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The American Institute for Foreign Study (Australia) Pty Ltd opened its Australian office in 1999 and began offering its Camp America and Au Pair in America programs to young Australians. In 2005, AIFS commenced offering inbound programs and currently facilitates cultural exchange programs for more than 2,000 young people.

Stop Wondering.
Start Wandering.

APPLY NOW 

To be eligible:

You must be 18 years old by
June 1, 2025
You must be available to complete a placement as a counsellor for at least 9 weeks.
You must be available to depart sometime between May 1 and June 25, 2025.
01

Apply Online

So you're ready for the best summer of your life? We're excited to have you!

Click on the apply now button on the right hand side or in the menu to start a new application. Complete at least 3 skills to start with and follow the ‘to complete’ list - it's that easy!

young male on a phone call
02

Select an
Interviewer

Your've started your application, now it is time to  select your Camp America Interviewer and make your first payment.

Alternately we can assigned an interviewer to you. You will receive the contact details and availability from your Interviewer so please make sure you get in touch to lock in a time. If for any reason you do not hear from your Interviewer, please let us know - call us 1300 889 067 or email info@campamerica.com.au.

03

Pre-Interview

Before your interview date:

Gt aheadstart and apply for your Australian Federal Police Check (AFP).

You can apply for your AFP online here. You may also need to complete a Medical Disclosure Form for any pre-existing conditions (if applicable) before the interview. You will be advised if this is the case. Please note that we can only accept the Australian Federal Police Check.

birdseye view of someone applying for camp america on their laptop
young female being interviewed
04

Post-Interview

Log onto mycampamerica and complete the instructions provided for ‘Post Interview’.

Your application will circulate via our online recruitment database and Camp Directors will see it  - make it stand out!

05

Placement

Use your mycampamerica site to track your progress. Remember that placements normally do not start until September onwards so it may be a few months after you apply until you hear about your placement.

As soon as your Camp America application is marked as 'Ready to Place,' camp directors will be able to view it, and they may want to interview you via a video call.

two camp america counsellors play fighting

Visa

Congratulations, you have been placed! Now it is time to apply for your visa.

We will guide you through the necessary steps to book your appointment at one of the three Consulates in Australia: Sydney, Melbourne or Perth. Please note those living outside of these areas will need to attend an interview at the closest Consulate to you.


The camp counselor cultural exchange visa grants you up to 30 days travel in the US before your camp start date and 30 days afterwards. If you are interested in travelling for longer, we can assist you with applying for a tourist visa.

06
07

Flights & Travel

Now that you have your visa, it's time to book your flights and start planning your travel arrangements.

Traveling is an exciting part of your trip, and deciding where to go can be overwhelming. Companies like Intrepid offer small group tours, or you can travel with old friends from home or new friends you meet at camp! For most information click here.

birdseye view of a person writing at a desk surrounded by coffee, photos, glasses and a laptop
three camp america counsellors posing for a photo
08

Pre-Departure

Our online Pre-Departure events prepare you for camp and are an opportunity to connect with other participants, and have your questions answered. Dates will be sent to you closer to the time.

09

Travelling to Camp

Your Camp will provide you with a pick-up location in the United States.

If you're not arranged to be picked up the day you arrive, we recommend booking accommodation near your camp’s pick up point. For accommodation options click here.

Camp surrounded by mountains and a blue lake cropped into the number 10.

Camp Arrival

You have finally arrived at camp! Your main responsibility is to care for children, making sure they are safe while having fun.

Your fellow camp staff will be there with you on and off camp. Days off are a great time to relax. If you need anything while you are at camp, Camp America is available 24/7.

Camp America is committed to Child Protection and the Safeguarding of Children and Vulnerable Adults. We require all participants to understand that any inappropriate behaviour toward children & vulnerable adults in the USA will be reported by camps to law enforcement authorities and the full force of the law will be brought to bear on perpetrators of abuse. We operate a Safer Recruiting policy and will require police checks, medical checks and other documents from you to support your application to our programme.

Camp America believes that children and vulnerable adults should never experience abuse of any kind and we are committed to work in a way that keeps Child Protection & Safeguarding at the centre of our practices and procedures. You can read Camp America’s full Child Protection & Safeguarding policy here.