The impact of the devastating floods in Queensland, northern New South Wales, Victoria and northern Tasmania are being felt as far south as Antarctica.
The Australian Antarctic Division has extended the closure of its recruitment period for the 2011/12 season, to give people affected by the floods more time to submit their applications.
The applications will remain open until January 24.
Those who travel south next season will be following in the footsteps of great Antarctic explorer Sir Douglas Mawson 100 years after he led the first Australian Antarctic team.