Marine Conservation
Island Reef Research and Conservation
Cairns, Queensland, Australia
Real citizen science on the Great Barrier Reef, no experience needed. Two islands, 45 minutes from Cairns.
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Volunteer programs
Volunteer programs in Australia
Every placement below is vetted for animal welfare, community benefit and transparent fees before we list it.
8 programs match your filters
Marine Conservation
Great Barrier Reef Marine Conservation
Cairns, Queensland, Australia
Reef-based citizen science and marine conservation on the Great Barrier Reef, with dive training or a liveaboard reef experience.
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Marine Conservation
Reef & Rainforest Adventure
Far North Queensland (Cairns · Great Barrier Reef · Daintree · Cape Tribulation · Kuranda)
Three weeks combining reef research, marine conservation and rainforest exploration in tropical Far North Queensland.
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Marine Conservation
Eco-Expedition for Families & Groups
Far North Queensland, Australia
A 5-day expedition for families and small groups: reef, rainforest and wildlife, with real marine conservation alongside the O2E team.
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Marine Conservation
Marine Conservationist for a Day
Fitzroy Island or Green Island, near Cairns, Australia
Spend a day on a Great Barrier Reef island learning reef science and contributing to real citizen-science surveys.
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Marine Conservation
Diploma of Marine Conservation Volunteering
Cairns, Queensland (fieldwork) + online study
A study-and-fieldwork pathway combining an online diploma with hands-on reef fieldwork on the Great Barrier Reef.
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Marine Conservation
Family Education Day
Fitzroy Island or Green Island, near Cairns, Australia
A family day on the Great Barrier Reef: reef learning and hands-on citizen science in a beautiful island setting.
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Animal Welfare & Conservation
Endangered Species Conservation
Deepwater / Agnes Water region, Queensland, Australia
Support a small home-based wildlife shelter caring for threatened native Australian species. Expressions of interest only, join the waitlist.
Explore Endangered Species Conservation →How we vet a project before it appears here
Welfare first
No riding, no bathing, no breeding for interaction.
Local leadership
Local staff run the work; volunteers support it.
Open books
You can see what your fee pays for before you book.
Get the 5-day ethical volunteering course
One short email a day. How to spot a genuine project, what fees really pay for, and how to prepare.