Feel like saving the world this week? Volunteering can be a powerful and fulfilling experience, especially when combined with the thrill of traveling to a strange land. Those looking to volunteer in Australia will find a tree-hugger’s paradise of environmental service. Oz’s enormous range of conservation projects includes wildlife rescue, rainforest rehabilitation, coastal clean-up, underwater reef research, and more. Most foreign volunteers choose one of these many recruit-happy ecological options. However, keep in mind that environmental work is not always as glamorous as it may sound. Cleaning and maintenance jobs play a significant role in the day-to-day of many volunteer positions, so plan on performing a fair amount of repetitive, strenuous labor rather than enjoying days of swimming with dolphins, comforting baby koalas, and swinging through the rainforest canopy. For those interested in social work, many Indigenous Australian communities now recruit volunteers for both community projects and educational positions.
Most people who volunteer in Australia do so on a short-term basis at organizations that only accept drop-in or once-a-week volunteers. The best way to find opportunities that match your interests and schedule may be to check with regional volunteer centers. The Australian government runs a series of online directories (see Volunteer Opportunities) that can connect you to any one of a number of local conservation projects and environmental groups. State park services can also be a great resource for those in search of service opportunities. Australia is positively stuffed with national parks, which are almost always in need of volunteers for park maintenance works. Although these positions are generally reserved for locals, certain groups are open to travelers willing to make a minimum time commitment. Volunteer listings can be found on Parks Department webpages for New South Wales (www.environment.nsw.gov.au), the Northern Territory (☎08 8999 4825; www.nt.gov.au/nreta/parks), Queensland (www.epa.qld.gov.au), South Australia (www.parks.sa.gov.au), Western Australia (☎08 9334 0251; www.naturebase.net), Tasmania (www.parks.tas.gov.au), and Victoria (www.parkweb.vic.gov.au). Regional parks offices are also good places to inquire about local volunteer opportunities within Australian national parks. For general Australian Parks links, visit www.environment.gov.au/parks/links. Go Volunteer (www.govolunteer.com.au) and Volunteer Western Australia (www.volunteeringwa.org.au) are some other good resources. Read up before heading out.
Those looking for longer, more intensive volunteer opportunities usually find a parent organization that takes care of the logistical details and often provides a group environment and support system—for a fee. There are both religious and secular organizations that perform these services, although it’s rare that either places restrictions on participation. Websites like www.volunteerabroad.com, www.servenet.org, and www.idealist.org provide information on volunteer openings both in your country and abroad.
Unless otherwise specified, assume that the volunteer listings in this section expect volunteers to be responsible for their own food, transportation, insurance, accommodations, and incidentals. From ...more
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