My GBR environmental (green) agenda

THE MAIN MESSAGE OF MY VIDEO IS BEYOND THE MARKETING STRATEGY for the Great Barrier Reef. It is more focused on how to sustain this world heritage site as a marine protected area. Marine tourism is one of the biggest economic boosts not only for Australia but for other countries like my home country, the Philippines. Having 7,107 islands, the Philippines has a significant portion of the population that solely dependent to eco and marine tourism considering that majority of these islands have beautiful coastlines and beaches where locals and tourists could enjoy the sun, corals and sand.

On the contrary, like Australia or Queensland in particular, tourism is a threat to the social, ecological and cultural dimensions of the region. In other words, there are environmental challenges and issues that need to be addressed in GBR both for the short and long term periods.

One of the members of Island caretaker Ning's community website asked me some basic questions on relation to environmental management of GBR as part of my application - being the first Filipino Island Caretaker of this world heritage site.

Many people are interested in visiting Queensland because of this promotion. What do you think about the effects of mass fly-in tourism on the environment?

Generally, it will entails additional routes/schedules both land, sea and air going to the region which somehow leads to the increase of traffic and additional usage of aircrafts, at the same time more land travel both cars and trains, including commercial/domestic vessels. With this increase in the various modes of transport going in and out of the region, more pollution will be created on air, water and land.

Specifically, there are short and long-term direct impacts of recreational and marine tourism on the environment. Some of these effects will manifest immediately and some of them will be compounded through time if these problems will not be addressed accordingly.

With this global job search for GBR, it is expected that more visitors will travel to the region which could bring additional ecological, social and cultural impacts. These impacts are explicitly identified in the CRC Reef Research Centre's 2003 report.

What do you think are the unique environmental challenges faced by the Great Barrier Reef?

Mainly, these challenges are mostly directed to activities created by tourists and business operators such as follows: (a) water based activities (diving, snorkeling, fishing); (b) marine life interaction (watching of whales, turtles, seabirds, fish feeding); (c) ship/boat related activities (anchoring, mooring, fishing, racing); and waste generation (liquid and solid wastes from the above activities).

This is "not" really unique to GBR, but also happening to other islands around the world, like in my home country the Philippines which has 7,107 islands. Unlike GBR, the Philippines is experiencing more degradation of marine life because of illegal fishing through using explosives and large-scale commercial fishing.

If you win the position, how would you like to showcase the message of environmental protection?

A six-month contract is not enough to focus on these environmental issues and challenges that this marine eco-system is facing. But in my own little way and initiative, taking advantage of my position as the island caretaker, I will do my best to identify short term strategies to mitigate these impacts for QT to implement towards proper long term management of this heritage site.

In addition, hopefully maintaining a blog and media exposure will increase the awareness of people on practical and simple things to save these corals and other marine life in GBR. Regular consultations with the local people, operators and tourists will be a strategy to bring out the importance of environmental protection.

What I am really envisioned during my employment, aside from doing my regular responsibilities, I will do a massive campaign on solid waste management. Brochures and flyers will be distributed to all business establishment operators and the like, which are readily accessible to visitors and guests. These materials highlight relevant information on basic tips on enjoyable stay without a significant "footprint" on GBR. Finally, this information dissemination campaign could also cover DO'S and DON’TS while visiting the world heritage site in terms of restrictions on bringing-out marine specimen as souvenirs and promoting codes-of-practice in snorkeling, fishing and diving.

What do you think? Am I qualified to do the job?

Well, my environmental slogan for the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is Go...Ban...Rubbish

Click the image for one of the useful links for Marine Debris.

My friendly island caretaker hopefulls

I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU TWO OF MY NEW ONLINE BUDDIES IN THE ISLAND CARETAKER SITE powered by Ning. One of them is SusieParish who created and organised the site for us candidates have the opportunity to meet online and share our dreams to become the caretaker of one of the islands in GBR.

The site becomes influential in spreading QT's quest to get the best applicant worldwide and personally, it is my source of information on the search updates and of course to find who is/are my rival/s for the position. Susie's initiative is becoming a part of the growing links for this job search.

The other person whom I would like to introduce here is Zellie (Jennifer) and frankly I found her jolly and energetic as her video application showed this personality. I also watched her bloopers - trying to perfect her video application to meet QT's requirements.

So here they are, watching their videos will tell you why I like them - vote for them as well. If you want them to be recognised by others and be in top board of the competition, dont forget to click the links below to vote! Good luck girls...

SusieParish Video Application

Zellie Video Application

NOTE: Their personal blogs are featured here as well, located at the

right side column of the blog page.Both of them from United States of America.

My little cutie competitors

THIS VIDEO APPLICATION for the best job in the world was posted in our Island Caretaker community site and of course I was curious to find out who were these cutie girls who got the charisma on camera. I think you have to decide if these girls are potential asset to GBR's quest...well their father is the applicant. I like it and it is indeed a family affair for the best job in the world!

What is your thought having them in the island - helping their father feed the fish and clean the pool? C'mon, vote for them... oh no, what I mean for their DAD!

My aim - to be the top best applicant

AFTER A WEEK MY VIDEO WAS OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED ONLINE, Im monitoring my status every day - trying to find out how many people watched and voted for my video. Asking my friends here (UK) and abroad (especially in the Philippines), once in a while my application is getting to the top board as one of the top UK competitors.

Honestly, Im thinking to submit another application and use Philippines as the country of origin, instead of UK due to the following reasons - Filipinos are curious with other Filipinos especially for this international competition! In this way, I could get more "hits" and votes from them. Secondly, only few people really knows where's Co Antrim (which is in Northern Ireland) and quite difficult to justify why I did not use Philippines in the application.

So if you want to check if I achieve my aim, then click the links below and if you havent voted yet, then this is the time to give me stars!

UK Most Popular Applicants

Most Popular Applicants

This is the link if you want to find out who is leading application from the Philippines...

Philippine Most Popular

This is an exciting experience to me and I received alot of good comments regarding my application. My application also able to find my friends around the world that I did not have contacts/communications for years. So, it is a way to reconnect with close friends!

My Wish - If I could have this job

I AM VERY DESPERATE to change my work environment at the moment. I started this research work 3 years ago and Im struggling to finish it. No regrets of doing it but as time passes by, my focus and determination to complete is totally diminishing which worries me. Anyway, as early as of this new year, Im now in the process of looking for possible job opportunity, hoping that at the later of the year, I will get the "best job in the world" offered by the Queensland Tourism as the "island caretaker" of the Great Barrier Reef GBR), Queensland, Australia.

The location is not new to me since I lived in Brisbane for 2 years but I did not able to visit the Reef but maybe this time, I will be able to visit GBR because of this best job posted online which also catch the imaginations of the people around the globe.

What is this global job search?

I found the online ad thru Yahoo!news on the 12th January - when Queensland Tourism (QT) announced the new position - island caretaker of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). The online application started on the 10th January and will end on the 22nd of February. Everybody is invited to apply as long as you have the following qualifications.

What are these qualifications?

Well QT emphasized that there is no definitive educational and experience requirements, thus a broad range of experience will be accepted. However, the successful candidate should possess: good swimming skills, enthusiasm for diving and snorkeling, good written and verbal English skills, excellent interpersonal communication skills and engage with other people5, with adventurous attitudes to try new things,and the passion for the outdoors.

Since I have this qualification, without any hesitation I submitted/uploaded a 60-seconds video in English which highlights why I do want the job and how I could help QT achieve their goals in promoting this heritage site globally. As part of the submission, I have to fill-up a brief application form which will be forwarded thru the official website: http://www.islandreefjob.com/.

It took me two weeks to finally recorded and edited my video clip using my Sony digital camera. While waiting for the approval of my application and the video will be downloaded to the official site of QT, I already did preliminary marketing of my ultimate quest for this job by having new blog dedicated to my application, including several posts to my other travel blogs and community sites. After 12 days of waiting, I finally got an email from QT that my video is already available in the official site and I coud start asking my friends or anybody to watch and of course to vote. Cut and paste the url link below:

http://www.islandreefjob.com/#/applicants/watch/WVfNxrFYxNY

How the selection process works?

It is expected that 30,000 applications will be screened by QT towards the last day of submission. My application will be one of the candidates to be subjected in the initial selection of the 50 shortlisted candidates and one "wildcard candidate will be picked by online voting. Eleven finalists will take the final interview to be held in the GBR.



So, what is the catch for this hype search?

IF I COULD GET IN THE TOP 50 SHORTLIST, I will be delighted to ask my friends and online community friends to cast their votes - aiming for the wildcard position. If I could get the attention of the organizer, QT, there is a chance that I will be able to get more votes in support to my quest. If I could also persuade the organizer through my blogs and travel sites that Im the right person for the job - willing to learn new things and challenges. My existing blogs and online review sites could enhance my popularity from the rest of the finalists. This is My Diary.

IF I COULD GET THE TOP ELEVEN FINALIST, then I will be happy to travel to Australia in May to prove to them that Im the best applicant for the best job. My travel will be shouldered by the organiser from UK to Queensland.

IF I COULD GET THE JOB, I will be able to sign a six-month contract and based on luxurious Hamilton Island . My key responsibilities includes: exploring islands of GBR to discover what this heritage area has to offer especially for tourists and the like. I will be feeding the fish, clean the swimming pool, and collect the mail.

IF I COULD GET THIS POSITION AS THE ISLAND CARETAKER, this is my big opportunity to understand the importance of caring our seas and oceans - including the living creatures under it. In some way, I could help QT to manage the Great Barrier Reef in a "sustainable manner" and to prevent this place to be "bleached-out" in 25 years time due to global warming.

IF I COULD GET THIS OFFER IN MAY, I will start my work in July and get a contract salary of £70,000 (A$150,000). If this will happen, I will promise to share my blessings in my home country, helping young children to attend primary and secondary schools. My plan to have a mini-library or information centre in my hometown will come true, benefiting both children and adults.

IF I COULD GET THIS BEST JOB IN THE WORLD, I will also be required to do a weekly reports thru blogging which entails posting of photos and videos about the area, including regular media exposure.


IF I COULD HAVE THIS ULTIMATE DREAM, by the end of my contract as the island caretaker, I have already visited and explored the 2,600 kilometres of this world's largest coral reef system; covering more than 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands; more than 1500 species of fish, 4,000 types of mollusc, 400 different types of coral. Finally, I have seen the most dangerous water creatures: sharks, box jellyfish, scorpion fish, and the blue-ringed octopus.

ON THE OTHER HAND, IF I COULD NOT GET THIS EMPLOYMENT, I will continue to inspire others and to dream big things will not stop. Having this application is fun and have the opportunity to meet friendly people in the internet - people with the same aspirations in life - to explore and travel, and most importantly to protect our environment in a different way. My blogs will still exist and will be the first to know if Im successful to visit the heritage site.

BUT AGAIN, IF I COULD GET THE BEST JOB IN THE WORLD, I will be the most happiest living creature on earth to explore this world's largest living organism. Wish me luck!

My Proposal: Island Caretaker Applicants' Meet-up 2009/2010

What: Island Caretaker Candidates Meet-up 2009/2010


When: between July - Dec 2009 ( November is recommended) or sometime in 2010

Where: Hamilton Island, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia

Tentative Programme: (2 nights/3days) Day 1: Welcome Party/Socialising; Day 2: Official meeting with QT authority and the Island Caretaker; Island hopping (explore the Great Barrier Reef) as a group and Farewell party (night) Day 3: Island hopping ( own schedules)

Organiser: Each continent will have its own contact team leader like US, UK/Europe, Asia, Australia, Canada, etc. which be responsible for organising their trips to Australia.

Attendance: All the people who applied in the job search and we might open it to other non-participants (friends/relatives).

Travel Agent: We will ask someone (travel agent) to do the itinerary in terms of group accommodations to get cheaper and discounted deals. The travel agent will only arrange our itinerary and lodging from the time we arrive the Great Barrier Reef. Travels from point of origin (UK) to Australia entry point are responsibility of the individual participants. Otherwise you can arrange among yourselves within your country and contact your local travel agents.
What to bring: swimming gears, cameras, videcams, etc. Dont forget to bring a file of your video clip just in case that there is no wireless connection in the island. Each one has the opportunity to introduce themselves in the Welcome Party...

Promotion Blogsite: Island Caretaker - Best Job in the World powered by Ning (created by SusieParish) will be the official website for the meet-up. For additional updates of this proposal, please click the blogsite above and you can sign-up even you are not a candidate for the job.

NOTE: THIS IS ONLY A PROPOSAL...ANYONE INTERESTED? SIGN-UP AND ANY SUGGESTIONS ARE WELCOME...THANK YOU!

My future job's profile

QUEENSLAND TOURISM prepared a two-page flyer for the job description of the caretaker of the island. Click the photo above for details.

My adviser - BBC News UK

BBC NEW UK posted an article that provides helpful tips to be in the top of the competition and successfully securing this coveted position. Unfortunately, I did not follow all as part of my one-minute video clip considering my time and resources to do it. Honestly, I love outdoor activities, love nature, forest and animals and wildlife. This is the environment that I was born and raised back in my home country, the Philippines. So, there is no point of telling this, except for people who did not experience really living in an island or tropical environment like Australia.

As quoted from the article and my reflections: (watch the video as well, photo above from BBC News UK site)

1. Get the basics things right - in terms of video format application - I have the right format using my Sony DSC W55 digital camera and using the Microsoft movie maker software available in my Sony Viao notebook.

2. Make the video as strong as possible - I dont have a camrecorder which might gives better quality; nevertheless my digicam really reliable to capture my quest for this job. It is candid, relax, and clear.

3. Demonstrate a spirit of adventure - Well my blogs show this adventures and travelling experience. Unfortunately, I dont have extreme sport activities but I will try if it is necessary.

4. Mention all your relevant experience - I dont have a scuba experience but I have experience to find food under sea while growing up in the Philippines. It does not really matter if I dont have a geography background as long as I know the basic things to stay alive in the wild! I think my strong qualification is really my knowledge in water, wasterwater and waste management which is really essential in sustainable tourism in Hamilton Island.

5. Know your marine wildlife - Again, it is bias for people who do not have background (both academic or actual working experience) on marine life and wildlife. There is always time to study/review about these things if I will be shortlisted.

6. Show your genuine love of animals and the outdoors - I love animals but there is no point to mention it or have it recorded for the sake of convincing the judges that I love outdoors! I dont to show them that I can sit besides the tiger or lion or even carrying a python. There are more dangerous than that - pirates and thieves!

7. Enhance your application - 60 seconds not enough to show all but I have included the url of my blogs for them to see that I do blogging and I have the communication skills both oral and writing.

8. Balance the fun factor with a more serious side - Im not nervous but calm doing my clip and at the end my friend who took the clip did something which made it funny to watch, then I laughed!

9. Dont waste money on a course - This is the reason why I make my clip simple and besides I do what QT needs for the job. I can take photographs, record events, and write blogs, including reviews online.

10. Are you sure you're the right person - Honestly, I am left-handed person but Im the right person for the job and I can start in July as soon I receive my airticket from Northern Ireland to Australia. Philippines is just up of Australia so any time I could have a weekend break and market the island to my "kababayans".

What do you think, can I make it in the top 50?

My informant - CNN London

NUMEROUS TV NEWS fascinated by this unusual job search for a job - a caretaker of the island in the Great Barrier Reef. One of them is captured by the clip below from CNN London (posted by Se7enKamachi in youtube). I suspect that this will really inspired Britons/British people to grab this rare opportunity - escaping from the economic crunch and weather that the region is experiencing at the moment.