HOBART: How would you like to ditch your job for a day to walk an adorable wombat or perform a sound check inside a cave?
These are just some of the “odd jobs” currently being offered by the Australian state of Tasmania as part of a tourism campaign to attract domestic visitors during the off-season months.
Billed as the “antithesis of the daily grind”, these experiences invite those who are looking for a break from their busy lives.
One such opportunity comes from East Coast Natureworld: It is offering a one-day volunteer experience to help “maintain the physical and mental well-being” of its wombats by leading them on their morning excursion.
Highlights of the job include taking the wombats on their daily walk and keeping them motivated with encouragement and snacks.
“These walks are essential to keeping (the wombats) happy and healthy during the winter months,” the job listing said.
Those who are not too keen on walking wombats can choose from a variety of other jobs available.
Night owls can opt to apply as a “star seeker” in the locality of Hollow Tree, where they will learn to navigate the stars and assist experts in celestial observations.
The musically inclined may want to apply as “cave conductor”, where they will conduct a sound check to test the acoustics at Gunns Plains Caves and help a local musician warm up for a performance.
For those feeling more adventurous, there is also a listing for a paranormal investigator at Australia’s oldest continually run asylum, Willow Court.
The job includes learning the history of the asylum and capturing and documenting “disturbances, spectral figures or unexplained phenomena”.
While these jobs are unpaid, successful applicants will get free flights to Tasmania, car hire, two nights’ accommodation and A$500 (S$450) worth of local produce and memorabilia for their labour.
Applications are open until July 8, and only for Australian citizens or permanent residents who are aged at least 18 years old and currently residing in the country.
Applicants are also required to state in up to 50 words why they would like to swop their day job for an odd job in Tasmania for the winter.
In a press release, Tourism Tasmania chief marketing officer Lindene Cleary called the odd jobs campaign a “unique proposition”.
“More and more, we’re all looking for remedies through experiences that make life feel simpler and less stressful,” she said, citing activities such as watching “cottagecore” videos of people gardening and building cabins in the woods.
Dr Amantha Imber, an organisational psychologist and workplace expert, said: “Burnout and exhaustion are at very high levels in Australia.
“One of the best ways to combat this is to take a break – of even just a few days – from the daily grind,” she said. - The Straits Times/ANN
