Australia offers 'Best Job in the World'

[John Yaskowich]

Australia offers 'Best Job in the World'

Chance to explore Hamilton island, earn $100,000

SYDNEY, Australia - Position: Island caretaker, duties: lazing around Australia's Great Barrier Reef for six months, salary: US$100,000.
Unemployed, take heart - the aforementioned job ad is for real.
Billing it the "Best Job in the World," the tourism department in Australia's Queensland state said Tuesday it was seeking one lucky person to spend half a year relaxing on Hamilton Island while promoting the area on a blog.
The move is part of a campaign to boost tourism in the state.
Besides the plush salary, the job comes with free accommodation in an oceanfront villa and airfare from the winner's home country.
In exchange, the "employee" will be required to stroll the island's white sand beaches, snorkel, maybe take a dip in the pool - and post photos and videos of his or her experiences on a weekly blog.
"It'll be huge," Tourism Whitsundays chief executive Peter O'Reilly said, adding he expected thousands will apply.
Applications are open until Feb. 22 and 11 finalists will be flown to Hamilton Island in May for the final selection process. The job begins on July 1.

CANOE -- CNEWS - Weird News: Australia offers 'Best Job in the World'

AFP: Australia offers 'best job in world' on paradise island

The application is at http://www.islandreefjob.com/en/

If anyone from this forum gets the job, I want a "finder's fee" of a couple of weeks with you in Aus!

[DMWiz]

The sign up site seems to be down... This sound really good, but it would be hard to leave after 6 short months =)

[USF_Diver]

I want that job.

[Lulubelle]

MINE! Sorry John, one of my gal pals sent it to me this morning!

[PlatypusMan]

Originally Posted by John Yaskowich

Australia offers 'Best Job in the World'

Chance to explore Hamilton island, earn $100,000

This is viral marketing at its best. Everyone even tangentially interested will study up on OZ as part of the application process, and that will translate into more folks actually going there for vacation. What are they estimating: as many as several thousand applications?

The tourist money/traffic generated will more than pay the $100,000USD and related expenses--even if no one is ever actually chosen for this, and they just get some local to post pre-written blog entries at regular intervals to give the piece verisimilitude.

PPM

[John Yaskowich]

Originally Posted by PlatypusMan

This is viral marketing at its best. Everyone even tangentially interested will study up on OZ as part of the application process, and that will translate into more folks actually going there for vacation. What are they estimating: as many as several thousand applications?

The tourist money/traffic generated will more than pay the $100,000USD and related expenses--even if no one is ever actually chosen for this, and they just get some local to post pre-written blog entries at regular intervals to give the piece verisimilitude.

PPM

Does this mean you are not applying? Ok, one less person in competition for MY job. Mine! Mine! MINE I tell you!

[ScubaJenn81]

I know this is true, but something about it just does not sound right to me.

[kjvander]

who ever came up with this is an advertising genious.....they don't have to do any advertising for the job....just leak it to a few places and the story spreads like wild fire....and then as far as they are concerned the hype that is created by the whole thing will get people interested in looking at it for a possible destination....now if people just had money to get there...

[hychang]

I saw this story yesterday at the gym on CNN: Life's a beach with dream Australian island job - CNN.com.

I'm not sure my wife would be thrilled with me gone for six months leaving her with the kids. No worries, not likely to win it anyway!

[ektess1]

They don't say anything about a compressor on site. Snorkel is nice, but I need my tanks.
God, what a way to spend 6 months. They would have to kidnap me to leave the island.