Jobs on ice

23 January 2015 This article is over 9 years old

Jobs in Antarctica 2015

Video transcript

[music]

[male voice] The thrill of a lifetime!

If you can get down here, just get it because it’s so good — you’re going to love it.

[male voice] People are attracted to work here because of the environment. You know, it’s the allure of Antarctica. It may be on some people’s bucket lists. And it’s a unique working environment that not most Australians have the opportunity to do.

[male voice] It pays well, you get to work with a lot of other professionals that are very experienced. You get to know a lot of skills off them. The conditions are very good down here. You get to live in nice, comfortable accommodation.

[female voice] Obviously it can be hard work at times but everybody knows that in a sense that’s what we’re here for and it’s satisfying to get a job done. We’re really lucky that we do have good recreational opportunities. An effort is made to help us get out and about and you know, see Antarctica.

[female voice] It’s surreal. Its quietness. Its beauty. But it’s also exciting to be picked to be down here. I feel extremely lucky. The feeling of the place is immense.

[end transcript]

The employment adventure of a lifetime could be yours with the Australian Antarctic Division now recruiting a new team of expeditioners for a stint on the ice.

With more than a hundred jobs on offer for the 2015/16 season, the Division is looking for skilled men and women in a range of trades and professions to be part of Australia’s Antarctic program.

Acting Director, Dr Rob Wooding, said this opportunity is not just about a job but the chance to be part of an amazing adventure that many Australians dream about.

“Whether the position is for six months over summer or up to 15 months over winter, it really is a unique and exciting experience to live and work in Antarctica,” Dr Wooding said.

“There’s not many workplaces where you’ll see penguins and seals on your commute, or where you have to adjust your schedule to avoid a blizzard. In some ways the work is very similar to a normal job in Australia, but at the same time you’re in one of the most remote, inaccessible parts of the world experiencing something only a handful of people ever will.”

There are jobs available for qualified tradespeople, builders, carpenters, electricians, plumbers, mechanics, plant operators, electronics engineers, aircraft ground support officers, aerodrome grader and plant operators, field training officers, station supply officers, communications technicians, chefs and doctors.

“With such a diverse group of people on station, the sense of community is a highlight for many expeditioners. While it can be challenging to be away from family and friends for an extended period, social occasions and field trips into the Antarctic wilderness keep morale high.

“We offer extensive pre-departure training to prepare you for living and working in an extreme environment and you will be entitled to Antarctic allowances while working at any of our stations. In addition, your accommodation, food and cold weather clothing is all provided while you’re away.

“Apply now to work in one of the planet’s most remote regions and experience an environment like no other,” Dr Wooding said.

Australia manages four stations — Casey, Davis and Mawson on the Antarctic continent and Macquarie Island in the sub-Antarctic.

This content was last updated 10 years ago on 23 January 2015.