An Australian state is offering free travel and accommodation to holidaymakers willing to pick up one of the 10 very bizarre jobs it has to offer.
Tasmania, the island state off the southern coast of Australia’s mainland, has launched a quirky campaign to attract tourists and showcase what it can offer even during the winter in the Southern Hemisphere.
Targeting people who want to get off the “daily grind”, Tourism Tasmania launched the Odd Jobs initiative, created in collaboration with 10 tourism operators across the state.
The organisation is inviting people to apply for one of the volunteering roles, which range from oyster organiser to paranormal investigator, between June 17 and July 8.
Successful applicants will have their travel expenses covered to carry out their day-long Odd Job and will receive in turn produce or goods from their hosts alongside free travel and a place to stay overnight. The one catch is that the scheme is open only to Australian citizens.
Tourism Tasmania acting CEO, Vanessa Pinto, said these experiences are “fun, light-hearted opportunities that respond to issues of work-life balance and burnout that many Australians are feeling”.
She added: “The tongue-in-cheek initiative is exactly what Tasmania has become known for in campaigns, and we know it is effective because it creates conversations about the importance of taking a break this winter and building awareness that Tasmania’s Off Season is the perfect space to do that.”
Each of the jobs available allows the volunteers to explore less known and more bizarre aspects of the island state.
These unique experiences include becoming an “oyster organiser”, which involves “gathering, sorting and cleaning shellfish”, a “paranormal investigator” at Willow Court, Australia’s oldest continually run asylum, or a “wine whisperer”, a role for wine enthusiasts willing to taste wine and visit vineyards.
Other roles, such as the “wombat walker” one, target fans of animals, while those who choose to become “soaksmiths” will be required to create and mix bath soaks during day spent on a farm.Â