Wanted: Applicants for dream island job
BRISBANE – Tourism Queensland is searching the globe for candidates for what it describes as the “Best Job in the World” – an A$150,000 six-month contract for the role of Island Caretaker based on a Great Barrier Reef island.
Airfares and live-in accommodation on tropical Hamilton Island are included and applicants can come from anywhere in the world.
A broad range of experience will be considered and the
successful candidate must be willing to explore the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef, swim, snorkel, make friends with the locals and generally enjoy the tropical Queensland climate and lifestyle.
According to Tourism Queensland’s CEO Anthony Hayes, if the job sounded too good to be true, there was one catch.
“The successful applicant will need to live on Hamilton Island for six-months, travel amongst the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef and report back on their adventures to a global audience via
weekly blogs, photo diaries and video updates,” said Hayes.
“They’ll also have to talk to media from time to time about what they’re doing so they can’t be too shy and they’ll have to love the sea, the sun, the outdoors – which may of course not appeal
to everyone.”
Hayes said while the “Best Job in the World” might sound like an elaborate marketing and PR campaign it was in fact a genuine job.
“Yes, this is part of a unique Tourism Queensland strategy to promote the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef internationally, but candidates will have to go through a genuine recruitment process,” he said.
“They will need to submit an application, take part in interviews, meet Australian visa requirements and will have set duties.”
Hayes said the “Best Job in the World” campaign would kick off a three year, A$1.7 million global marketing strategy aimed at increasing the profile of Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef islands, which stretch from Bundaberg in the state’s south more than 2,600 to the Tropical North.
Applications are open until February 22, 2009.
Tourism Queensland and their representatives in international markets will select 10 candidates and visitors to www.islandreefjob.com will have the chance to select one Wild Card candidate.
The final 11 shortlisted candidates will be flown to Hamilton Island in early May for the final selection process and the six-month contract will commence on July 1 2009.
Potential applicants can apply on www.islandreefjob.com and visitors to the site can learn more about Australia’s unique islands of the Great Barrier Reef.
Ian Jarrett
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