Coach Rowing in Australia

This is a great chance to pass on your knowledge and enthusiasm to junior rowers in Australia. You’ll earn money and gain loads of experience working with a crew of mini Aussies. You’ll live and work alongside other participants so look forward to making lots of new friends and influencing the next generation of Australian rowing legends.

Recommended for:

  • Earning cash through paid coaching
  • Developing your coaching skills
  • A first hand taste of life in Oz
  • Time to explore Australia

At a glance:

  • 5-10 hours of coaching per week
  • Fulfilling experience coaching youngsters
  • Shared accommodation
  • Staff support available throughout your stay

Sporting adventures

Our programmes in Melbourne offer a great opportunity to develop your coaching skills, help youngsters improve their rowing and earn a few Aussie dollars. During the placement you will coach school rowing crews and can expect between 5 and 10 hours of paid coaching work a week.

You’ll share accommodation in one of Australia’s most vibrant cities. Living with other Sport Lived participants will give you a whole new group of friends whilst you’re overseas.

So, you’re passionate about rowing and want to share this with youngsters in an exciting overseas environment? With a Sport Lived coaching placement you can develop your own coaching skills whilst passing your knowledge and enthusiasm onto the next generation.

Overview

During your rowing placement you’ll be working with a local Aussie school or boat club. On average, coaches can expect around 5 -10 hours of paid work a week and, if you like, it’s often possible to supplement this with additional paid work.

Challenging

Coaches generally work with a rowing crew for an entire school term helping to develop technique, fitness and tactics. The structure of our programmes allows you to build a bond with your crew and work on their development over a sustained period which is highly rewarding. A Sport Lived coaching placement is also a great addition to your CV. You’ll develop organisation, leadership and communication skills. Having taken responsibility for a crew of mini Aussies you’ll feel ready for anything!

Qualifications

In order to guarantee your Sport Lived rowing coaching programme, you’ll need to obtain coaching qualifications before you leave. As a minimum, you should obtain the UKCC Club Coach Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Rowing. We also recommend that you get as much practical coaching experience as possible before your departure.

If you’re unable to obtain a coaching qualification before you join us please let us know. Further details of how and where to obtain rowing coaching qualifications can be found at the ARA website.

You’ll have plenty of spare time between training and competing if you’d like to get a job. As well as enhancing your CV and boosting your bank balance, working overseas will help you meet new people and provide more structure to your time away.

Top tips for getting work

  • Plan the type of work you'd like to obtain

  • Try to gain relevant work experience

  • Prepare a CV and have two references

  • Be proactive & persistent in job hunting

Employment options

  • Café/bar work: sociable environment

  • Office work: good rates of pay

  • Coaching: fulfilling and well paid

  • Work experience: boost your CV

Working in Australia

You’ll be living close to lots of employment options like offices, shops, bars and restaurants. Contacts at your sport club might also help you to find coaching work.

In addition, your mentor will provide guidance on working in Australia but you should ensure you’re well prepared as the job market can be as competitive as the sports arena!

Making the most of your time away

Travelling to the other side of the world to coach sport is a truly once in a lifetime experience. So all Sport Lived programmes are designed to make sure that both your sporting life, and your social life, are as action packed and exciting as possible. That’s why you’ll always get…

Social events with Sport Lived

The cities you can visit with Sport Lived are some of the most exciting and welcoming on the planet, and there always seems to be something interesting going on. So to help you make the most of your time away, our local staff organise social events like trips to top sporting occasions, surfing lessons, welcome dinners and loads more besides. They’ll also try to assist you get tickets to events you want to watch while you're away, and give you expert advice on the best things to see and do in the city.

A great place to stay in the centre of town

We offer programmes in some fantastic cities, and we know that to make the most of your time away, you need to be right in the centre of the action. So we make sure that your accommodation is in the heart of the city - just a short walk away from all the best cafes, restaurants, bars, shops and pretty much anything else you’ll ever need.

Like-minded flatmates

Having a few friends to share your experiences with is a huge part of any foreign trip – they make the whole experience loads easier and loads more fun. So you’ll always share your swish city centre accommodation with other Sport Lived participants - that way you’ll have a ready-made group of friends from the minute you step off the plane!

Career enhancing experiences

Your Sport Lived adventure is the perfect time to get work experience and demonstrate the skills that universities and future employers look for - your Sport Lived work experience will help set you apart.

Independence and initiative

Sport Lived will provide loads of help when you're looking for part-time work but ultimately it's down to you to get out there and make it happen. Showing a prospective employer that you've managed to find, secure and maintain a job in an overseas country is highly impressive.

Teamwork

Teamwork is at the heart of the Sport Lived experience. Living, playing and training alongside a new group of friends is a great way to develop strong social skills and show that you're a real team player.

Personal development

Joining a new sports club, living in an overseas city and securing a job are exciting challenges that will enable you to grow as an individual, leaving you ready to tackle whatever lies ahead after your Sport Lived experience.

Work experience

Living overseas is a great time to think about gaining invaluable work experience in a field you're considering as a career. Sport Lived participants have volunteered in hospitals, law firms and newspaper offices. Such work demonstrates commitment and initiative.

Your home from home

When you travel to Australia with Sport Lived, we arrange quality accommodation for you. Which means you can rest easy knowing you’ll have a comfortable and secure new home from the day you arrive. You’ll share a premium 4-star apartment with other Sport Lived participants, giving you an instant group of friends to share your new adventures with.

Central downtown location

Your apartment is in the centre of Melbourne, with a great selection of restaurants, bars, cafes, shops and entertainment on your doorstep. Melbourne’s excellent public transport system is close by, making for easy travel to your sports club and for exploring the city’s attractions.

About your apartment

You’ll share a twin room with another Sport Lived participant, in either a two or three-bedroomed apartment. All apartments have 24-hour reception and are fully furnished, with a well-equipped kitchen, washing machine, comfortable living area, TV and bed linen. They’re also serviced weekly so you can make the most of your free time in this inspiring city.

  • Fully-serviced 4-star apartments (twin rooms)
  • Close to transport, shops, cafes and nightlife
  • Share with other Sport Lived participants
  • Relax – most bills are included

We understand that moving to Australia is a big step – albeit an incredibly exciting one! That’s why we’re here to support you every step of the way, from help and advice as you book your trip, to being there for you from the moment you land in Melbourne and throughout your stay.

In-person support from day one

A member of the Sport Lived team in Melbourne will be in touch before you leave home and welcome you at the airport on your arrival. They’ll help you settle in to your apartment and introduce you to other Sport Lived participants – you’ll soon have new friends to explore this great city with.

Explore with us

During your stay in Melbourne, Sport Lived staff are on hand to help you make the very most of your time. They’ll organise social events, including beach BBQs and dinners out, as well as arrange tickets for major sporting events and day trips to go surfing on the Mornington Peninsular. They’ll give you expert, insider advice on the best things to see and do in the city and further afield too – after all, there’s a whole new continent to explore!

Finding work

Many of our participants choose to find part-time work during their time here, in between their playing or coaching commitments. It’s a great way to meet new people and add new skills to your CV. If you’re interested in finding work, we’ll give you contact details for companies who regularly need casual staff to help you get started with your job search.

Coaching Work

  • Organisation of a paid coaching placement
  • A minimum rate of £15 per hour
  • A police check in Australia
  • First Aid Course in Australia (if not previously qualified)
  • Anaphylaxis training

Sports Club

  • The opportunity to join an Australian rowing club (additional fees apply)

Accommodation

  • Centrally-located accommodation
  • Shared twin room in a 4-star apartment
  • Free internet

Support from the Sport Lived team

  • Airport collection upon arrival
  • Local in-person support throughout your stay
  • Airport transfer on departure

Trip Essentials

  • Sport Lived clothing
  • Information pack upon arrival
  • Introductory travel pass
  • Gym membership
  • Sport Lived Australia handbook

Social Events

  • Regular social events from surfing trips to tickets for great sporting events*

And finally…

  • The sports experience of a lifetime!

*Event options will vary depending on the length and time of your programme.

Book your trip

Duration
11 weeks
From
29/09/2025
To
14/12/2025
Price
£7395
Book now
Duration
25 weeks
From
29/09/2025
To
22/03/2026
Price
£13095
Book now

Questions? We are often asked…

Australian Working Holiday Visa

In order to undertake a Sport Lived coaching programme in Australia you will need to obtain an Australian Working Holiday Visa. UK, Dutch, US and Canadian citizens aged 18-30 are eligible for an Australian Working Holiday Visa which enables holders to live and work in Australia for up to 12 months. It costs around AUD635 and can take up to 4 weeks to process so we recommend getting the paperwork sorted well in advance of your departure.

No! To guarantee your coaching placement, you should obtain relevant coaching qualifications prior to departure. This will give you the necessary skills to plan and organise coaching lessons. In addition, gaining practical coaching experience will provide excellent preparation for your programme.

Rates of pay for coaching compare favourably to other forms of casual work in Australia. We can’t guarantee your rates in advance, but you can expect to earn at least £15 per hour.

Struggling to find an answer? Contact us and see how we can help.


Our other rowing programmes

Mini Season in Australia

Get a taste of Aussie life with our Mini Season rowing programme. Spend part of the season with a local rowing club.

Full Season in Australia

Get the full, undiluted Aussie rowing experience! Train, compete and party all season long with a top rowing club.

Handpicked clubs. Exceptional programmes.
Discover your unique sporting adventure.