More Than 200 Antarctic Contracts Are Open for 2027/28, Including Roles for Tradespeople and Chefs

The Australian Antarctic Program opened its annual recruitment campaign on 1 October 2026, with more than 200 new contracts for the 2027/28 season that run from six months to more than 12 months. The work is for electricians, carpenters, mechanics, plumbers and chefs, plus specialists in science, aviation, voyage and field leadership and telecommunications, and candidates need trade qualifications, several years' experience and Australian citizenship. For Metaintro readers who work with their hands, the value is in the detail behind that headline, in what each trade role pays on the ice, which licences the postings ask for, how long the selection takes and when you would actually leave. Here is what the program's own job pages show.

What Opened on 1 October, and How Many Contracts Are There?

The campaign is run by the Australian Antarctic Division, which is based in Kingston, Tasmania, and sits inside the federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. The division's launch release offers more than 200 new contracts for the 2027/28 season, with lengths from six months to more than 12 months.

Successful applicants will help run the three research stations at Davis, Mawson and Casey and the summer ice runway at Wilkins. Australia also keeps a station on sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island, and each station operates like a small town with station leaders, tradespeople, scientists, doctors, chefs and communications experts.

Some roles will not open for applications this year, as vacancies may be filled from the current merit pool. Plenty of tradies are needed to deliver research station improvements, as Australian Associated Press put it in its launch coverage.

Which Roles Can You Apply For This Season?

The jobs portal shows 28 different roles in Antarctica currently open for applications, plus one current vacancy for a role within Australia. The page sorts the open roles into five groups:

• Trades and infrastructure. Aerodrome plant operator, aircraft ground support officer and senior aircraft ground support officer, Antarctic refueller and refuelling supervisor, boilermaker or welder, carpenter, chef and senior chef, electrician, fitter and turner, mechanic and senior mechanic, HVAC balancing technician, plant operator and mobile crane operator, plumber, refrigeration mechanic, station mechanical supervisor and station trades supervisor are all open in the trades group.
• Technical and specialist. Antarctic medical practitioner, a Bureau of Meteorology technical officer and two telecommunications officer roles, for networks and for radio, are open in the technical group.
• Operations, logistics and field. Field training officer, operations coordinator, station logistics officer, station safety advisor and watercraft operator are open in the operations group.
• Science. The electronics engineer role is the open role in the science group.
• Leadership. The voyage leader and deputy voyage leader roles, and the deputy and winter aerodrome manager roles at Wilkins, are open in the leadership group.

Bureau of Meteorology technical officer Nelson Clegg, who was posted at Davis station when he spoke to Australian Associated Press, is responsible for maintaining weather instruments and the daily release of weather balloons, as well as making aviation observations.

Several roles show as not open this year on the current jobs page, including station leader, field leader, camp manager, information technology officer and communications operator. Some roles are only advertised every few years and may recruit from existing merit pools in between.

Each station has a qualified medical practitioner, and the program does not employ nurses, paramedics, psychologists or other allied health professionals.

It’s isolated, the conditions are challenging, and there’s always work to be done, Casey Station Leader Justine Thompson said, according to the Australian Antarctic Division release.

What Do the Trade Roles Pay in Australia and in Antarctica?

For an electrician, the posting gives an annual base salary when in Australia starts from $89,076, and base salary plus allowances when in Antarctica starts from $162,012. The plumber posting shows the same $89,076 and $162,012 starting figures, and so does the carpenter posting.

A senior chef starts from $95,857 in Australia and from $168,793 with allowances in Antarctica, and the senior mechanic posting lists the same $95,857 and $168,793 starting points.

An Antarctic medical practitioner's base salary in Australia starts from $163,249 to $238,072, and base salary plus allowances in Antarctica starts from $236,185 to $311,008. That recruitment is for the 2028-29 season.

On top of salary, the electrician, plumber, carpenter, mechanic and chef postings each list an employer superannuation contribution of up to 15.4%. Recreation leave accrues at the equivalent of 20 days per annum pro rata, and leave is not available in Antarctica but is paid out on return to Australia.

The program also generally covers airfares to and from Hobart, accommodation in Hobart and transport of your personal cargo south to your station and back home. Winter expeditioners can send up to 250 kg of personal goods, and summer expeditioners up to 50 kg, which may vary depending on airline.

What Do Electricians, Plumbers, Carpenters, Mechanics and Chefs Need to Apply?

Each posting lists essential skills and licences you must have, with copies provided in your application, plus desirable skills. The core trade requirements are below.

Electrician. You need a current, unrestricted Electrical Worker's Licence that qualifies you to undertake electrical work in Australia, a current unrestricted C class manual Australian driver's licence, and broad general experience in the electrical trade with at least 3 years post trade. The work covers electrical reticulation, refrigeration plant, building monitoring control and fire alarm systems, plus complex plant which may include diesel and/or wind power generation equipment, reverse osmosis units, and wastewater treatment plants. Experience with PLCs, BMCS and SCADA systems is highly desirable, not essential. If you are still weighing the trade itself, what an electrician does covers the day-to-day work.

Plumber. The posting asks for a trade certificate or apprenticeship in plumbing or mechanical services with current registration or licensing to conduct work in Australia, the same driver's licence, and a minimum of 3 years post trade experience in the industry. Desirable skills include pump systems, sewage treatment plants, medical gas systems, oil-fired boilers and reverse osmosis potable water production.

Carpenter. You need a suitable Certificate III trade certificate as a Carpenter or Carpenter/Joiner, the driver's licence, and recent hands-on experience within the last 3 years in concrete technology, footings and foundations, structural steel erection techniques, site set-out techniques, current building practices and the Building Code of Australia, broad general experience within the construction industry and maintenance practices. Before starting you also need a White Card (issued after May 2009) and the Remove Non-Friable Asbestos unit, CPCCDE3014A or CPCCDE3028.

Mechanic. The posting asks for a Certificate III MEM or AUR qualification or recognised equivalent such as motor mechanic, diesel mechanic, plant mechanic, fitter and turner, or auto electrician, a forklift high risk licence, the driver's licence, and recent hands-on experience within the last 5 years in diesel engine maintenance, diagnostics, repair, and overhaul, and in maintenance and repair of heavy plant, including tracked, wheeled and stationary equipment. Mechanics are employed at Casey, Davis and Mawson and are primarily engaged for 12 month winter roles.

Chef. You need to have successfully completed a recognized chef apprenticeship or equivalent trade qualification, with supporting documentation, the driver's licence, and hands-on experience at least 5 years' post apprenticeship. Bread making, patisserie, menu planning and catering for a range of dietary needs are listed as desirable on the chef posting.

The electrician posting also requires, before you start, a passport valid at least 6 months beyond the planned end date of your stay, First Aid and Basic Emergency Life Support certificates valid at least 18 months beyond commencement, a CPR certificate valid at least 6 months beyond commencement, and a White Card (issued after May 2009) or the ability to attain one. The steps in how to become a licensed electrician follow the US state licensing route, while this posting asks for a licence that qualifies you to undertake electrical work in Australia.

Who Is Eligible, and Can You Apply From Overseas?

Under the Public Service Act 1999, Australian Public Service employees are required to be Australian citizens, and non-citizens will generally only be considered where there are no suitable Australian applicants, with Australian residents with work rights and New Zealand citizens considered next.

The telecommunications officer roles for networks and radio, along with two other communications and IT roles, require a security clearance which is only available to Australian citizens.

Australian citizens living abroad are welcome to apply, but travel to Australia for screening steps is at your own expense. A medical assessment done overseas can carry upfront costs of up to $2000, and you will be eligible for a reimbursement.

There is no age restriction for expeditioner roles, but every applicant must pass a comprehensive medical assessment.

The division encourages applications from everyone, especially people from under-represented groups such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, gender-diverse people, LGBTQIA+ communities and those of different cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Gina Woodward, head of expeditioner recruitment and support, told Australian Associated Press there was no quota for female representation and that it was about getting the right mix of people and the skill sets needed.

If you receive payments from the Services Australia agency, the program strongly recommends contacting Services Australia directly to understand how a deployment may affect your entitlements, and it lists the Child Care Subsidy and Family Tax Benefit among payments that may be affected. To keep a payment or concession card while outside Australia, you must continue to meet the qualification rules at all times.

Being an Australian Antarctic Program expeditioner can profoundly change your life for the better, but with it comes a huge responsibility, Gina Woodward, the division’s Director of Expeditioner Recruitment and Support, said, according to the 2027/28 campaign release.

How Long Does Selection Take, and When Would You Leave?

The selection can take up to 9 months to complete, and it includes a written application, a medical checklist, a technical interview, a personal qualities assessment centre, and medical and psychological assessments. The online form generally takes between 45 and 90 minutes.

The recruitment timeline page sets out these steps for the 2027/28 program:

• Written applications in October 2026, then shortlisting from October to December 2026.
• Medical checklists from November 2026 to January 2027.
• Technical interviews in January to February 2027, and assessment centres in April to May 2027.
• Reference checks from February to June 2027, with medical, psychological and police checks running from December 2026 to October 2027.
• Contracts commence in June 2027.

The assessment centres are 24-hour in-person sessions, generally held in a couple of locations around Australia, and transport is arranged for candidates who need it. They test qualities such as team work, emotional intelligence, community mindedness and flexibility. Applicants were put in small group activity scenarios and asked to discuss how they might respond, Australian Antarctic Division organisational psychologist Maree Riley told ABC News in 2021.

Employment includes mandatory pre-departure training in Hobart of two to twelve weeks, depending on your role and experience. Summer expeditioners usually start in September or October and are employed for between four and six months. Winter staff for Casey or Davis can expect to depart Hobart in October or November and return about twelve months later, while Mawson and Macquarie Island staff generally depart in March or April.

Emails generally come from the recruitment provider, Hays, so check your spam or junk folder. Applications will not be accepted via email, only through the Apply Now button on each posting.

What Is the Work Week and Station Life Actually Like?

Expeditioners typically work Monday to Friday and up to 4 hours on Saturday morning, and may be required to work reasonable additional hours for callouts, powerhouse issues, resupply, fuel transfers and emergencies. An allowance is paid in lieu of overtime, alongside a Common Duties Allowance and an Antarctic Allowance.

Beyond your trade, every expeditioner is rostered for community duties such as kitchen work, garbage clearance and cleaning, and may be asked to clear snow or handle cargo.

You may need to work outside in conditions as low as minus 45 degrees Celsius. Access to the stations is only possible from October to March, and it is not possible to return to Australia during the winter months.

Off shift, each station has a library and theatrette, and recreational equipment includes a gym, spa and sauna, and on station you generally get your own bedroom with shared bathroom facilities.

How Is This Season Different From Last Year's Campaign?

Last year's campaign for the 2026/27 season opened on 14 October 2025 and closed on Sunday 16th November at 11.30pm, with contracts from four months to 12+ months. This year's round opened on 1 October 2026, with contracts ranging from six months to more than 12 months. The postings close on Sunday 01 November, 11:30 PM AEDT, while the launch release gives a close of 31 October.

The new timeline has contracts commencing in June 2027.

Last year the program had to sift through 6200 applications, and Gina Woodward called it certainly a competitive space in the same Australian Associated Press story.

What This Means for Job Seekers, and What Should You Do Next?

For a qualified tradesperson, the program's postings show the pay, the licences and the timeline before you apply. The postings show a rise from the Australian base to the on-ice package, for example from $89,076 to $162,012 for a carpenter. The trade-off is a selection process that can take up to 9 months, a deployment from which it is not possible to return to Australia during the winter months, and community duties on top of your trade.

Watch the deadline closely. The launch release gives a close of 31 October, while each posting shows a close on Sunday 01 November at 11:30 PM AEDT. Aim to submit by the 31 October date in the release so the gap never decides it for you.

Here is what we would do:

• Pick your posting and read the job description. Each role page links its own job description, and the essential licences must be attached with your application.
• Check your pathway. Returning expeditioners, merit pool candidates and new applicants apply in different ways, so use the program's pathway checker first.
• Gather your documents now. Licences, qualifications and a current CV must be ready to attach before you click Apply Now, as each posting explains.
• Clear your diary for screening. The medical and psychological checks run from December 2026 to October 2027, and missing or delaying appointments can significantly slow your progress.
• Treat a merit pool place as a win. Candidates who pass selection but are not offered a role may be placed in a merit pool, which makes them eligible for consideration for the following two operating seasons for the same role.

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People Also Asked

Q: How much do tradespeople earn working in Antarctica for Australia?

A: Trade roles such as electrician start from a base salary of $89,076 in Australia and from $162,012 with allowances in Antarctica, plus employer superannuation of up to 15.4%.

Q: When do applications close for the 2027/28 Australian Antarctic season?

A: Each role posting shows applications closing on Sunday 01 November, 11:30 PM AEDT, while the launch release gives a close of 31 October, so submitting by 31 October is the safe choice.

Q: Do you need to be an Australian citizen to work in Antarctica?

A: Generally yes, because Australian Public Service employees are required to be Australian citizens, and others will generally only be considered where there are no suitable Australian applicants, with residents holding work rights and New Zealand citizens next in line.

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