Working as a Ski Instructor in Australia
When you first think of skiing you don’t automatically think of Australia, but Australia has some great resorts mainly in the states of New South Wales and Victoria. With Australia having opposite winter months to that of Europe, America and Canada, it is means a lot of instructors take advantage of back to back winters.
So what qualifications do you need to teach in Australia and what other requirements need to be considered?
What qualifications do I need to work in Australia?
Each ski school in Australia has their own employment requirements but the majority will require some form of ski qualification and BASI qualifications are recognised.
The majority of instructor positions in Australia are offered at resort hiring clinics. These are run in May, ahead of the winter season. In most cases you will need to apply for a place to attend one of the hiring clinics but places can not be applied for until you have obtained a work permit or working holiday visa.
There are exceptions to the hiring clinics. Schools may offer to sponsor instructors to work for them and in these cases they also arrange a work permit on the instructors behalf. In other resorts, they will simply interview you by Skype or phone and offer you a role on the basis that you hold the necessary qualification.
For a list of resorts, go to www.ski.com.au.
Where can I teach in Australia?
There are many great resorts in Australia, some of the most popular are:
Thredbo – 500km south of Syndey, Thredbo covers 480 hectares of terrain and has something to suit everyone, regardless of level. The resort holds the longest runs in Australia, and has four progressive terrain parks with great features. This means instructors are able to teach a variety of skills in their lessons.
Perisher – Perisher is made up of 4 ski villages; Perisher Valley, Smiggin Holes, Guthega, and Blue Cow. Together they make up 12 square kilometres of skiable terrain and like Thredbo, a great variety of parks to keep you busy Perisher also home to Australia’s only half pipe which means there are some great competitions here. As a resort Perisher is committed to making sure snow conditions are at their best and have spent a massive $22 million investing in new snow making systems over the past decade.
Mt Buller – Mt Buller is smaller than the above two resorts but it is home to the largest lift system and most in-resort accommodation in Victoria. This has allowed it to run the Victorian Snowsports championships, and become a top destination for ice climbing too. There are 300 hectares of skiable terrain including 80km of groomed piste and 9km of cross-country trails. Mt Buller also has 22 lifts.
