Freezing Britain motivates thousands of applications for 6 Oz dream jobs

No less than 70,000 UK young people stuck in the worst freeze since 1962 have applied for six dream jobs based in Australia.

The jobs include wildlife caretaker, park ranger, lifestyle photographer and a ‘chief funster’, whose position will include reviewing events and festivals in Sydney. The successful applicants will be given a six-month visa valid for the length of the job, plus a remuneration package of £67,000.

Each successful applicant will be a promotional ambassador for the state in which the job is located, according to the Australian Ministry of Tourism. Other jobs on offer are the Outback Adventurer, involving sleeping under the stars and hot air balloon flights, and the appointed Taste Master will check out Western Australia’s vineyards, pubs and eateries.

According to Tourism Australia’s London office, the response from the UK has been stunning, perhaps egged on by the appalling spring weather. After application is closed, 150 entrants will be selected and whittled down to 18 finalists who will face final interviews after a free flight to Australia.

The winners will be announced in June, with this year’s ‘Best Job in the World’ tourism initiative following on the highly successful 2009 search for a caretaker for an island off the Great Barrier Reef. The promotion itself is aimed at stimulating applications for Oz’s 12 month Working Holidaymaker visa for visitors aged between 18 and 30.