Australia5/5 (2 reviews)
Animal project in Australia
Care for koalas, kangaroos and wallabies at a wildlife park in Port Douglas, Tropical North Queensland, where the Great Barrier Reef meets the rainforest.
- Where
- Australia
- Length
- From 4 to 8 weeks
- Minimum age
- 18 years old
- Language
- English intermediate
from €2,620 for 4 weeks
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The project
You will help care for Australia’s famous mammals such as koalas, kangaroos and wallabies. The park is also home to a variety of birds, reptiles and fish that you will be able to discover during your volunteer programme. Support our organization in the preservation of these animal species that make the country famous.
Programme placement is located in Tropical North Queensland at a wildlife park based in Port Douglas, 45 minutes north of Cairns. This location provides a great way to experience the wonders of the tropical north, where the Great Barrier Reef meets World Heritage rainforest. The dedicated team of wildlife keepers will assist all Volunteers embarking on this programme. There is plenty of time on days off to explore this beautiful region and live like a local.
Please note that the daily tasks can be physical. Working hours (variable): 7:30 am to 3:30 pm with two 30-minute breaks, Monday to Friday. Typical duties performed by volunteers include
- Preparing food for our native wildlife (this is often a daily task)
- Cleaning and maintenance of animal enclosures
- Koala leaf collection and distribution
- Upkeep of displays and exhibits
- Plantation maintenance
- General park maintenance tasks
- Greeting and engaging with our visitors
- Joining keepers on guided tours of the park
Volunteers may also be given the chance to participate in:
- Animal handling
- Plant identification and collection
- Caring for injured and orphaned animals
- Assist with record keeping duties under supervision
- Offsite projects (community, environmental, cultural), e.g. environmental clean-up days, community interaction days, tree planting / wildlife carer projects, and indigenous cultural experience opportunities.
A project we follow
Projects chosen with care and followed through regular visits on site.
Accommodation and meals
Accommodation Info: The programme includes 1 night in a hostel in Cairns on the day of your arrival (Monday night) and 2 nights in the same hostel in Cairns upon your return from Port Douglas (Saturday and Sunday). Volunteers sleep in mixed dormitories (with the option to upgrade to a private room). Both hostels have comfortable, air-conditioned rooms, a kitchen, and modern amenities. In Port Douglas, volunteers stay in a hostel about a 10-minute drive from the project.
Transport Info: Daily transfers between the project and the accommodation in Port Douglas are included. The round trip transfer between Cairns and Port Douglas is included.
Airport transfers between Cairns and the Cairns accommodation are not included. Participants are encouraged to arrange their transfer via the Uber app or through one of the following options:
- https://cairnsairportshuttle.com.au/about-us/
- https://cairnstaxis.com.au/
- https://www.cairnsairport.com.au/travelling/parking-and-transport/transport-options/
Additional information
You will need to bring:
- Closed-toe work shoes.
- Socks.
- Sunscreen.
- Shorts or trousers for your daily work (beige, khaki, or brown).
- Lightweight raincoat or anorak.
- Camera.
Budget
How long are you going for?
Departure from Cairns every 2 weeks, on a Tuesday.
What is included
- Accommodation (shared room)
- Daily transport and return transfer between Cairns and Port Douglas
- Lunch on working days
- Orientation session and training during your volunteering
- Uniform
- Certificate of participation issued by Wet Tropics Management Society
Not included
- Flights
- Insurance
- Breakfast and dinner
- Excursions outside the programme
- Transfer from the airport and back to Cairns airport (Gilligans Shuttle available between 8am and 8pm each day)
Where your money goes
Donations are reinvested in full and directly into the local associations. How the costs break down
See the budget week by week
| Length | Total programme budget |
|---|
Getting ready to leave
Your application
An up-to-date CV and a cover letter describing your background and what brings you here.
Conditions to take part
To participate in volunteering with animals in Australia:
- Must be at least 18 years old.
- Intermediate level of English.
- A copy of your passport.
- Visitor visa for stays of less than 12 weeks or working holiday visa for stays of more than 12 weeks.
Insurance
For any project abroad, Freepackers requires travel insurance covering accidents, illness, repatriation and third-party liability. With Chapka Cap Student, you get 5% off.
Online language lessons
With Clic Campus: video lessons and an e-learning platform, from home.
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- Duration
- 2 weeks
- Age
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