Fancy a working holiday that doesn’t involve a visa or passport, but does require some knowledge of the local language? If the answer is yes’ former Central Queensland University student Jacquelyn Brigden would welcome you into her home on Warraber Island in far North Queensland. In the small fishing and pearling community northeast of Thursday Island, Jacquelyn enjoys pursuits only otherwise highlighted through travel brochures or television documentaries.

After moving to the coral sand island at the beginning of the year, Jacquelyn -- a teacher -- soon embraced the culture of the local Torres Strait Islanders. Her ‘no footwear’ work policy reflects the school uniform and the lifestyle she enjoys with the 250 locals.

Although she is counting down the months until her first trip back to mainland Australia, Jacquelyn wouldn’t swap her lifestyle with her city colleagues.

“I have loved seeing the children progress from the start of the year as some of them couldn’t speak English,” she said.

“There is a lot more responsibility up here so I have learnt more than I probably would if I was in a mainland school.” Apart from teaching 21 children from pre-school to year 3, Jacquelyn is responsible for the school’s music programme, Studies of Society and Environment, curriculum planning and Art activities.

Her enthusiasm for teaching is shared with two other teachers and a principal, with the school boasting the best island-school attendance in the area.

“The children are very friendly and enjoy giving me heaps of hugs when they arrive at school at 8am.” “They are very keen to learn about where I come from on the mainland.” “They always ask the same questions and what my island home is called, which is Mackay, so they think that everyone lives on an island.” Her attempt to learn the local Creoles language and island dancing also received humorous feedback from the residents.

Outside the classroom Jacquelyn keeps busy by swimming, fishing and visiting the neighbouring islands. Apart from weekly visits from a mainland barge she uses the Internet and four television stations to keep in touch with the national news.

“It takes a couple of weeks for mail to be received from me and about a month for mail to get to me from Brisbane.” Jacquelyn hopes to be transferred to Maleny in a few years and would then consider postgraduate studies relating to educational guidance and counselling.

In the meantime she dreams about being able to go to a cafi or hairdresser as she enjoys the lifestyle most people only experience on annual holidays.