Fooferfish

We are currently in New Zealand and have been for nearly 4 years, my wife has just finished uni and has seen a job which was written for her, its what she desires to work in, but !! the postitions are in Cape York, yeh right at the top of OZ, you get air conditioned house and flights paid and lots of extras, its working with Aboriginal and Torres strait people, has any of you been up that far ?? i hear there are about 10k people living up there, there is a small township there to, just want some thoughts on the place ??

wanderingwombat

Cape York generally suits people who enjoy isolation and small communities.
The wet season means you have to fly as the roads into the area are closed due to flooding.

It also depends on which community the job is based. Sounds like either Weipa or Thursday Island. Be aware some comunities on the Cape are 'dry' so having a quiet ale is out.

Living costs are significantly higher. The only major supermarket north of Mareeba is Woolworths at Weipa. Google map the distances to get an idea of how far it all is.

A lot of families leave the area at high school age for better education options south.

Job opportunities for yourself may be limited. Weipa has the Comalco aluminium mine. Elsewhere mainly Govt positions - health, education, social work, etc.

Certainly an eye opening adventure, especially if you like fishing.

WW

bjddavies

Do you have the name of the township?

Pollyana

....and cyclones

Fooferfish

Sory just says Cape York area, thought that would be the case of isolation, i would love to take the dive course here in Dunedin and then take people out on the Barrier , now that would be cool job, maybe better to look at Cairns ?

I run my own property maintenance business in NZ and thw ife wants to work with people who have committed or have been involved with domestic violence, not sure of our next move yet, back to Uk for Christmas and will make some decisions whilst there.

Thanks for replies.

Nige, Dunedin 05

JAJ

Before considering anything, do you have migration visas for Australia? Or are you all New Zealand citizens?

wanderingwombat

Port Douglas is the last of the tourist dive locations. There may be a small dive operator out of Cooktown which is further north.

The rest of the country is 4WD so I would expect not too many main stream tourists would make their way up there and want to go diving.

If you had to go up you would find work as there is a shortage of building trades (mainly because they can make a better living elsewhere).

Cairns would be a better option as most Govt services work out of there across the Cape.

Seek more information from the contact person as to what is involved. It may well be Cairns based.

WW