Australians Needed To Fill 180 Jobs On Antarctica

Because 2020 has been one hell of a year, you wouldn't be alone in wanting to sack everything and everyone off and get away from it all.

If you're in that mood then one of the coolest (literally) opportunities has popped up.

There are nearly 200 jobs on offer in Antarctica and they could be the perfect excuse to pack everything up for a little expedition. The Australian Antarctic Division is looking for skilled workers to plug around 180 positions for 18 months that require a bunch of different tasks.

Australian Antarctic Division HR Manager Maree Riley told Sunrise: "We're looking for mechanics, plant operators, carpenters, electricians and plumbers as well as broader station support roles such as chefs, communication specialists and station leaders.

"The salaries on offer really do differ according to the position somebody is taking up, but the main range is about $60,000 to $100,000."

The majority of jobs will be stationed at Mawson Point Station, which will be vital to keeping the research location running during the 2021-22 season.

The benefits include free rent and meals that are cooked by chefs and obviously the negatives would be being stuck on an icy continent that receives virtually no or all the sunlight depending on when you visit. But what an experience.

Riley explains that the process to pick the person for the job is pretty intense because they want to make sure the chosen employee won't hightail it out of there when the going gets tough.

"We need to ensure they have the technical skillset to do the job that they'll be doing in Antarctica," Riley said.

"We also need to make sure that they are medically fit, psychologically fit and have the personal qualities that we require of somebody living in a small, isolated and remote community."

Another massive benefit of the experience is that the whole continent is free from the coronavirus, so there's no issues with social distancing or mask wearing (unless your job requires it).

You'll also get $60,974 each year paid on top of your base wage while working in Antarctica - which isn't too shabby at all.

Featured Image Credit: Australian Antarctic Division

Topics: News, Australia

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

@stewartperrie