Tonic,
Not sure what your background is but have you also thought of contracting for say 6 months? The work is normally short term contracts, no holiday or sick pay and no benefits except that the hourly rate normally reflects this.
You can generally contract in any profession these days, engieering, nursing, PA, etc and the rates will vary dependant on responsility and contract length (generally the longer the contract the less they pay you per hour).
Have a look on the net or round your local high street or if you know anyone in the biz you are involved in ask around.
Julian.