Tasmania has launched a tongue-in-cheek “gig” scheme to boost winter tourism.
The Australian island state offers people the chance to swap “mundane” jobs for unusual temporary roles during the off-season.
The 10 jobs advertised include paranormal investigators, wombat walkers and stargazers.
While the positions are unpaid, all costs for successful applicants – including travel, food and hotels – will be borne by Tourism Tasmania.
The role of Paranormal Investigator is voluntary and one day only, Tourism Tasmania explain.
It is open to those interested in “history and mystery” and involves using “the latest ghost hunting equipment” to learn about paranormal activity at Willow Court, one of Australia’s oldest mental hospitals.
Another role is that of an “oyster organizer” responsible for sorting, cleaning and sorting oysters freshly harvested from Great Oyster Bay.
Importantly, there will also be an opportunity to “tast” the oysters – although according to Tourism Tasmania this is “purely for quality control”.
Train enthusiasts are invited to apply for the Puffer Nut position, another one-day job where applicants will work with the crew of the Lynchford Express steam train, which travels along Tasmania’s west coast.
Stargazers interested in joining the Tasmanian Astronomical Society for an overnight sky observation are also being sought.
There are also jobs on offer for truffle hunters, “wine whisperers” and wombat walkers willing to take the marsupials for their “morning waddle”.
Tourism Tasmania said 1.25 million people visited the island last year, up from the previous year but still down from the 1.35 million people visited before the outbreak in 2019.
Tourism Tasmania says Tasmania’s winter lasts from May to August, with temperatures typically ranging from 3 to 11 degrees Celsius.
Lindene Cleary, the agency’s chief marketing officer, told local media: “As winter temperatures drop, we know Australians are looking to boost their well-being and take a break from the daily grind.”
Only adult residents currently living in Australia are eligible to apply for these positions, and must explain in 50 words or less why they want to swap their day job for one of the “gig jobs”.
