Here we answer some of the most common questions you may have about joining YWAM Perth.
Yes. A 24 credit University of the Nations recognised DTS is a preliminary requirement before you can do other second level schools or join staff.
Each day you will have activities such as morning exercises, family chores, lectures, work duties, (general duties around the base) and evening activities. There are also weekly corporate events such as the base worship, evangelism, and Friday Night Meetings you will participate in. Your weekends may have some school activities but will generally be free for you to explore the city and have some study time. Learn more about DTS activities
We are an urban “walking campus,” so you’ll stay a short walk away from the main YWAM hub in shared accommodation with other students. Classes, meals and other events take place at our central facility. Our main property includes an in-house café, lounge spaces, library, wifi and more. We may be biased, but think our café’s coffee is amongst the best in the city!
Yes, successful completion of the outreach phase of your school is REQUIRED for all DTSes and most further accredited training.
Your school leader will pray over options for outreach locations and these will be communicated early in the school, or beforehand if already set. Most DTSes will have more than one option for you to pray about and some will go as one team on outreach. Some teams will serve in multiple locations on outreach and others may focus on one location for the whole three months. We have a significant focus on Asia, Africa and Australia but we can send teams anywhere in the world.
Yes, you may continue onto further training programs or join staff here with us at YWAM Perth or at any of the YWAM bases around the world! Learn more about training opportunities and mission opportunities after DTS.
There is no age limit as such, DTS students just need to be old enough to have completed secondary school or high school. We do have certain DTSes that are designed for certain age groups if you would prefer.
Yes. We believe that families, and not just individuals, have a calling in missions to serve together as a family. Please contact us for further details.
We offer bilingual DTSes at various times. Let us know if you’re interested and we can give you more information. If your English skills are not sufficient to study in an English speaking environment please contact us and we will discuss options.
All courses accredited with the Australian government are Austudy approved. Please check to see if the course for which you want to apply is accredited before making an application to Centrelink. You can refer to the Centrelink website for more information on applying for Austudy. http://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/dhs/centrelink
Further information and required documents for an Austudy applications will be provided upon acceptance.
We encourage all staff and students to come with the appropriate updates on immunisations. These are the following:
These updates are required every 10 years, if you are unsure of your last immunisation, check with your doctor. Please, for your own safety, ensure that you are up to date with these before coming to the lecture phase of your school so that you will be prepared in advance for your field assignment. For overseas field assignments we recommend that all staff and students receive further vaccines, these are the following:
We encourage you to have these immunisations before joining us as vaccines are expensive and foreign students/staff pay more once they are in Australia. We may also be encouraging students and staff to take medicine to help prevent malaria and to use mosquito nets during the field assignment – this depends on the location of your field assignment. If you would prefer, you can bring malaria medication with you from home or we can purchase this for you here.
Things to know about the application process.
You can apply online here or email us at info@ywamperth.org.au and we will send you information regarding the school you are interested in.
If you are not from Australia, you will need to apply for an appropriate visa. Details regarding your visa will be communicated upon your acceptance to the school. Please do not apply for a visa until you have received your acceptance letter and instructions to do so.
In most cases, yes. We would need to know what visa you currently hold in order to know your visa conditions and see if you would be required to apply for a new one. Please inform the Registrar that you are already in Australia and also forward a copy of your visa so we can check your status.
Yes, all international students and staff will be required to have health insurance. For all student visas, the Australian government requires that you have Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) before you can be granted a Student Visa. Our registrar will communicate the price to you and will organize your OSHC enrolment. For other visas, various insurance companies are accepted. This information will be provided by the registrar upon acceptance, and you will organize your enrolment. For more information about health insurance, please contact the Registrar at info@ywamperth.org.au.
What you need to know about fees and payments
The registration fee is paid with credit card as part of the registration process of our online applications. If you have difficulties with the credit card payment please contact the Registrar at info@ywamperth.org.au or see How and when do I pay my school fees? below for more payment options.
Fees for lecture phase range from $3,580 to $4,830 depending on which school you choose. This includes a non-refundable registration fee, tuition, accommodation, books, wireless internet access and food. Please note that visa and health insurance costs are not included and vary according to student. Fees for the outreach phase range from $3,500 to $6,000 depending on location. For more information, please contact our Registrar at info@ywamperth.org.au.
If you are from overseas, you will need Australian health insurance and an applicable visa to study with us. Our Registrar will guide you through this process and make sure you have all the details you need. Besides your ticket or transport here, there are a few other incidental costs which are all outlined in the information you’ll receive when you inquire.
Your lecture phase fees should be paid before or on registration day (the first week of lecture phase).
Payment Methods
Credit Card
You can pay by credit card through our secure page on our website https://secure.ywamperth.org.au/payments/. We accept Mastercard or Visa only. Please be aware that there is a 2% bank fee for all credit card payments.
Money Transfer
You are responsible for transfer fees, which will vary depending on your bank. Please contact your bank for details. We can send you a bank transfer form on request. Please take into account the time needed for processing.
International Money Order or Cheque in Australian Dollars
You can use a personal cheque or international money order, but please note this is the slowest method of payment. Please take into account time for postage and processing. We suggest that it is made out in Australian dollars as there is no charge. If it is in any other major currency there is a bank fee of AUD$15 for cheques equivalent to AUD$200 – AUD$9,999. Please send your cheque or international money order, including a note letting us know your name and school enrolling in, to:
Registrar, YWAM Perth,
PO BOX 8501 Perth Business Centre,
Perth, WA 6849,
Australia.
Your outreach phase fees are due during the lecture phase. Details regarding fees for outreach will be communicated to you by your school leader during the lecture phase.
As all of our staff and students trust and rely on God for the finances they need to live and study, we are unable to provide discounts, financial assistance or scholarships. We firmly believe that God is our source of provision and believe in His faithfulness. We are privileged to stand in the place of prayer and partnership together and see the ways God provides!
Yes. Please see our Faith and Finances section for more information.
Housing, what to bring, about Perth.
Yes. You will stay a short walk away from the YWAM base in shared accommodation with other students from your school and other schools. Living together in community is a great way to get to know people from diverse backgrounds and it is a lot of fun! We value community by eating together delicious sit-down meals (lunch and dinner) prepared by our kitchen ministry as a large family on base. Breakfast is provided for students at the YWAM base.
The base offers unlimited internet to all students! If you want to access the internet during your time on the base you will have to bring your own laptop to connect with. If you are unable to bring a laptop yourself, it is quite likely you will find someone willing to lend you their computer.
Perth is a beautiful city in Western Australia with a population of around 2.1 million people. The YWAM hub is just a short train or bus ride (within the free zone), or walk from the city centre. Beaches and the Swan River are also easy to get to and from the base. The climate in the winter (June-September) can be rainy, windy and cold with temperature ranging from 5-20°C. In the summer (November-February) it is hot and dry with temperature ranging from 25-45°C.
CLOTHING: Apart from casual wear, bring one set of formal clothes for meetings, church and formal events. Many outreach locations do require a modest skirt/dress pants. Unless you want your casual clothes turned into work clothes we strongly suggest you bring these. There is a wide variety of duties and some are quite messy. For recreation clothes we suggest you bring shorts and runners. Bathing suits need to be modest i.e. full swim suits for girls (no bikinis), swim shorts for guys. For shoes; please bring casual, runners and dress shoes.
During winter it can get cold (June – September), so bring jeans, jumpers/sweaters and a jacket. Remember outreaches may be in another climate so come prepared for different types of weather.
Please note: We have an international student body and as such need to consider a larger audience of cultures in our dress (what is OK in your culture might cause offence to someone from another).
BEDDING: You will have a bed during lecture phase, but you will need your own bedding (pillows, sheets, blankets, duvet/quilt, etc.) as none will be provided. A fitted sheet is required for all students. Please bring this with you unless you prefer to buy it when you get to Perth. There will be times on outreach where you may not have a bed and will be sleeping on the ground; you may therefore want to bring a sleeping bag and suitable air mattress/mat/Therma-rest with you, though these can also be readily purchased in Perth.
With regard to personal items, please bring whatever articles of clothing, etc. that you need, limiting it to one large hiking backpack or suitcase. You will have some space under your bed, 2 3 shelves in a cupboard and a small amount of wardrobe space. Our storage is limited, meaning you will need to be able to carry everything with you during the outreach phase. There is no storage space provided on base for your things while you are on outreach.
If you are planning on bringing a car please let us know. Please be advised that due to parking restrictions there is no personal parking available at the base. Where ever you chose to park your car, you do so at your own risk. We aim to have all of our accommodation located within walking distance from the YWAM base. Public transportation is easily accessible and can take you throughout the city.
You may not bring animals of any sort.
Yes, we welcome families! We believe that families, and not just individuals, have a calling in missions to serve together as a family. Please let us know if you are planning on bringing your family. Please also note that school-aged children will need to be enrolled in schooling as a condition of your visa. More information regarding costs, accommodation and education for children can be provided by the Registrar.
The ramp to our local train station is directly across from our YWAM Perth base! From here you are in the centre of the city or at the beach after a short ride. It’s also only a quick walk from the base to the riverfront, sports facilities, city centre, shopping facilities, fast food and cafés..
This section is here to encourage you, while at the same time provide you with some practical suggestions for raising the support you need to complete your training and ministry with YWAM Perth and beyond. Know that we as a staff are regularly praying for you and your finances – you are not alone!
Our hope and prayer is that you will grow in your faith in God through this process. Please read on for more insight, thoughts, and practical ideas regarding the finances and support you may need for your next step or ministry.
The Bible says in Hebrews that faith is the substance, or evidence, of things that are currently unseen and that we hope for (Hebrews 11:1). When we commit to full-time missions or missions training, we are in faith that the finance we do not yet have will be there at the right time. The weight of dependence is upon God to come through and He is always faithful. This truth however does not mean it is always comfortable or that we do not have to do our part to see the finances come in.
Faith is not merely wishful thinking, but connected to knowing God and having strong assurance in His character and ability to provide for you. Faith operates when there is no resource but God. This is when your faith increases as you consciously choose to keep trusting God. Prayer is vital. Prayer with others is key and brings great amount of encouragement as you look forward to the break-through regarding your financial need.
Often, the question that arises is, “Does faith mean I do not ask people for financial help?” The key to remember here is that fundraising is not just about the money, but about relationship with others and giving them an opportunity to join you in God’s work on earth. Loren Cunningham, the founder of YWAM, was asked this question and his concise response is worth sharing here: “I think it’s not a matter of what YWAM’s view is, but what is appropriate. And appropriateness depends on society, and it depends on the closeness of relationship. If you build everything on relationship, then you don’t do anything that’ll violate the relationship. When you’re close, and you communicate, I don’t think you’re always communicating about money. It comes in maybe once a year, but if you make it a big deal, and that’s your purpose, they’re going to know it’s your purpose and nobody wants that kind of relationship.
The reality is that finances are a vehicle for accomplishing what God has called us to do. It is easy to get “hung up” on finances or the lack of, but the thing to be hanging on to is faith in God and that you are not alone in this.
When you feel discouraged, go to people who can pray with you and for you. Read stories of others who experienced amazing miracles of God’s provision. Contact the person you are in email contact with at YWAM Perth and be honest. Be generous with what you have. Generosity shows us that we are trusting God and that others are more important than money. Be wise, but be willing and ready to be generous at any time. We are not hoarders of God’s finances, but stewards of what He has entrusted to us.
Faith and finances is ultimately about God and your increasing intimacy with Him. He cares about you. In that, God will provide ideas and strategies that you can use to see your financial support increase. The amount of ideas and suggestions for fundraising is probably as numerous as the stars. What strategies you choose to use and methods you embrace will depend on what you feel God is leading you to do, your level of relationship with the people you are asking and the time you have to invest.
Some key ideas to remember as you explore some of the strategies we suggest are:
Practically speaking, it can help to think about your financial needs in two areas - up front costs and regular support.
Below are some practical ideas for fundraising:
Remember, what ever method or strategy you use, keep trusting God and pray. It is important to communicate to people that you would like to follow up with them. This allows you to easily contact them again to see if they are interested in partnering with you while giving them time to go away and pray and think about it without pressure. This is primarily for those strategies that involve you clearly sharing your vision and asking for people to join your team (dessert nights, dinner, meetings, etc.).
Partnership is key to longevity in pursuing your training and ministry endeavors. It may be practical to think, “I will just work to earn enough money to pay for this training.” That can be done, but eventually you will need to leave your work and pursue your training and when that money runs out you may need to repeat the whole process, all the while putting what God has called you to on hold.
Relational partnership not only provides a long-term foundation of prayer and financial support for your training and ministry, but also allows other people to be part of what God is doing through you. Remember, this is about God and His purposes. You play a role in that and others do as well. Just as God leads some to go out into full-time missions, He leads others to contribute significantly through prayer and financial support. Think of it as forming a team to go with you. There are many people literally seeking for missionaries, both young and old, to give to and consider it an honour and a calling to do so. We are never meant to “go it alone” but to have a team of supporters around us.
Whether this idea is new to you or something you already agree with, seeking partnership from others can be anywhere from awkward to absolutely nerve-wracking. We encourage you to see our suggestions for “Practical Strategies” as well as commit every idea and fundraising endeavour to the Lord and follow His direction.
Books
“Friend Raising” by Betty Barnett
“Funding Your Ministry” by Scott Morton
“Daring to Live on the Edge” By Loren Cunningham
“Against All Odds” by Jim Stier
MP3 Audio Teachings
“Let’s Go Barefoot” by Loren Cunningham
“Faith and Finances” by David Hamilton
“Precious Valleys” by John Dawson
“DNA Conference (Session 11)” by David Hamilton