About Us

International Exchange Programs (IEP) is a non-profit organisation specialising in sending young Australians and New Zealanders on working holidays overseas, currently to Canada, Britain, Ireland, the USA, South Africa, Cambodia, Peru and Costa Rica. IEP also assists young travellers from overseas on reciprocal programs in Australia and New Zealand. With offices in Melbourne and Sydney and representatives in most other states, IEP is the largest non-profit, work and travel organisation in Australia.

In 1995 IEP was established as a subsidiary of BUNAC (British Universities North America Club) in Australia and later in New Zealand. BUNAC was formed in 1962 by students on British university campuses with a vision to enable young people to participate in a range of educational exchange programs, primarily focused towards North America.

Today IEP and BUNAC are part of a global network of organisations that continuously seek out more opportunities for young people to work and travel all over the globe. As these opportunities grow so will the programs that IEP will be able to offer.

Interested in working at IEP? Click here for current opportunities.

Contact Details

National (Australia-wide)

T: 1300 300 912 (for the cost of a local call)
E: info@iep.org.au

Melbourne Office

Sydney Office

PO Box 13278
Law Courts Post Office
Melbourne VIC 8010

Level 3, 362 La Trobe Street
Melbourne VIC 3000

T: (+613) 9329 3866
F: (+613) 9329 1592

Locked Bag 5065
Sydney South NSW 1235

Level 18, 233 Castlereagh Street
Sydney NSW 2000

T: (+612) 9299 0444
F: (+612) 9299 0399

International

Free info sessions

IEP holds regular information sessions around Australia. Click here for locations and times.

Our staff

Melbourne Staff

Executive Director	Brad Holland
Marketing Manager	Tennille Balaz
Marketing & Web Coordinator	Joshua Hall
Marketing & Relations Coordinator	Luke Dore
Program Coordinator - Operations	Lisa Alexander
Program Coordinator - Operations	Jaina Jina
Program Coordinator - Operations	Kristy Papas
Accountant	Trevor Barnett
Program Assistant	Nicole Chadderton
Summer Camp USA Coordinator	Jessica Buttigieg

Sydney Staff

Program Manager	Melissa Chapman
Marketing/Public Relations Coordinator	Naomi Joyce
Employment Coordinator	Linda Janes
Program Coordinator - Inbound	Peter Doran

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: 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: Lisa Alexander
Title: Program Coordinator
Countries Visited: Vietnam, Thailand, United States, Spain, Italy, France, Germany, Turkey, England, Scotland, Ireland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Sweden, Netherlands, Croatia, Switzerland, Austria.
Where have you lived overseas and for how long?
Dublin, Ireland for 12 months and Venice, Italy for 2 months working in a pizzeria!
Favourite places you’ve visited? New York, Las Vegas, Cappadocia in Turkey and Munich- got to love those beer halls!
Worst place you’ve visited?
Nowhere, thankfully all my travel experiences have been major drama free!
Most memorable travel experience?Snorkelling off Koh Phi Phi in Thailand in the most beautiful clear water and suddenly finding myself surrounded by ‘Nemo’ clownfish, visiting a primary school in rural North Vietnam to teach children English, meeting people from all over the world over a stein of yummy German beer in the beer halls of Munich and also seeing things like the Colosseum and the Statue of Liberty for the first time is an amazing feeling Ill never forget!
What was the most valuable lesson you learned from living and working overseas? Throw away any fears or inhibitions you may have at home and live for the moment! You will never regret it!

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 March 08-present
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: Luke Dore
Title: Marketing & Relations Coordinator
Countries Visited: USA, Mexico, UK, Ireland and Thailand
Where have you lived overseas and for how long? Vail, Colorado USA- 5 months, London UK- 5 months
Favourite places you've visited? Grand Canyon (and I thought Ayers Rock was big!), Puerto Escondido (the 'Mexican Pipeline') and road tripping through Southern Ireland
Most memorable travel experience? Comparing Hasselhoff impersonations with friends along the California coast
What was the most valuable lesson you learned from living and working overseas? Everything you may have heard before or seen in photos goes out the window when you are in a new environment. There is no substitute for experiencing the real thing.

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: Joshua Hall
Title: Marketing & Web Coordinator
Countries Visited: New Zealand, Australia, Fiji
Lived Overseas: Australia (Melbourne) and New Zealand (Auckland and Dunedin)
Favourite places you've visited?: West Coast of the South Island (New Zealand), Noosa Heads and Maroochydore (Australia)
Worst place visited?: None so far!
Most Memorable Travel Experience: Almost being crushed by ice at Franz Josef glacier, NZ
Most valuable lesson: Never forget to remain positive and throw yourself in the deep end!

Staff Profile

Name: Linda Janes
Title: Employment Coordinator
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: Tennille Balaz
Title: Marketing Manager
Countries Visited: Brazil, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Mexico, Cuba, Costa Rica, USA, England, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Romania, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Austria, Poland, Turkey, Hungary, Malta, Japan, UAE, Thailand
Where have you lived overseas and for how long? London, UK for two years.
Favourite places you've visited? Cuba and New York!
Worst place visited? Iquique, Chile and Catania, Italy.
Most memorable travel experience? Camping on the sand dunes in Huacachina, Peru, Going to Graceland in Memphis, Buying illegal bananas in Cuba, Living it up in New York, Rio Carnival in Brazil and meeting Mickey Mouse at Disneyland, to name just a few!!
What was the most valuable lesson you learned from living and working overseas? Always be open to new people and opportunities, and never take anything for granted!

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.

Staff Profile

Name: Sarah Roberts
Title: Promotions Co-ordinator
Countries Visited: USA, Fiji, Italy and Malta.
Lived Overseas: Connecticut- USA
Favourite Places: Venice, NY, Grand Canyon, Malta.
Most Memorable Travel Experience: Being on a Greyhound bus with two English friends for 32 hours from NY to Florida. It was the longest 32 hours of my life and there were some characters on that bus trip. Also going to the top of the Empire State building and seeing so much of NYC, it was amazing.
Most valuable lesson: Make the most of your time abroad, be open to meeting different people and when opportunities to do and see new and exciting things arise…go for it!

Staff Profile

Name: Jessica Buttigieg
Title: Summer Camp USA Coordinator
Countries Visited: USA, Canada, Mexico, UK, Europe & China.
Where have you lived overseas and for how long? Vermont, USA 5 months. Pennsylvania, USA 4 months 2006, 2007 & 2008. London, UK 9 months.
Favourite places you've visited? Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Las Vegas & New York City USA, Highlands of Scotland and Paris.
Worst place visited? Baggage Claim after a long flight, I swear my bag always comes out last.
Most memorable travel experience? Deciding only days before while living in London to fly over to New York USA to have Christmas with Friends (That I made at Summer Camp) and spend my New Years in Times Square- Photo’s don’t do justice to how amazing that experience was!
What was the most valuable lesson you learned from living and working overseas?
Appreciate every experience. What could feel like your worst day at the time turns out to be the funniest story you will ever tell in a group email home.