Australian conservation volunteer programs

What sort of things can volunteers do? Can you volunteer with a tourist visa or ETA? Australia is the only country in the world that spans an entire continent.

It has a range of environments , including sunny beaches and coasts, snowy mountains, tropical rainforest, and arid desert. Many visitors who want to do a good deed while seeing the riches that Australia has to offer choose to volunteer here. Visitors from overseas can volunteer in Australia as long as they meet certain requirements.

Firstly, they must be in the country legally and be in possession of an Australian valid visa. Next, they must apply to a volunteer organization. There are many that specialize in conservation, which are the most popular with international volunteers. There are also various other fields that accept voluntary work. There are various types of volunteer work that international travelers can do. Most involve preservation efforts and working with Australian wildlife or the environment.

For visitors who want to volunteer in Australia with animals , types of conservation volunteer work available in the country include:. There are opportunities to volunteer in community service-oriented programs and the possibility to work with vulnerable people, such as the elderly or with disadvantaged children.

Cairns itself is a modern city set in the tropical north of Australia. The Australia volunteer program orientation begins on the first Monday of every month and volunteers need to arrive in Cairns on the day before orientation. After you have registered for the program, please book your flights to arrive at the Cairns International Airport CNS. Your airport arrival shuttle is included in your Program Fee.

If you are travelling in Australia prior to your volunteer program, you will need to arrange your own transport to the accommodation in Cairns the day before your program orientation. Orientation is hosted by the team in Cairns. It begins the morning of your chosen start date and lasts for a full day, with a break in the middle for lunch and a walking tour.

The orientation covers everything you need to know for your volunteer program in Australia — an introduction to Australia, culture and customs, rules and expectations, safety, travel opportunities, an introduction to your project and placement and a tour of the local area. The orientation will also give you a chance to meet other volunteers and swap contact details for weekend travel and socialising. Weekdays: Please note that this schedule will vary depending on the volunteer work requirements.

There will be some days where you will have the opportunity to stay on the island until PM to relax and sightsee. Marine lovers have an extensive selection of coastline and beaches to enjoy and the opportunity to dive, surf, kayak, swim and snorkel in some of the most beautiful spots in the world.

Adrenaline junkies can enjoy bungee jumping, gorge swinging, white water rafting, parasailing and mountain biking. Volunteers will stay in a dormitory-style hostel in central Cairns, close to cafes, restaurants, a shopping mall, the esplanade and tourism operators. The hostel is about a minute walk from the Port of Cairns where you will catch your ferry to and from the islands each day. There is air-conditioning in each room but it must be turned off when the room is empty.

The bathrooms are communal but separated by gender and are equipped with toilets and hot showers. Lockers are available in each bedroom if you bring your own padlock. There are staff who clean the accommodation throughout the week, including your sheets, however, volunteers are required to keep their rooms tidy. WiFi is available within the hostel at all times, at no extra cost.

There are also multiple shared communal spaces such as a kitchen, outdoor dining area, lounge and pool. Accommodation upgrades to private rooms or smaller rooms are available at an additional cost, as well as extra nights of accommodation for before or after your program.

It is best to arrange accommodation upgrades or extensions with the local team at least 3 weeks prior to your program start date. Please note that these upgrades are subject to availability. A continental-style breakfast will be provided from Monday to Friday at the hostel and usually consists of cereal, milk, toast and fruit.

Tea and coffee will also be provided. The hostel also serves pancakes and maple syrup for breakfast from AM to PM each day. Lunch is provided from Monday to Friday and consists of a healthy and balanced packed lunch that you will be able to take with you to the island each day.

Tap water in Australia is safe to drink in most areas and we strongly recommend bringing a reusable water bottle with you as single-use plastic is strongly discouraged on this program. We also recommend bringing a reusable cutlery set, coffee cup and straw as you will be eating lunch on the island most days.

Supermarkets are a short walk from the volunteer hostel, along with a fruit and vegetable market. A night market operates every night where you can buy cheap dinners. These can range from scientific surveys involving activities such as setting up and clearing traps, survey work and walking transects , land management weeding, fence maintenance, clearing tracks and general sanctuary maintenance painting, repairs.

We greatly appreciate your interest in volunteering with AWC. Volunteer activities can be physically demanding and may involve repetitive activities such as lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling loads, digging, bending, climbing, walking over extended periods and are often performed in extreme conditions with temperatures at times exceeding 40 degrees. Therefore a moderate to high level of fitness is generally required for most volunteering activities.

All volunteers should carefully consider the fitness requirements and remoteness of the volunteering activity they are interested in and seek any appropriate medical advice before deciding on whether to apply.