Australia offers 'best jobs in the world'

Australia's tourism industry Tuesday resurrected its hugely popular "Best Jobs in the World" campaign, offering a chance to become a "Chief Funster", "Taste Master" or "Outback Adventurer".

The marketing push is targeting the youth segment, which contributes Aus$12 billion (US$12.2 billion) annually in tourism spending and delivers nearly 1.6 million, or 26 percent, of Australia's international arrivals.

It follows a similar campaign in 2009, won by Briton Ben Southall, who was paid to become caretaker on a picture-perfect island on the Great Barrier Reef for six months and which attracted huge interest.

This time six "best" jobs are on offer -- each in a different Australian states and each coming with a six-month salary package worth Aus$100,000.

It is open to travellers aged between 18 and 30, with particular focus on international markets eligible for Australian working holiday visas including Britain, the United States, France, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan.

Tourism Australia managing director Andrew McEvoy said the competition was expected to appeal to youth travellers' sense of fun and adventure.

"The competition provides an excellent platform to entice more young people from around the world to come to Australia to holiday, but also to work, helping to fill many unfilled tourism jobs across Australia," he said.

The chief funster position is New South Wales-based and involves becoming a Sydney VIP, attending and reviewing festivals and events and tweeting thoughts.

The taste master in Western Australia will tour top restaurants, wineries, breweries and pubs while the outback adventurer will be tasked with uncovering the best experiences for Northern Territory working holidaymakers.

Other jobs include a park ranger in Queensland, a lifestyle photographer in Victoria and wildlife caretaker in South Australia, moving around by foot, kayak, bicycle, and boat.

Southall, who won in 2009, said the experience was life-changing.

"I didn't know if I was going to be diving, or skydiving or cooking or bushwalking -- and I did all of them," he said.

"It's one of those things where you've just got to go for it and see where it leads you."