Australian Government – Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Australian Antarctic Division | Australian Antarctic Program
Antarctica – valued, protected and understood

Boilermaker / Welder

Assist in the construction, cladding and fit out of new buildings, existing infrastructure maintenance and operate metal working machinery.

Infrastructure roles
  • The annual base salary when in Australia starts from $89,076 per annum.
  • Base salary + additional allowances when in Antarctica starts from $162,012 per annum.
  • A generous employer superannuation contribution of up to 15.4% will be paid in addition to salary and allowances.
  • You will accrue recreation leave at the equivalent of 20 days per annum pro rata. Please note that recreation leave is not available in Antarctica but will be paid out on return to Australia.

As a Boilermaker/Welder, you will maintain station infrastructure, support the construction of new facilities, and carry out scheduled maintenance on existing buildings and site services. Your role will also involve performing repairs on mobile plant and equipment both in the field and on station.

Boilermaker/Welders work in either summer or winter jobs, and shorter winters may also be an option. Boilermaker/Welders work at all three Antarctic stations (Davis, Casey and Mawson Stations) as well as Macquarie Island. Deployment to Antarctica is normally proceeded by two months of predeparture training for Winter and one month for Summer.

What we are looking for

Essential

To apply for this role, you must have the skills and licences listed below:

Qualifications/licences

Provide copy with application:
  • Trade Certificate – A suitable trade certificate, technical certificate, apprenticeship or recognised equivalent as Boilermaker/Welder.
  • Driver’s licence – A current, unrestricted “C” class (manual) Australian driver’s licence.
  • Citizenship – In accordance with the PS Act 1999, APS employees are required to be Australian citizens. Persons who are not Australian citizens will generally only be considered where there are no suitable Australian applicants, with next considerations being Australian residents with work rights and New Zealand citizens.
Obtain prior to commencement:
  • White Card (issued after May 2009)
  • Valid Passport – The expiry date of the passport (and any relevant visa) must be at least 6 months beyond the planned end date of your intended stay in the Antarctic or sub-Antarctic.
  • Provide First Aid (HLTAID0011) must be valid for at least 18 months beyond the date of commencement
  • Provide Basic Emergency Life Support (HLTAID010) must be valid for at least 18 months beyond the date of commencement.
  • Provide CPR (HLTAID009) must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of commencement.

Knowledge and experience

Recent hands-on experience (within the last 5 years):
  • Metal fabrication and repairs involving a wide range of materials varying from low temperature carbon steel to stainless steel, incorporating the appropriate best work practices and procedures.
  • MIG, TIG, aluminium, stainless steel and hardox welding.
  • Experience in the building construction industry.
  • Structural steel erection techniques.
  • Demonstrated experience across a broad range of fabrication, welding and maintenance activities, including the ability to diagnose problems, identify solutions and work independently with limited supervision.

Desirable

These are not essential to the role however to be suitable you will need to have at least some of these. We encourage you to apply even if you do not fit 100% of the requirements.

Knowledge and Experience

Qualifications/licences

Provide copies in your application:

  • Dogging
  • Rigging
  • Scaffolding
  • High-Risk Work Licence
Hands-on experience (within the last 5 years):
  • Dogging and rigging
  • Scaffold erection
  • Operation of heavy plant and equipment
  • General construction/building work
  • Inventory and stock taking

Additional

Should your application be successful, it is useful to have some understanding of any additional licences you have. Qualifications/licences (provide copies in your application):

  • Working Safely at Heights
  • Confined space
  • Remove non-friable ‘B’ class asbestos
  • Supervise asbestos removal
  • Forklift
  • Elevated work platform
  • Operation of a crane
  • Telescopic materials handler
  • Loader
  • Excavator
  • Skid steer loader (Bobcat)
  • Skidder

Contact

For general enquiries, please email the Hays Expeditioner Recruitment Team at antarctica@hays.com.au.

For job specific (technical or trade related) enquiries, or to discuss the role in more detail, please contact Hays at antarctica@hays.com.au.

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