Doug

Doug is the quintessential Aussie kid.

He's a fast talking, self-confessed entertainer with bucket-loads of charm and personality. He has three passions: making people laugh, watching DVDs and playing table tennis. And he's a champion at all three!  An only child, Doug is far from being a "Mummy's boy" but does admit he enjoys being pampered by his mum.

And like most lads his age, he’s not keen on helping his Mum around the house when it comes to domestic chores. One thing is for sure, with the 'easy' life he leads at home he's in for a big wake-up call in Longreach. Out West there will be little time to kick back, watch movies and leave it to the others do the work. He'll learn that his horse's needs come before his own. He’ll have to follow the jackaroo rule: the horse eats and bathes before you do because without your horse, you can't do your job. 

Doug’s a natural entertainer and loves the limelight. He doesn't play a team sport and isn't used to being part of a group. As a member of the 8-person mustering team Doug will need to learn to put the team first and fulfil his jackaroo duties; he will have to learn that he can’t always be the centre of attention. Doug's major challenge will be learning how to ride. Although he is a skilled table tennis player, rising to the lofty heights of National School Age Champion, Doug has never ridden a horse.  Learning how to ride horseback, cope with the daily chores on a working property and adjust to becoming an integral member of Outback 8 will provide massive challenges for Doug. It’s a captivating storyline that will unfold over the full 13 episodes.

Levi

Levi’s friends describe him as "chilled", "a skateboard dude" and a "hippy".

His blonde dreadlocks and cool demeanour seem to match his mates' descriptions but don't let Levi's appearance and demeanour fool you. He has a high sense of integrity and isn’t afraid to confront a bully or a problem head on. It comes as no surprise to learn that this funloving 'skater boy' lives on Queensland's Sunshine Coast. His Mum describes him as a 'spiritual' person who is wise beyond his years. His role in the group may very well develop into that of a peacemaker with others turning to him for advice. 

Although living close to the beach, Levi's main passion is skateboarding. He's done quite well in State competitions and tries to get to the skate park at least 3-4 times each week.  He used to go every day until he started high school and "they piled on the homework". He's modest about his skateboarding skills saying that his best friends are better than him.  Will the balance he's developed from skateboarding give him a head start when learning to ride a
horse?

One wonders why would a laid back skater dude want to go out West to learn to be a jackaroo? It seems the bush is in Levi's blood: his Great Grandfather was a famous camp drafter and his Dad worked on farms and used to break in horses so Levi is keen to learn jackaroo skills and make his Dad proud.

Jack

He's small, he's proud and he's tough as nails.

Standing at the height of a jockey, Jack is a British boxing champ, living proof that big things can come from small packages. The Energiser bunny of the eight, Jack's daily routine is to run 6 kilometres each morning before hitting
the boxing gym. After school he's off to the stables to practice his horse riding. 

It's an unusual mix, boxing and equestrian jumping, but if there's one person capable of representing his country in both Olympic events, it's Jack - just ask him. Jack's full of bravado and full of life, and he's not afraid to chat to anyone, especially girls. His extended family includes the various girls who like to 'hang out' with him and at night he'll text them to make sure he's not forgotten. Mind you, these girls aren't necessarily his girlfriends, they’re just friends.

Travelling to the Australian Outback is Jack's dream. He loves watching 'Man from Snowy River', especially when 'Jim Craig rides down the hill after the wild horses'. Jack has wanted to be a 'cowboy' since seeing the movie and can't wait to prove himself on the Outback stage. He believes this place is meant for him: it’s rugged, tough and full of snakes. Yes, he loves snakes.  Jack has a pet corn snake and would love to see a big brown or taipan while riding on a muster. Ahead of Jack will be the physical challenges made more difficult for someone with a small stature.  He'll face enormous livestock that are headstrong which can be intimidating at the best of times but it’s a match Jack's ready to take head on.

Amity

Amity is the smallest and youngest of the Outback 8 but don't let her petite frame fool you.

This 'pocket rocket' is a classic over-achiever - if she can't get something right, she practices and trains until it's perfect. She is the only one out of the Australian four who has ridden a horse. Amity's big challenge will be overcoming
perceptions that she is incapable of becoming a jackaroo because of her stature and age.  Amity has two passions: her horse and her violin. Perfecting her violin playing is her most active pursuit. She starts school at 7am to practice her violin - an hour and a half before the arrival of the other students and on school holidays she travels to Brisbane to take further lessons.

Despite this gruelling schedule, she capably balances her music with outdoor activities.  Amity loves her old horse and has become an accomplished show jumper but will her skill at equestrian riding hamper what she'll be doing in Longreach? She'll have to get used to a different technique as well as traversing rough and wild terrain. And like her British buddy Jack, one of Amity's biggest challenges will be standing up to livestock that are much larger than herself.

Amity says she will miss her family the most when she goes to Longreach. Unlike Doug, she helps her mum cook and hangs out with her family as much as possible. She's confident she can adjust to the rural lifestyle and chores, but how will she cope outside the protective environment of her family? Will the other kids disregard her opinions? Her role in the group will be an interesting story development.

Daniel

Daniel is the Harry Potter look-a-like who comes to Australia purely for the adventure … and the hope he’ll be discovered by a big time producer.

Daniel loves acting. He's been performing since the age of six when he was enrolled at a performance school. He now performs regularly in plays including a local production of 'Alice in Wonderland'.  Unlike his fellow British Outback 8 counterpart Jack, Daniel has never ridden a horse and is terrified of creepy crawlies. In fact he's a city kid, a young 'Metro' lad, keen on maintaining a great haircut aided by serious quantities of hair product. He gets it cut each month and ensures no one ever sees him without his hair short and spiky. The reason for his hair obsession: "if it gets too long it looks fluffy".  So how does a fair-skinned, British, wannabee actor, who hates spiders and likes being wellgroomed at all times, think he's going to cut it as a jackaroo?

Daniel possesses the three skills necessary to become a good jackaroo: intelligence, athleticism and leadership ability. He's very bright and able to problem-solve, an important skill when considering strategies to round up a mob of cattle. His athletic ability comes from one of his key loves: soccer. He plays 'left back' for his local club, the Chadderton Grasshoppers and has made several representative teams. Finally, his time on the stage has helped him acquire the charisma and learn the communication techniques necessary to lead a team. All three of these skills give Daniel a big upside in Longreach. If he reaches his potential he will challenge Selena to be the leader of the Outback 8.

Selena

Having grown up in isolated mining towns her whole life has made Selena very independent.

Selena was born and bred in the tropical northern mining town of Gove in Arnhem Land.  Although it’s a small town, it is  multicultural with people from Malaysia and Indonesia mixing with indigenous and local community members.  The pace of life in a small town is also much slower, leaving plenty of time for other interests. 

Selena certainly ensures her day is full of activity. Besides hanging out at the beach with her friends, Selena also fronts her own radio program once a week, is an avid tennis player  (her coach says she could turn pro one day), coaches tennis to 6 year-olds and practices karate.

A reserved but highly motivated person, Selena gets frustrated if she can’t do something properly and will keep trying until she succeeds.  She is described as 'her own worst enemy' because she always puts herself under pressure
- this could be an issue in Longreach where she’ll be working with animals for the first time. Selena’s teachers believe that as a natural leader, she will become a senior member of the Outback 8. But first she must learn to ride a horse - an activity she has no experience with. Will she be able to learn while managing her self-imposed pressures and the group dynamics?

Maisie

Longreach would have to be one of the worst places you could send a bug hating, vegetarian, 'big city' girl like Maisie.

It's full of flies, juicy steaks and wide open spaces. How will a tough, East Londoner cope with the culture shock of the Outback? Born Annie-Mae, she decided the name was too boring and a one word name was in order: "Maisie" was born. Meeting Maisie is an interesting experience as she isn't afraid to speak her mind. The problem is her thoughts are often incredibly negative, yet she remains unapologetic for this. Maisie knows she whines, but she doesn't care. If she doesn't like something, she'll tell you. And if you don't like it, tough! How will a person with a knack for putting others offside fit into a culture that preaches teamwork and getting on with the job?

But don't be fooled by Maisie's tough exterior – delve deeper and you’ll learn she is a very sensitive person. Maisie gave up eating meat at a young age as she didn't want to eat animals - she loves all animals, especially horses. And it’s her love of animals that motivated her to coming out West, to learn to ride a horse and experience the unique wildlife Australia has to offer. Her biggest thrill will be to pregnancy test a cow and feel a small calf the size of a chocolate bar in the cow's uterus - "the coolest thing ever" despite being covered in manure. It's this side of Maisie's personality that will finally endear her to the group and break down her own tough exterior.

Tamara

The eldest of four, she often takes care of her younger siblings while her mum's at work. This includes cooking and cleaning for them, a big responsibility for someone so young. But if you ask Tamara, it's just a part of life.

Although Tamara's responsibilities are more than the average young teen would take on, it has made her incredibly close to her mum - they’re more like best friends than mother and daughter. Both are worried how they'll
deal with a month apart especially as Tamara shares a room with her two year-old sister.  Most kids would love the thought of leaving their sibling behind for a big adventure, but Tamara is more worried about how her sister
will cope without her. 

Tamara comes to Australia with an open mind.  She is most looking forward to learning to ride a horse, something she wouldn't have the opportunity to do back home. She'll also be able to hang out with kids her own age without the pressures of home life. 

Tamara's journey will be how she copes with the physical challenges of learning to ride a horse and care for livestock, while adjusting to a foreign climate and culture without the comfort of family.  To succeed, she'll need to muster all the hard work and determination she's already learned in life.

Jackaroo mentor Ingrid

Ingrid knows firsthand what it takes to make it out West having grown up on a property outside of Richmond, in Central Queensland.

She has been riding since the age of two, and at nine began the daily routine of rising at 6am every morning to muck out and feed horses.

She went on her first cattle muster before she finished primary school. In her teen years Ingrid began parttime work as a station hand, then enrolled at the Australian Agricultural College in Longreach. Her status at the College is legendary. She and her sister are known as the best two female riders to come through the advanced Equine Management Course.

They now both compete on the Camp Draft circuits and are rapidly becoming a force to be reckoned with. 

Ingrid says the kids will find it very challenging adapting to bush life, but don't go thinking she will provide a ready shoulder to cry on. Ingrid believes in ‘tough love’ and will become the drill sergeant of the Outback 8. Although she has empathy for the children, she knows the Outback is no place for the faint-hearted.

Working with livestock is a serious business and although immensely rewarding, must be treated with respect.

Jackaroo mentor Dave

Don't think a city kid can make the transition to the bush?

Look no further than Dave. He grew up on the Gold Coast hinterland and learned how to ride a surf board before he could ride a horse. Eventually he discovered his true love was riding horses and they took precedence in his life.  During his school years Dave was a gymnast and rugby player, but the bush kept calling. 

He started working on properties out West, mostly cattle musters, but would always find time to train his horses. Eventually he turned his passion into a business and now works his property specialising in breaking in and training horses. 

David also has a few extra strings to his bow. A trained journalist, he enjoys performing and is currently the lead role in the Australian Outback Spectacular.

Here he impresses audiences with his horse riding skills, his specialty being Roman riding (standing on the back of two horses as they run around the arena). At first Dave will appear to be the 'good cop' to Ingrid's 'bad cop' but  don't let his charm deceive you. He will become the main counsellor to Maisie and Doug as they progress through the month at Longreach and battle with their personal issues before the big muster.

The children will learn to respect both Dave and Ingrid not only as tough task masters but also as great mentors who have the children's best interests and safety at heart.