HUGE.
What was the most valuable lesson you learned from living and working overseas? Give people the benefit of the doubt - don’t judge a person simply by something they have done in their past - push your comfort zones, trust your gut and appreciate every single second - that is how you make the most of life.

Staff Profile

Name: Linda Janes
Title: Customer Service Co-ordinator
Countries Visited: USA, New Caledonia, Canada, Fiji.
Where have you lived overseas and for how long? I was in USA for 3 months. The first 2 months on Summer Camp USA and then backpacking for 1 month in California.
Favourite places you've visited? New York City was amazing, it’s very busy and the shopping is great. The Islands of New Caledonia were also very beautiful and relaxing.
Most memorable travel experience? Summer Camp USA was the best by far I met so many people and friends that I will keep for life. All my experiences there were amazing, different and can't be spoken for unless experienced.
What was the most valuable lesson you learned from living and working overseas?
Be careful and don't trust just anyone! Everyone can cope on their own when travelling - so don’t be afraid!

Staff Profile

Name: Kate Kenna
Title: Summmer Camp USA Co-ordinator
Countries Visited: 2005 - Costa Rica, USA (California), 2006 - USA (California, Wisconsin, Illinois, Nevada, New York), 2007 - USA (California, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Florida, Nevada).
Where have you lived overseas and for how long?
I have lived in San Ramon, Costa Rica for 2 weeks with a mum and her three kids, while working for Habitat for Humanity. In 2006 I went to Eagle River WI, where I lived with three co-counsellors and eight 12 year old girls. I returned to camp in 2007 and shared with one other counsellor.
Favourite places you've visited?
Manuel Antonio Beach, Rio Pacqure River, Salva Bannito Eco lodge in Costa Rica Disneyland and Disneyworld, Yosemite National Park in USA.
Most memorable travel experience?
Seeing the families faces when most of their new house has been build in 10 days.
What was the most valuable lesson you learned from living and working overseas?
Nothing is so bad it can't be bought! Packing light is harder than it seems - sometimes you need the kitchen sink!

Staff Profile

Name: Kristine Kilby
Title: Operations Manager
Countries Visited: Been to every State and Territory in Australia, United Kingdom, United States of America and Canada.
Where have you lived overseas and for how long?
USA – Colorado 3 times ranging from 6 weeks to 6 months. Canada for 3 months.
Favourite places you’ve visited? The Rocky Mountains in the USA and Canada – I love the snow.
Worst place you’ve visited?
Everything bad still has a bit of good. However, staying in a hostel that resembles a very scary scene from the X Files does not need to be repeated.
Most memorable travel experience?
Driving 22 hours straight from Denver to Portland, Oregon for a U2 Concert. Then driving another 22 hours back.
What was the most valuable lesson you learned from living and working overseas? Make the most of every opportunity – if your bus breaks down for 4 hours in the Mojave Desert on the way to Las Vegas it is a great opportunity to meet people.

Only pack what you can carry – heavy bags are not much fun when you have to lug them thought he snow or when you don’t have any money left to get an airport trolley.

Staff Profile

Name: Nicole Chadderton
Title: Program Assistant
Countries Visited: Australia (Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold coast, Sydney and Tasmania), New Zealand, Singapore and Thailand
Where have you lived overseas and for how long: NZ 20 years, Australia 2 months
Favourite places you visited: Phuket in Thailand – a small piece of paradise , and South Island NZ
Worst place you visited: None to record so far!
Most memorable travel experience: Riding the elephants in Thailand, tramping in the Australian Outback, and camping in the South Island.
What was the most valuable lesson you learned from living and working overseas: Being open about every adventure you go on, and always expect the unexpected!

Staff Profile

Name: Peter Doran
Title: Program Assistant
Countries Visited: Scotland, England, Ireland, Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Austria, Holland, Switzerland, Slovenia, Singapore, Indonesia, Fiji, New Zealand
Where have you lived overseas and for how long? Scotland for 2 and a half years, Ireland for 1 year, England for 6 months
Favourite places you've visited? Cape Tribulation (Far North Queensland) Venice, Scottish Highlands, Lake Bled in Slovenia
Worst place you’ve visited? Alicante and Benedorm, London (or parts of)
Most memorable travel experience? Being knee deep in a river of tomatoes at Tomato Fest in Spain. Or being chased by bulls in the Bull Run at Pampalona
What was the most valuable lesson you learned from living and working overseas? Always be open to new experiences and cultures.

 

Staff Profile

Name: Melissa Chapman
Title: Program Manager
Countries Visited: China, USA, Morocco, Egypt, England, Ireland, Wales, France, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Spain, Austria, Monaco, Netherlands.
Where have you lived overseas and for how long? London, UK for 2 years.
Favourite places you've visited? Dahab, Belfast, Marrakech, Paris, and Venice.
Worst place you've visited? The truck stop on the motorway heading into Leicestershire, UK. Our van broke down on the way back to Cambridge from a road trip in Ireland and we spent 2 nights living in the van in the truck stop with 2 scary Turkish truck drivers as our neighbours...
Most memorable travel experience? I’ve had so many amazing experiences on my travels; it is hard to pick just one! Scuba diving in the Red Sea at Dahab; being at the Pyramids at Giza; having a beer with the locals in Northern Ireland; snowboarding in the French Alps; camping out overnight and then queuing for 6 hours to get tickets to Wimbledon; drinking mint tea overlooking the main square in Marrakech... I could go on forever!!!
What was the most valuable lesson you learned from living and working overseas? Be open to new experiences and never be afraid to try something new! It has taught me not to take anything I have for granted, to always be open minded, and to learn from and accept differences in people and cultures. You will have good days and bad days on your travels so always stay positive and make the most of every day!

 

Staff Profile

Name: Jenita Spirtovic
Title: Marketing & Relations Coordinator
Countries Visited: USA, Mexico, France, Germany, Austria, The Balkans, and still exploring more of Oz
Where have you lived overseas and for how long? Los Angeles – 1 year, Berlin – 3 years, Sarajevo – 8 years
Favourite places you've visited? In the US: Chicago and Vegas. In Europe: the Adriatic Islands. In Oz: Byron Bay!
Most memorable travel experience? En route California to Nevada through gusty winds driving a Ford Festiva – bless her heart, we made it to Vegas on 30km/h. Perfect time for that game of “Dodge the 18-Wheeler” and “Who Panics, Wins” (often played simultaneously).
What was the most valuable lesson you learned from living and working overseas? You’re not who you think you are. It either gets better or much worse.

 

Staff Profile

Name: Jaina Jina
Title: Program Coordinator
Countries Visited: New Zealand, India, USA and around Australia.
Where have you lived overseas and for how long? I have lived in NZ for 11 years and LA for 3 months on Work USA.
Favourite places you've visited?
Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Hollywood, and San Francisco!
Most memorable travel experience?
Where to start? Working at Universal Studios, sitting at the very edge of the Grand Canyon, watching the Academy Awards from the hostel I was staying at (got to see all the celebrities!!) Also meeting and talking to Seth Green at the live taping of Mad TV.
What was the most valuable lesson you learned from living and working overseas?The best way to live is to go out there and see the world. Don’t be scared to travel – there is always someone who can help you.!

 

Staff Profile

Name: Amanda Baker
Title: Accountant
Countries Visited: Austria, Belgium, England, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Spain, Switzerland, Tanzania.
Favourite Places: Interlaken/Grindelwald - Switzerland. The view of the surrounding snowy mountains was breathtaking. Had an awesome time at “Balmers – Youth Hostel - Interlaken” too.
Worst Place: Don’t really have a ‘worst place’ travelled. I have had to endure some challenging camping conditions, while on safari throughout Africa, but it’s all just part of the experience – the locals have to do it a lot tougher than me.
Most Memorable Travel Experience: Taking a very informal tour, organised by the locals, through an African Massai village. Being able to experience how the African natives live and as well get to know the locals was awesome – Native Africans are truly inspiring, resilient and overall, just remarkable people.
Most valuable lesson: Don’t treat your travelling experience as just another thing to tick off your list of accomplishments – get right into the adventure and really live it. Talk to the locals as much as possible and try to experience as much as you possibly can. Do this and you will look back on your travelling adventures as some of the best times in your life.

 

Staff Profile

Name: Shannon Kimber
Title: Marketing & Web Coordinator
Countries Visited: New Zealand, Australia, England, Scotland, Wales, USA, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg.
Lived Overseas: New Zealand for 20 years, Colorado, USA for 4 months.
Favourite places you've visited?: I loved living as a local in Colorado as I really felt like part of the community there. Places like Mexico and Japan were great simply because they were so different, and the European countries were awesome because of their history.
Worst place visited?: There have been situations that seemed bad at the time – the hostels in Japan that operated until the principle of ‘communal bathing’, being stuck in a stinking hot airport hotel in KL and being too exhausted to get out and about – but there are no ‘bad’ places and definitely not one ‘worst’!
Most Memorable Travel Experience: Attending a Japanese high school, visiting the Grand Canyon, and being in New York City very soon after September 11th – surreal.
Most valuable lesson: You will encounter challenges while travelling – everyone does – but you will look back at your travels and only remember the good times – the hard ones will pale into insignificance. So make the most of your time overseas – see the sights, get to know the locals, eat the food, and do as much as you possibly can! You will be proud of yourself in the future

 

Staff Profile

Name: Amanda Hough
Title: Employment Co-ordinator
Countries Visited: USA, Mexico, Indonesia, New Caledonia and Vanuatu - Southern Melanesia.
Where have you lived overseas and for how long? PA, USA, 2 months at Summer Camp as a Lifeguard and a Swimming Instructor.
Favourite places you've visited? A Hogan (Navajo traditional house) in Monument Valley, the astonishing natural wonders of Grand Canyon and Bryce Canyon, and the cheap, and contrasting, rich sites and scenes of Las Vegas. & in Oz: Scotts Head, Fraser Island, Great Keppel Island, and Byron Bay - my getaway spots
Worst place visited? Fortunately I’ve enjoyed my travel destinations so far.
Most memorable travel experience? Making it to the top of “Angels Landing” in Zion National Park, Utah, USA. What an effort that was.
What was the most valuable lesson you learned from living and working overseas?
Experience - do something you wouldn’t usually, take a step out of your comfort zone, take time to observe all things around you, and learning occurs right under your nose, and opens your eyes.

 

Staff Profile

Name: Jarrod Scott
Title: Marketing Manager
Countries Visited: Canada, USA, UK, The Netherlands, Belguim, Germany, Denmark, China, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and South Africa.
Where have you lived overseas and for how long? Toronto, Canada, 8 months, Leiden, The Netherlands 4 months, Cape Town, South Africa 6 weeks.
Favourite places you've visited? In no particular order: Beijing, Hong Kong, a waterfall in the middle of Laos, Leiden, Yangshou, Xian, Amsterdam, Antwerp, Luang Prabang, Siem Riep, Buenos Aires and Cape Town.
Worst place visited? A few dark, dirty and industrial areas of China won’t be visited again, but generally all places have something unique to hold onto. Except Mengla.
Most memorable travel experience? Going from Beijing to Bangkok overland and then back again was an achievement. Walking onto a stadium in China with an Australian university soccer team full of 20,000 locals was a buzz. Hiring a motorbike in SE Asia always ensured memorable days.
What was the most valuable lesson you learned from living and working overseas?
Open mind, open heart generally is a good place to start. It’s a good thing to challenge yourself and step outside the comfort zone.

Staff Profile

Name: Brad Holland
Title:General Manager
Countries Visited: US, South Africa, New Zealand, Spain, France, Fiji, Greece, Portugal, Turkey, Morocco, Gibraltar, Japan, Ireland, Singapore, UK, Canada, Norway, Denmark, The Netherlands, Hong Kong, Italy, Sweden.
Where have you lived overseas and for how long? US (on & off for 8 years), UK ( 2 yrs ), A cruise ship in the Mediterranean (3 months), South Africa (3 months).
Favourite places you've visited?
Arches National Park, Moab Utah; the fjords of Norway.
Most memorable travel experience? There’s so many! Celebrating Halloween in Las Vegas while dressed up as Elvis ; hiking on NZ’s Franz Josef Glacier at dawn; working with underprivileged kids in South Africa; roasting marshmallows around a campfire with good friends in the northwoods of Wisconsin while watching both the Northern Lights and a meteor shower overhead.
What was the most valuable lesson you learned from living and working overseas?
The old saying goes that ‘travel broadens the mind’, but travel does more than that, it enriches your spirit.

 

Staff Profile

Name: Skye Worthy
Title:ACT State Rep.
Countries Visited: Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, England, Scotland, France, USA, South Africa (x2)
Where have you lived overseas and for how long? New York State USA (5 months), South Africa (3 months)
Favourite places you've visited?
Cape Town, South Africa- a vibrant, colourful city with beautiful weather, beaches and a great African vibe! (in particular- the gaol where Nelson Mandela was released from prison, Table Mountain, the wine region of Stellenbosch)
Most memorable travel experience?Favourite places you've visited?
Too many!! Climbing Mt Bromo (an active volcano in Java) to watch the sunrise and then carefully walking around the crater top where at its widest point the rim would have been a meter wide. Skydiving over the north shore of Oahu, Hawaii
Living in a 4 bedroom house with 40 people from 9 different countries (every sentence was a was a mixture of English, Spanish, Korean and Portugese!)
What was the most valuable lesson you learned from living and working overseas?
Get out and try new and crazy things- the TV will be waiting for you when you get home! Often the best experiences come from random events that you never thought possible when planning your trip at home.

 

Staff Profile

Name: Renee Chomel
Title: SA State Rep
Countries Visited: New Zealand, USA
Where have you lived overseas and for how long? New Zealand (approx. 5 years), USA (3 x 3 months)
Favourite places you've visited? San Francisco, California, USA Most memorable travel experience? Going on a roadtrip across the Western side of USA with 5 other internationals after the Summer Camp USA program we went from Dallas to Colorado and through the Rocky Mountains and Denver, across Utah saw the Grand Canyon and then Las Vegas and onto Los Angeles California all in a 7 passenger van and only paying for petrol, all in 1 week! Amazing the things you can see on a shoe-string budget!
What was the most valuable lesson you learned from living and working overseas?
Just acceptance of others cultures and the way that we all have a part to play in the world around us. I also found out parts of my personality that I didn't know were there before.

 

Staff Profile

Name: Kristy Papas
Title: Program Coordinator
Countries visited: USA, UK, Greece, The Netherlands, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Where have you lived overseas and for how long? 3 US summers in Maine at Camp Samoset and 15 months in London, UK.
Favourite places you have visited? Venice, the Ancient sites of Athens, Santorini, Paris, the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Boston.
Worst places you have visited? Luckily for me, my travels haven’t taken me to any dodgy or horrible places. Besides, you can usually find the charm in most places when you are travelling.
Most memorable travel experiences?
There have been so many and this list could be endless, but just to name a few- riding a donkey up a cliff in Santorini, going punting in Oxford, 3 very memorable summers at Camp Samoset, doing a Contiki tour through some of Europe, flying into Las Vegas at night, taking a gondola ride in Venice, roadtripping from San Francisco to Dallas including staying in a motel in a town called Battle Mountain.)
What was the most valuable lesson you learned from living and working overseas?
To have no expectations and that going outside of your comfort zone can be surprising and rewarding.