Thinking about Volunteering?
Crimson Finch
Mornington Sanctuary
Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) is a non-profit organisation dedicated to the conservation of Australia's threatened wildlife. AWC now owns and manages 22 properties covering more than 2.6 million hectares around Australia. Volunteering provides an exciting opportunity to assist AWC's dedicated field staff in saving Australia's endangered wildlife.
Volunteering opportunities exist across a broad range of activities. These can range from biodiversity surveys to on-going land management work.
Select events will be advertised through the year – generally those requiring groups of volunteers, specific skill-sets or an extended commitment of time. We will email volunteers who have submitted a volunteer application form, with relevant skills and an interest in the sanctuary with an advertised opportunity, but kindly request you check back on this page regularly as this is not currently an automated process.
On-going volunteering opportunities may be arranged with individual sanctuaries where a volunteer program is currently in place.
Please note that there is generally a high demand and limited places for these opportunities and we will do our best, though we appreciate your interest and support.
If you would like to be added to the volunteer database, please follow the instructions below on How to Apply. The more information you can provide about your interests, skills and timing (availability length and dates) the better chance we will have in matching you with a suitable opportunity.
How To Apply
Please complete the Volunteer Application Form and return to:
Email: volunteering@australianwildlife.org
Fax: +61 8 9380 9631
Mail: PO Box 8070, Subiaco East WA 6008
Current Volunteer Opportunities
Telemetry of translocates BNT Wallabies & Numbats
Unique translocation experience in SE Australia
Scotia Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the far south western plains of New South Wales, approximately 150km south of Broken Hill, adjacent to the South Australian border. The sanctuary is 65.000 ha in size, and located within the Murray Mallee sub-region of the Murray Darling Depression Bioregion.
From now until the end of February, Scotia staff require assistance with daily telemetry of recently translocated Bridled Nailtail Wallabies (Onychogalea fraenata) and Numbats (Myrmecobius fasciatus). A manual driver's licence and good audible skills are essential.
The volunteer will be instructed on the use of the telemetry tower equipment until proficient. You may work alone on a tower for a number of hours during the day and possibly some evening work. There will be UHF communications with other team members throughout the monitoring. Some data entry may also be available.
Ideally we would like a commitment of 4 to 6 weeks and couples are welcome. Roofed accommodation will be provided, however you will need to provide your own food and bedding.
If the above is of interest, please respond via email to brooke.jones@australianwildlife.org and further information can be provided.
Yookamurra Pitfall Survey
Come and join us for Yookamurra's first pitfall survey
Yookamurra Wildlife Sanctuary is uniquely located between the Adelaide Hills and the River Murray, roughly half way between Sedan and Swan Reach in South Australia. Much of the Sanctuary is made up of remnant old growth Mallee, most of which was cleared from surrounding areas to make way for farmland. AWC acquired Yookamurra in 2002 and our management focuses on reintroduction and wildlife education, with between 20 and 30 school and university groups visiting each year. A large feral-proof fence encircles roughly one quarter of the Sanctuary that prevents pest animals such as cats, foxes, and rabbits from interfering with the Sanctuary's reintroduced threatened species, which include Numbats, Bilbies, Brush-tailed and Burrowing Bettongs.The Sanctuary also provides important habitat for wild populations of Southern Hairy-nosed Wombats and Malleefowl.
Volunteers are sought to assist ecology staff with our biodiversity surveys at Yookamurra. A standard array of pitfall fences will be set up at sites around the property in an effort to sample small mammal and reptile abundance both inside and outside our main fenced area.
The survey will take place from 13 to 24 February (weather dependant). It is preferable that volunteers stay for a minimum 6 day block (13-18 Feb or 19-24 Feb) to allow for consistency of skill in teams. Each site will be checked first thing in the morning and later in the afternoon, with the exception of the first day (which will involve setting up sites in the morning) and the last day (that will involve removing the sites are the morning check).
No previous experience is needed, however the tasks involved can be physically demanding (digging, hammering, carrying gear over distances greater than 600m) so a moderate level of fitness is desireable. Temperatures may exceed 40 degrees, while significant rain may prevent work until roads dry out. Volunteers will be required to adhere to OH&S and animal handling guidelines set out by AWC and work under instruction from AWC staff.
Transport to Yookamurra, for those using public transport, may be possible from Murray Bridge, Nurioopta or Renmark. Most vehicles should be able to access the property easily during dry conditions, however please double check road conditions if you have concerns. Basic accommodation is available on the property, including cooking facilities, however you will be required to bring your own sheets/sleeping bags.
Anyone interested, please contact Noel Riessen (noel.riessen@australianwildlife.org) for further information or follow How to Apply instructions above and quote event code YK0212.
Dakalanta Fauna Survey
Dakalanta Wildlife Sanctuary is situated on the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia, approximately 40km north east of the coastal town of Elliston. The sanctuary is about 13,500ha in size and located across the boundary of Mallee woodlands to the north and Drooping She-oak grassy woodlands to the south.
Volunteers are sought to assist ecology staff with our annual biodiversity survey at Dakalanta. A standard array of elliot box traps and pitfall fences will be set up at already established sites around the property in an effort to sample small mammal and reptile abundance across the main vegetation communities.We will also be undertaking bird surveys. Works will occur over a four day rotation with sites set-up on day one and then deconstructed and moved to new sites on day four. Day two and three of each rotation will be short (entailing morning and afternoon checks of each site), giving volunteers an opportunity to get involved in other tasks around the property (or simply relaxing) in the middle of the day.
No previous experience is needed, however the tasks involved can be physically demanding (digging, hammering, carrying gear over distances >600m) so a moderate level of fitness is desirable. Temperatures may exceed 40 degrees, while significant rain may prevent work until roads dry out.
The survey will take place from 12 March to 31 March (weather dependant). It is preferable that volunteers stay for a minimum 10 day block to allow for consistency of skill in teams. Transport to Dakalanta can be by appropriate personal vehicle or public transport. There is no accommodation available at the sanctuary so attendees will need to bring camping equipment for their stay as well as food.
Please contact Brooke Jones (brooke.jones@australianwildlife.org) for further information or follow How to Apply instructions above and quote event code DAK0312.
Studying the impact of feral cats on reptiles at Wongalara
AWC and partners (CDU, CSIRO, NRETAS, WA DEC, UTas) are conducting an experiment to investigate the impact that feral cats have on native fauna in northern Australia. Two experimental enclosures have been built at Wongalara Sanctuary, one which excludes cats and another that allows cat access. Reptile fauna are surveyed three times a year by operating trapping grids within the enclosures. The enclosures also contain a reintroduced population of Pale Field Rats that form another component of the project.
Wongalara Sanctuary is located in southern Arnhem Land, 300km east of Katherine in the Northern Territory. The sanctuary covers 2000 square km of sandstone plateau and river valleys and protects eucalypt woodlands, heath, lancewood scrubs, gallery forests, wetlands and monsoon rainforests.
We are seeking fit volunteers with experience in biology field work to assist in reptile trapping. We will use pitfall and funnel traps to capture reptiles within the experimental enclosures. The work can be physically demanding (digging, carrying heavy equipment) and often in extreme conditions (temperatures may exceed 40 degrees). Volunteers will have some spare time to participate in other activities such as assisting in monitoring Pale Field Rats. Accommodation at Wongalara is tent-based with access to communal kitchen and bathroom facilities.
The survey will take place over two weeks in a window of time from 15 March to 4 April. Dates will not be finalised until closer to the time as road conditions in the late wet season are variable. AWC can support volunteers by contributing to food costs and arranging transport from Katherine.
Please contact Katherine Tuft (katherine.tuft@australianwildlife.org) for more information or follow How to Apply instructions above and quote event code WON0312.
Newhaven Fauna Survey
Newhaven Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Great Sandy Desert, 350km north-west of Alice Springs. The Sanctuary covers an area of over 2600 square km and protects dunefields, saltlakes, sandplains, woodlands and quartzite ranges. These provide habitat for a high diversity of mammal and reptiles including brush-tailed mulgaras and great desert skinks.
We are seeking fit volunteers to assist AWC ecologists with our annual biodiversity survey on Newhaven. We will use pitfall, Elliot and funnel traps to capture small mammals and reptiles at monitoring sites in a variety of habitats. We will also make vegetation assessments. Trapping is conducted in teams of three people and will take place in sessions of four days where the first day is spent establishing several trapping sites. The second and third days will be shorter (entailing morning and afternoon checks of each site), with free time on the afternoon of the fourth day.
No previous experience is needed, however the work is physically demanding (digging, carrying heavy equipment, walking several kilometres) and often in extreme conditions (temperatures may exceed 40 degrees). For much of the time the team camps near the trapping sites but returns to base during sessions to prepare meals, shower and do washing. Accommodation at Newhaven is tent-based with access to communal kitchen and bathroom facilities.
The survey will take place from 1 April to 2 May. AWC can support volunteers for periods of approximately 2 weeks (1 to 14 April or 15 April to 2 May) or 4 weeks (1 April to 2 May) by contributing to food costs and arranging return transport from Alice Springs to Newhaven.
Please contact Danae Moore (danae.moore@australianwildlife.org) for further information or follow How to Apply instructions above and quote event code NEW0412.
Mornington & Marion Downs Fauna Survey
Mornington and Marion Downs Sanctuaries are located in the central Kimberley, 500km north-west of Broome. Together the two sanctuaries cover an area of over 6000 square km and protect savanna woodlands and grasslands, rocky ranges and wet gullies and gorges.
We are seeking fit volunteers with experience in biology field work to assist AWC ecologists with our annual biodiversity survey on Mornington and Marion Downs. We will use pitfall, Elliot, cage and funnel traps to capture small mammals and reptiles at monitoring sites in a variety of habitats. We will also undertake bird surveys and make vegetation assessments. Trapping is conducted in teams of two to four people and will take place in sessions of four days where the first day is spent establishing several trapping sites. The second and third days will be short, giving volunteers the opportunity to participate in other tasks and to explore the sanctuaries in the middle of the day.
The work can be physically demanding (digging, carrying heavy equipment, walking several kilometres) and often in extreme conditions (temperatures may exceed 40 degrees). For much of the time the team camps near the trapping sites and returns to base between sessions to do washing and replenish supplies. Accommodation at Mornington is tent-based with access to communal kitchen and bathroom facilities.
The survey will take place from 18 May to 6 July. AWC can support volunteers for periods of one month or more (but not less) by contributing to food costs and arranging transport from Derby.
Please contact Katherine Tuft (katherine.tuft@australianwildlife.org) for further information or follow How to Apply instructions above and quote event code MOMD0512.
Wongalara Fauna Survey
Wongalara Sanctuary is located in southern Arnhem Land, 300km east of Katherine in the Northern Territory. The sanctuary covers 2000 square km of sandstone plateau and river valleys and protects eucalypt woodlands, heath, lancewood scrubs, gallery forests, wetlands and monsoon rainforests.
We are seeking fit volunteers with experience in biology field work to assist AWC ecologists with our annual biodiversity survey on Wongalara. We will use pitfall, Elliot, cage and funnel traps to capture small mammals and reptiles at monitoring sites in a variety of habitats. We will also undertake bird surveys and make vegetation assessments. Trapping is conducted in teams of two to four people and will take place in sessions of four days where the first day is spent establishing several trapping sites. The second and third days will be short, giving volunteers the opportunity to participate in other tasks and to explore the sanctuary in the middle of the day.
The work can be physically demanding (digging, carrying heavy equipment, walking several kilometres) and often in extreme conditions (temperatures may exceed 40 degrees). For much of the time the team camps near the trapping sites and returns to base between sessions to do washing and replenish supplies. Accommodation at Mornington is tent-based with access to communal kitchen and bathroom facilities.
The survey will take place from 1 to 31 August. Volunteers need to participate for the full month as there will be limited movement between Wongalara and Katherine between the survey teams arrival and departure. AWC can support volunteers by contributing to food costs and arranging transport from Katherine.
Please contact Katherine Tuft (katherine.tuft@australianwildlife.org) for further information or follow How to Apply instructions above and quote event code WON0812.
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