Conservation volunteers working together in the field

Conservation education volunteer programs

Programs built around learning outcomes: field skills, species identification, survey method and structured conservation curriculum.

Conservation focus

12 programs

Diver conducting a reef health survey on the Great Barrier Reef

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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Rainforest meeting the reef coastline in Far North Queensland

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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Family snorkelling on a reef conservation expedition

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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Smiling volunteer in a blue t-shirt on the back deck of a boat, with the wake and open sea behind

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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Orangutan in the forest canopy at a Borneo conservation centre

Animal Welfare & Conservation

Orangutan & Sun Bear Conservation

Samboja Lestari, East Kalimantan, Indonesia

Support a Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation conservation centre, contributing to the care of rescued orangutans and sun bears.

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Rescued elephant at a Phetchaburi sanctuary

Animal Welfare & Conservation

Thai Elephant Sanctuary

Phetchaburi, Thailand

Support a southern-Thailand refuge for domesticated elephants rescued from street work, logging and exploitation.

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Volunteer walking a rescued dog at an island shelter

Animal Welfare & Conservation

Thai Island Dog & Cat Shelter

Koh Lanta Yai, Thailand

Care for rescued island dogs and cats affected by overpopulation, abandonment, injury and limited veterinary access.

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Rescued wildlife enclosure at a Thai rehabilitation centre

Animal Welfare & Conservation

Thai Wildlife Rehabilitation & Care

Phetchaburi, Thailand

Support a strictly hands-off wildlife rescue centre caring for animals saved from neglect, the illegal wildlife trade and exploitative entertainment.

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Study-placement volunteers recording marine survey data on the reef

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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Family taking part in a reef education day near Cairns

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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Education streams suit students, career changers and anyone who wants a credential or a transcript alongside the fieldwork.

Assessment, where it applies, is described on the program page along with contact hours and prerequisites.

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.