Who Can Participate?

Development Together assists in finding internship, volunteer and clinical placements for:

• Under-graduate and post-graduate university and college students*,
• Individuals and groups,
• Corporate and Professionals,
• School, church and other groups,
• Retirees.

Development Together strives to find the best placement that will suit your abilities and skills whilst meeting the host organisations needs.

*Most placements for university or college students will need to have completed at least the first year of their degree

Why choose Development Together?

Development Together staff have years of experience placing and supervising participants in projects around the world - face to face and remotely. We ensure our participants are suitably matched to the host organisations requirements and provide first class preparation prior to commencement of your program, along with extensive face to face and remote support. We have excellent safety and emergency processes in place, should they be required. We focus on host organisations with a proven history of sustainable and ethical practices that enhance the lives of the clients they work with.

Why pay to participate with us?

Many of the host organisations we work with do not have any budget to cover volunteer or intern costs, and are often struggling to fund their programs. It is important that the burden of supporting participants does not jeopardize the host organisations sustainability, or limit their ability to carry out their aims. Development Together charges a fee to our participants to assist our partners, cover costs associated with the placement, and the costs of running our organisation in Australia. We keep the fees as low as we can whilst also ensuring a high level of support.

Can I use my placement towards my University or College credits and placement hours?

See the Academic Credit section below.

Where can I go?

See our Destinations Page for more detail

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How do I know what placement or project is right for me?

Take a look at our Destinations page. There is a lot of information to help you identify the right program for you. If you still aren’t sure, please feel free to contact the Development Together team anytime to discuss choosing the right program.

Do I need any specific skills or experience?

Any related skills or experience are always highly valued. Energy, flexibility, enthusiasm and a willingness to get involved also helps! If there are any specific skill requirements or previous experience needed we state so on the individual project pages.

Can I participate with a group?

Yes, on most of our placements we are able to accept small groups of participants. We are also able to offer bespoke tailored group trips. For more information please contact us directly.

Do you work with University or School placement teams?

Yes, we do. Development Together partners with schools and universities to find the best fit for your students. We facilitate the placement of health, education, business, engineering, humanities and science students and would love to tailor a program to suit your specific requirements. We place an emphasis on community based service-learning experiences and development projects that place skilled students in uniquely experiential situations. We offer flexible short-term mobility programs that work to fulfil requirements for students to experience work and life in the developing world and working with not for profit organisation remotely. Please contact us directly for more detail.

Can I use my placement towards my University or College credits and placement hours?

Yes. Let your Development Together placement manager know that you would like to do this and they will let you know whether the project fulfils your requirements. They will also assist you with any paperwork. See the Academic Section below for more detail.

I am a solo traveller can I still apply?

Yes, many of our participants are solo travellers and we welcome them to all our placements. It’s a great way to join a team of like-minded people and participate together.

Can I participate with my partner/friends?

Yes, we welcome friends and partners to all our placements and it can be an amazing way to share the experience! Please note that you will all need to meet the skill requirements of the host organisation to be placed together.

Can my partner/friend travel with me but not participate?

This is possible on some of our projects, so please contact us and we can make recommendations for you.

What are the minimum and maximum age requirements?

For individuals, the lower age limit is usually 18, however please check individual placement detail on our website for more information. For most of our projects there is no maximum age limit as long as you are in reasonable health for the placement, meet the requirements of our routine medical screening and are able to provide evidence of an appropriate level of appropriate Travel Insurance for our overseas placements. We highly value mature participants and the experience they bring. We receive a wide mix of participant ages and backgrounds and we find that this adds to the participating experience.

I am under 18 years but I still want to join a Development Together placement. What are my options?

In general individuals who are under 18 years of age will not be able to participate with Development Together. However, if you come as part of a small group, with a dedicated guardian then we can work on finding you a suitable placement.

I am a parent who wants to bring my child/children with me. Is this OK?

Please contact us and we can make recommendations for you that will suit your family.

Recruitment of Ex-Offender Policy

How do you select and monitor your projects?

We have a careful and independent selection process, ensuring that we only partner with sustainable, ethical organisations that we know personally and where the work they have delivered thus far has had a lasting, positive impact on the local communities. We believe in supporting existing projects (whose aims and ethics match ours) rather than creating new projects. We evaluate the social, economic and environmental impact and identify ways to maximise the benefit to the local projects and minimise any negative impact on them. We ensure that every project we work with has a genuine role and strong support network for our participants. A member of our team visits all projects on a regular basis to ensure they are continuing to be ethically run and are making a genuine difference. We also hold an annual review with each project.

How do you protect the people, animals and environments at the projects you work with?

We work in many locations with vulnerable environments and sensitive communities. Our care for these places is the driving force behind us arranging placements for participants. For this reason, we are extremely dedicated to ensuring that our impact is always positive and never damaging. Please see our Responsible Travel Page for details of the steps we take to make sure we are doing things in the right way and that everything we do is as responsible as it can be.

How long do placements last?

Most of our placements are flexible to suit your individual schedule, however some run on specific dates to coincide with university breaks, or specific weather patterns. As our projects are always running, we can ensure a great sense of sustainability and worthwhileness when you are there. Every placement has a minimum commitment time of 2 weeks (dependent on project requirements). This is to allow for cultural adjustments, and to ensure our participants have sufficient time to make progress on the project they are working on. It also gives you more time to develop relationships with our partner organisations and to become a part of their community.

When can I start? When should I apply?

You should apply a minimum of 3 months prior to your placement commencement date. We will advise you within two days of receiving your application whether or not you are successful. The longer the time between applying and departing the better chance we have at securing a placement that is tailored to your needs and preferences – so once you’re set on exactly what you want to do make sure you apply straight away! If you decide at the last minute that you would like to apply, give us a call and we may be able to make a quick arrangement for you but there are no guarantees on this!

Do I have to be from Australia to participate with DT?

Although we are an Australian based organisation, we are very pleased to accept applications from all over the world. We receive many non-Australian participants, in particular from Europe, UK, New Zealand, USA and Canada.

Will I receive detailed information about the placement?

Follow the links on our country pages to find more detail about the specific placement you are interested in. Unlike many other organisations, we give you all the information up front to help you decide if it’s the right project for you. We follow up all of our applicants with a phone call to provide more information about our projects.

What if I need to cancel?

Please contact us in writing and by telephone as soon as you know you need to cancel. We can then discuss your options with you. For more detail on cancelling, please see our Booking Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy for our cancellation guidelines.

Booking Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

The Application Process

How do I apply and how long does it take?

 

Costs and Payment*

All costs and fees are quoted in Dollars (AUD)

Why pay to volunteer or intern with us?

Most of the organisations we work with do not have any budget to cover participant costs and are often struggling to fund their work, so it is very important that the cost of supporting participants is covered and doesn’t jeopardize the host organisations sustainability or limit their ability to carry out their aims. Development Together charges a fee to our participants in order to cover the costs associated with the placement, and the costs of running our organisation in Australia. We keep the fees as low as we can whilst also ensuring a high level of support.

How is the money spent that I pay to Development Together?

Your fees cover most program expenses. Depending on whether you are doing an overseas or remote placement your fees may cover:

• logistical costs such as: accommodation, internal travel, some meals etc.
• a professional team of Australian staff (includes industry specific supervisors for small group placements),
• administrative activities (such as pre-departure briefings, counselling, risk management and curriculum development)
• a donation to the host organisation (for costs associated with orientation, supervision, materials and incidentals).

 

Please note this pie chart is a guide only and may vary between individual and group placements dependent on placement type and destination.

Are there any discounts available?

Development Together keeps its fees as low as possible. We return 20% of our profits to one of our not-for-profit community groups. We are therefore not able to provide discounts unless you are doing more than one project or are a returning participant. Please contact us for details..

When do I have to pay a deposit and when is the final payment due?

We ask for a non-refundable, non-transferable deposit of 25% of total costs at least 4 weeks prior to commencing your placement with us. If your application is approved this deposit will come off the total price of your placement (it is not an additional payment). Your final payment (the outstanding 75%) is required 2 weeks prior to departure. If you are booking within 2 weeks of your intended start date you will be required to make the full payment instead of the deposit.

Can I pay in instalments?

This is unfortunately not possible. You will need to pay a deposit and then final payment 2 weeks before hand.

What payment methods do you accept?

PayPal and Direct Deposit (EFT). Please note that payments made by PayPal will attract a 2% surcharge

Can I claim my placement as a tax benefit?

Some participants may be entitled to claim the cost of their placement against their tax if they are able to prove that it is directly linked to their current occupation or, if they are university or college students (that is the placement is an essential part of your study). We advise you to seek professional advice regarding this query from a registered tax accountant.

What is included in the placement fee?

• Administration costs,
• Development Together Manual – Country and Host Organisation Resource document,
• Pre-placement briefings (face to face or via Webinar)
• Services of a Professional Supervisor for a minimum of 14 days (for small groups of 8-12 participants),
• 24-hour access to our Emergency Telephone Service,
• For international placements: Accommodation - twin share (with an optional single supplement payable),
  Specified meals - breakfast every day and one Welcome and one Departure dinner (no alcoholic drinks),One litre of clean drinking water per day, Airport pick up and drop off (if you arrive to your host country on the nominated first day, and leave on the last day, of your placement), Some internal travel (see your placement itinerary), Three cultural/sightseeing activities (see your placement itinerary), Two local language lessons, Services of an on-site interpreter for duration of placement (for small groups of 8-12 participants), Some relevant project specific placement materials, Induction and orientation at Host Organisation on arrival.
• Post placement debriefing,
• Certificate of Completion,
• All other costs as outlined in the placement itinerary.

What is NOT included in the placement fee?

• Accommodation upgrades and single supplement fees,
• Additional clean drinking water (beyond 1 litre per day),
• Additional local excursions or activities (not covered in the itinerary),
• Additional meals and drinks (non-alcoholic and alcoholic) not specified in the itinerary
• Airfares to host country and placement site location,
• Airline and airport taxes,
• Airline upgrade costs,
• Excess baggage costs,
• Any flight connections required to arrive at your placement at the nominated time and date,
• Costs associated with obtaining a National Police Clearance and WWCC
• Fees associated with gaining academic credit,
• Fuel surcharges,
• Government taxes and charges including city taxes,
• Gratuities and tips,
• Items of a personal nature, including but not limited to; clothing, equipment and personal medical supplies,
• Laundry,
• Local transport and travel (incl. daily transport to and from placement),
• Meals not specified in your itinerary,
• Overnight accommodation to meet your placement,
• Passport and/or travel document fees,
• Recommended individual health requirements (including any/all vaccinations and medications),
• Souvenier,
• Taxes on hotel accommodation,
• Transport and accommodation in your home country to and from designated departure city,
• Transport costs to and from airport if not arriving on 1st and leaving on last day of placement,
• Travel and Professional Indemnity insurance (incl. trip cancellation insurance),
• Visas and/or travel document fees.
• The 2% PayPal surcharge if you choose to pay your placement fee using PayPal

Travel and Logistics - for those undertaking an international in-country placement

How do I arrange flights?

It is up to you to arrange your flights to the recommended airport in your host country. We advise you that you should allow sufficient time to book your flight and be aware that costs can change significantly dependent on time of year and the airline that you wish to travel with. Any internal/domestic flights within your host country that are a necessary requirement for you to complete your placement will be arranged and paid for by Development Together for you.

When should I arrive at my destination?

We will advise you of the date and time that you need to arrive into your host country. If you are on a group placement we will provide you with details of your Welcome Meeting that you will be expected to attend. It is at this Welcome Meeting that you will meet up with the rest of your group.

Who will pick me up from the airport?

Development Together will make arrangements for you to be picked up from the airport and transported to your accommodation. Please ensure that you inform us of any changes to your flight schedules.

How many participants are in my group?

This is dependent on the type of project that you have chosen. Some placements will have a minimum of two participants, whilst other placements will have a maximum of 12 participants per group.

Do I need a passport?

Yes, you will need a current passport that has validity for 6 months beyond when you plan to exit your host country.

Do I need a visa for my destination?

Development Together will advise you whether you need to apply for a visa and which visa you may need to apply for. This will be dependent on your nationality, country of birth and the type and duration of the project you will be working on.

Do I need travel insurance?

Development Together requires ALL our participants to purchase Medical and Travelers Insurance that provides coverage for unforeseen circumstances that may arise. Such insurance should provide coverage for medical or travel related issues, such as theft and flight delay, and provide an option for repatriation to your home country.

Do I need Professional Indemnity Insurance?

This is dependent on your profession and the type of placement that you will be on. Please seek further advice from Development Together, your local professional body and an insurance agent.

Do I need to speak the local language?

For most of our placements, there is no requirement to speak any local language, although it is always a good thing to make some effort to learn the local language and the people you meet and work with will be very appreciative of your efforts. Most of our placement support staff will communicate with you in English. All participants will receive a minimum of two language lessons soon after arrival to their host country, and small groups (8-12 participants) will be allocated one local interpreter for the duration of their placement.

Can I be placed across multiple locations?

Yes. Please advise us in your application that you are interested in being placed in more than one location and we will contact you to discuss your options.

Can I add extra time on to my placement?

Yes, this is a great way to enhance your placement experience. Please feel free to discuss this with our Development Together staff.

Can you help me to arrange other trips and tours?

Yes, we are always very happy to help advise and our expert team has in-depth knowledge of the locations and countries we send participants to.

Do I need a TEFL or TESOL (Teaching English as a Foreign/Second Language) certification if I want to apply for Education/Teaching placement?

Most of our Education/Teaching placements require that participants are already qualified as a:

• Professional Educator/Teacher;
• Studying for an Education/Teaching degree;
• or are already Qualified as a TEFL/TESOL instructor (with experience in this area).

Please review the specific requirements for each project to determine if you meet these requirements.

How much spending money do I need?

This is entirely dependent on the types of items you wish to buy, the food you eat and the activities you wish to participate in. A good guide is to allow $25USD per day for additional food and transport, and then research any activities you might like to do whilst in your host country and plan your budget accordingly.

Accommodation and Living - for those undertaking an international in-country placement

What accommodation is provided?

All of our placements include twin-share accommodation, either in a hotel, homestay or farm-stay. We aim to provide safe, secure, clean and comfortable accommodation. We aim to ensure that all bedrooms have a functioning lock on the door, and come with clean linen and towels. Some accommodation may include a small bar-fridge and a safe whilst others may not. On occasion, you may find the accommodation cannot be compared to the standard of accommodation on holiday trips. Please see the individual placement documents for more details of accommodation and living arrangements.

Do I need to bring bedding?

For most placements, you will not need to bring any bedding with you. Situations where this may alter will be if your placement includes any overnight trips to other locations, and certain homestay locations. Please review the individual placement PDF for more detail.

Will I have my own bathroom?

In most situations, you will have access to an en-suite, or a shared bathroom with a lock on the door. Not all bathrooms will have running water. For example, in a homestay you may have to bathe in a similar way as the locals. Please see the individual placement documents for more details of accommodation and living arrangements.

Can my partner and I share a room?

In most circumstances, you will be able to share a room with your partner. We will advise you if this may pose a problem for a specific placement and discuss options with you.

Will I have clean drinking water?

Development Together will ensure that you are provided with a minimum of 1 litre of clean drinking water per day for the duration of your placement. You will be able to purchase additional clean drinking water from, the local supermarkets.

How much food do you provide?

Development Together provides a Welcome meal, breakfast every day and a Departure meal (we do not provide for alcoholic drinks at these meals). All other meals are at the participant’s expense. Please remember that eating in the country you are travelling to will be relatively cheaper than your home country. On average, it is recommended to budget $25USD per day for lunch and dinner.

Do I need to bring any food with me?

If you have specific foods that like to eat on a regular basis it is recommended that you bring them with you. You may also like to bring foods that can be stored and are easy to use for lunches when you are working at your placement. More detail will be provided at your pre--departure briefings.

What if I have dietary concerns?

Please advise us if you have any specific dietary concerns and we will work together to make sure that you have access to appropriate foods for the duration of your placement.

Health, Safety and Support

Please follow this link to our Health, Safety and Support page for more detail.

Health Safety and Support

Fundraising and Scholarships

Can I fundraise towards the costs of my placement?

Yes, we encourage participants to fundraise towards their costs if they would like to. As a participant on a Development Together project you are donating your time and effort to help make a positive difference to the communities that you will work with. Fundraising towards your costs may enable you to join one of our placements or participate for a longer period of time than you were originally able to.

We have developed a Development Together Fundraising Guide to help enable participants to fundraise as effectively as possible. If you would like a copy, please contact us and we will email one out to you.

Are there any options for scholarships or grants?

Australian university or college students participating in a Development Together placement may be eligible for financial assistance through their university’s Scholarship Office, Work Integrated Learning (WIL), Study Abroad or Global Mobility offices.

Australian students may also be eligible to access OS-Help Loans, New Colombo Plan Mobility Grants, ACEN Scholarships or Endeavour Scholarships to support them on short and long-term volunteer, mobility and internship placements. Please talk to your university’s Scholarships and Global Mobility office for more information or go to:

OS-Help Loan

New Colombo Mobility and Scholarship Program

Australian Collaborative Education Network

Academic Credit

How can I gain Academic Credit for the time I spend as a volunteer or intern?

Development Together understands the importance of working with participants who wish to gain Academic Credit for the time they spend participating as a volunteer or intern. Our internships don’t just give you hands-on practical skills, but can also contribute towards your university or college qualification. Talk to your lecturers about receiving credit for your time with us. We’ll also be here to help you in this process wherever we can, but since requirements vary, we handle each request on an individual basis. Please contact us to discuss how we can enable you to gain academic credit towards your course.

Will I get a certificate at the end of my placement?

Each participant will receive a Certificate of Completion that indicates the type of project and the duration spent on the project when they complete their placement.

Does Development Together offer any education/studies in Community Development?

Yes, Development Together facilitates the completion of a Certificate in Community Development. Upon submission of the course work and completion of the modules your certificate will be issued. Please note there is a small additional cost to undertake this Certificate. There is not a deadline for completion, and you may work on the coursework at your own pace.

What are the benefits of completing a Certificate in Community Development?

• Receive a Certificate in Community Development Certificate and transcript.
• Learn how to apply knowledge and skills to your current or future work in global health.
• Receive an opportunity for individual mentoring and guidance from Development Together’s Academic staff.