Antarctic Separation Brochure
The Australian Antarctic Division acknowledges that successful expeditions to Antarctica depend on the selected expeditioners being happy and being content with their decision to leave their homes and families to live and work in Antarctica. Making the decision to embark on Antarctic service, and the resulting separation, can mean a struggle with difficult personal problems which need to be assessed by those involved.
This brochure poses issues for discussion, and raises some of the difficulties that might be encountered. It is not intended that after reading this brochure you should reach the decision that 'all is bad'. In fact many couples and families will testify to having undergone 'successful' Antarctic separation, having found the time apart challenging and rewarding.
The information in this brochure is not intended to be appropriate for every situation, but merely to provide an overview of the affects of separation as seen by the Antarctic Division. We do not put forward different approaches to deal with effects differing between summering and wintering expeditioners, as our experience has shown that the symptoms of separation are similar, regardless of the length of separation.
The lengthy separation periods sometimes experienced by members of the Australian Antarctic program (AAp) are unique. The time spent in Antarctica, and the isolation there, are two factors making Antarctic separation unlike other separation experiences. For example, serving members of the Australian armed services are usually able to rejoin their families at times of crisis or trauma, and prisoners in gaol can be visited by families at times of crisis or trauma, and prisoners in gaol can be visited by families and friends and may be granted permission to attend funerals of close family members. But whatever people's circumstances are, once the last ship of the summer has departed from Antarctica it is usually impossible for expeditioners to return to Australia until the beginning of the following shipping season, which is usually October. So there is a period of confinement spanning at least six months.
The reasons for wanting to work in Antarctica vary considerably. It may be the realisation of a life's dream, or a financial gain, or an opportunity to study or conduct research, or the chance to gain valuable work and life experience. It may be a chance to 'escape'. Whatever the purpose, and expeditioner's general well-being while in Antarctica could be affected by the reason for having gone.
To make this brochure easy to follow we have dealt with each stage of the separation process individually. The periods spent before and after applying for AAp service, during recruitment, and during resettlement at home.
- Download Antarctic Separation Brochure
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