Lexi Webster
Australia is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna, with many species in need of protection from threats such as development, pollution, and climate change. In recent years, natural disasters such as bushfires have also taken a devastating toll on the country's wildlife. Luckily, there are numerous organizations that offer volunteer opportunities to help protect and conserve Australia's unique biodiversity. These include the Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC), GoEco, Love Volunteers, and Animal Welfare League NSW (AWL NSW), each offering a range of programs and activities to suit different interests and abilities. From hands-on animal care and rescue to conservation efforts, administration, and fundraising, there are many ways to contribute to the protection of Australia's precious wildlife.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Organisations | Animal Welfare League NSW, GoEco, Love Volunteers, SEEK Volunteer, Australian Wildlife Conservancy, Volunteer Forever, Australian Wildlife Conservancy, International Volunteer HQ, GoEco, Maggie's Rescue, Dingo Den Animal Rescue |
| Volunteer Activities | Feeding, cleaning, collecting resources, bottle-feeding infant animals, collecting native food materials, assisting with veterinary care, rescue, rehabilitation, release, research, education, planting native trees, fundraising, administration, photography, social media management, data entry, communications, survey assistance, land management, event hosting, sanctuary maintenance, camp hosting, caretaking |
| Requirements | A certain level of physical fitness, current tetanus vaccination, administration/office experience, photography/videography skills, PADI certification (for diving projects), minimum age of 18 |
| Locations | Calga, Sydney, Lankeys Creek, New South Wales, Great Barrier Reef, Tasmania, Melbourne |
| Duration | 1-5 weeks, 1-4 weeks, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 1 month, 3-4 weeks (applications open), year-round |
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What You'll Learn
Help rescue, rehabilitate and release wildlife
GoEco offers a Wildlife Animal Sanctuary project that cares for kangaroos, koalas, wombats, and many other indigenous species. The sanctuary is located on 80 acres of Australian wilderness in Calga, about 1.5 hours outside of Sydney by train. GoEco offers dorm-style housing with a fully-stocked kitchen. Volunteers will help rescue, rehabilitate, and release the animals.
Love Volunteers offers a similar opportunity at a Wildlife Rescue Centre in Lankeys Creek, New South Wales. This project is available year-round and volunteers are accommodated on-site. The centre cares for kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, and other native animals. Volunteers will help with the daily schedule of feeding, cleaning, and collecting resources, as well as bottle-feeding infant animals and collecting native food materials.
If you are interested in marine conservation, you can volunteer with International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ) to protect the beaches, the Great Barrier Reef, and sea turtles. This project involves survey dives to collect data on coral reefs and species monitoring.
For those seeking a career in zoology, wildlife management, or veterinary science, the Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) offers a variety of volunteer opportunities. These include survey assistance, land management, and campground hosting.
Closer to Sydney, you can volunteer with Animal Welfare League NSW (AWL NSW). AWL NSW has various branches across the state that care for animals in their local area. Volunteers can help with animal handling, foster care, administration, photography, and social media promotion.
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Support wildlife conservation projects
Australia is a biodiverse region with a wide array of flora and fauna, many of which are in need of protection from development and pollution. In 2020, nearly a billion animals were killed by bushfires in Australia, including koalas, kangaroos, and wombats. With climate change, areas such as the Great Barrier Reef are in dire need of protection.
Volunteer with the Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC)
The AWC has a wide range of volunteer opportunities to suit most interests and abilities. Survey assistants work with the science team across AWC sanctuaries and partnership sites, helping with animal, bird, and vegetation surveys. These activities are usually quite physically demanding and often require teams to camp in the bush for the duration of the project. Land management volunteers get involved with projects such as weed management, trail clearing, fencing, revegetation, assisting with feral animal control, minor infrastructure, and general maintenance tasks. Campground hosts assist with running visitor programs across several AWC sanctuaries. Volunteer caretakers assist the teams at remote sanctuaries during staff absences.
Volunteer with GoEco
GoEco has more than 160 community, environmental, and wildlife initiatives. Their Wild Animal Rescue Program gives you the opportunity to help koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, emus, and other indigenous wildlife in Australia. The wildlife sanctuary, which is situated on 170 acres of natural bushland, cares for more than 200 species. Many of the animals have been rescued, injured, and/or displaced. GoEco also offers a special travel grant where you can stay for the third week free.
Volunteer with Love Volunteers
Love Volunteers is a wildlife rescue centre in Lankeys Creek, New South Wales. Volunteers are accommodated on-site and are provided with meals and linen. Volunteers help with meal preparation and clean-up and are advised to bring old, sturdy clothing and footwear suitable for the conditions and nature of the work.
Volunteer with Animal Welfare League NSW (AWL NSW)
AWL NSW has various volunteer branches across the state, all dedicated to caring for animals in their local area. Many branches support their communities by providing discount desexing programs and fostering animals who are looking for a home. Branch volunteers help fundraise and promote the work of AWL NSW through events and social media.
Volunteer with SEEK Volunteer
SEEK Volunteer offers 215 Animal Welfare opportunities in Australia. These include planting native trees with Greater Sydney Landcare to form habitats for wildlife, and working with Maggie's Rescue as a foster carer or board member to help create a world where no animal is in need of rescue.
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Foster a native animal
Australia is home to a wide array of flora and fauna, many of which are in need of protection. In 2020, nearly a billion animals were killed by bushfires in Australia, including koalas, kangaroos, and wombats. If you're interested in fostering a native animal, here's what you need to know:
Wildcare Australia
Wildcare Australia provides training and resources to volunteers who want to become wildlife carers. Volunteers must be 18 years or older and need to have appropriate training, adequate time, suitable facilities, and financial resources to cover costs such as food, housing, and medical expenses. Wildcare Australia offers comprehensive manuals and training workshops to prepare volunteers for the rescue and care of native wildlife. They also provide information on the specific requirements for different types of animals, such as cages, aviaries, or yards, and the need for natural food sources.
WIRES
WIRES is Australia's largest wildlife rescue organization, rescuing and caring for sick, injured, and orphaned native animals since 1985. They have a dedicated Emergency Response Team and provide resources such as food support, training, systems assistance, and disaster relief. WIRES empowers thousands of volunteers to rescue and rehabilitate wildlife, aiming to secure a sustainable future for Australian wildlife through conservation and habitat protection.
Animal Welfare League NSW (AWL NSW)
AWL NSW is always looking for foster carers to provide homes for animals in need. Fostering gives you the opportunity to directly impact an animal's life and help them find a new family. AWL NSW also has various volunteer branches across the state that support their communities through discount desexing programs and promoting the organization's work through events and social media.
GoEco
GoEco offers a Wildlife Animal Sanctuary project that cares for kangaroos, koalas, wombats, and dozens of other indigenous species. The sanctuary is situated on 170 acres of natural bushland and cares for over 200 species, many of which have been rescued, injured, or displaced. GoEco specializes in affordable, ethical volunteer projects and has sent over 17,000 volunteers abroad.
Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC)
AWC has a range of volunteer opportunities, including survey assistants who help with animal, bird, and vegetation surveys, and land management volunteers who work on projects such as weed management, trail clearing, and assisting with feral animal control. AWC also offers volunteer positions in events, fundraising, data entry, communications, and administration, providing valuable experience and the opportunity to support conservation efforts.
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Volunteer at a wildlife sanctuary
Volunteering at a wildlife sanctuary in Australia is a great way to help protect and conserve the country's unique and diverse wildlife. There are several organisations that offer volunteer programs, such as GoEco and Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC). These programs typically involve working with native animals such as koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, and even the iconic Tasmanian devil.
GoEco, for example, offers a Wildlife Animal Sanctuary project that cares for over 200 species across 170 acres of natural bushland. Volunteers help with the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of these animals. The program is located in Calga, about 1.5 hours outside of Sydney by train, and offers dorm-style housing for volunteers.
AWC also has a range of volunteer opportunities across their sanctuaries, including survey assistants, land management volunteers, campground hosts, and volunteer caretakers. Survey assistants work with the science team to conduct animal, bird, and vegetation surveys, which can be physically demanding and involve camping in the bush. Land management volunteers help with projects such as weed management, trail clearing, fencing, and revegetation. Campground hosts assist with visitor programs and provide information to guests, typically staying on-site for one-month stints. Volunteer caretakers support the teams at remote sanctuaries during staff absences.
Another option is to volunteer with Animal Welfare League NSW (AWL NSW), which has various branches across the state dedicated to caring for animals in their local areas. Volunteers can get involved in different ways, including as animal attendants, foster carers, administrators, photographers, and social media promoters. Animal attendants help improve the well-being of the animals and require a certain level of physical fitness due to the animal handling involved. Foster carers open their homes to animals in need, providing a rewarding experience and helping them find new families. Administrators support the branch with paperwork and meetings, while photographers and social media promoters help advertise the animals in care to increase their chances of rehoming.
Volunteering at a wildlife sanctuary in Australia offers a hands-on and challenging experience, allowing individuals to work directly with wildlife professionals to rescue, care for, and protect the country's precious and unique native species.
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Help with wildlife surveys and land management
Australia is home to a wide array of flora and fauna, many of which are in need of protection from development and pollution. In recent years, bushfires have also killed many animals and destroyed their habitats.
One way to help is to volunteer with the Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC). They have a wide range of volunteer opportunities, including survey assistants and land management.
Survey assistants work with the AWC's science team across sanctuaries and partnership sites, helping with animal, bird, and vegetation surveys. This work is often physically demanding and may require camping in the bush for the duration of the project.
Land management volunteers get involved with projects such as:
- Weed management
- Trail clearing
- Fencing
- Revegetation
- Assisting with feral animal control
- Minor infrastructure
- General maintenance tasks
Another option is to volunteer with GoEco, which has over 160 community, environmental, and wildlife initiatives globally. Their Wild Animal Rescue Program gives you the opportunity to help koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, emus, wombats, and other indigenous wildlife in Australia. The wildlife sanctuary is situated on 170 acres of natural bushland and cares for over 200 species.
You can also help by planting native trees with Greater Sydney Landcare. This helps to reduce urban heat and create habitats for wildlife.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several organizations that allow you to volunteer to help animals in Australia. Some of these include GoEco, Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC), Love Volunteers, and Animal Welfare League NSW (AWL NSW).
GoEco offers a Wildlife Animal Sanctuary project that cares for kangaroos, koalas, wombats, and several other indigenous species. They also offer a Wild Animal Rescue Program where you can help koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, emus, and other indigenous wildlife.
AWC offers a wide range of volunteer opportunities, including survey assistants, land management, events, and more. Survey assistants help with animal, bird, and vegetation surveys, while land management volunteers help with projects such as weed management, trail clearing, fencing, and revegetation.
Love Volunteers offers a Wildlife Rescue Centre program in Lankeys Creek, New South Wales. Volunteers will work directly with the shelter team to care for native animals such as kangaroos, wallabies, and wombats, as well as domestic animals and birds.
