Conservation volunteers working together

Volunteering for career changers

A realistic look at conservation work before committing to a change.

Volunteering is the cheapest way to test whether conservation work suits you. It is physical, weather dependent and heavy on record keeping.

Research and marine streams give the closest view of professional practice.

Placements that usually suit

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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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.