Australia: Voluntary work in fasci­nating Down Under

Australia – for many people this country is the quintessence of remoteness and adventure. As Australia’s nature is incredibly diverse, the country is one of the world´s most popular travel destinations. Landscapes range from tropical rain forests, sparsely populated deserts and the famous Australian outback with the prominent Ayers Rock, to white sandy beaches and exotic coral reefs like the largest coherent one, the Great Barrier Reef.

Many young adults decide to travel to this country at age of 18-19, after graduating school, as it offers the perfect mix for adventure, a feeling of independence, experiencing modernity and tradition. Nevertheless, the country has so much to offer and is therefore also perfectly suited for people who already started the daily working routine, just finished their professional training or are already retired.

In the country’s northern region you will have the opportunity to explore the lush green rain forest and see exotic animals like parakeets, parrots, lories, cockatoos, koalas or frilled-necked lizards. Due to the loss of habitats as well as the general environmental pollution, many endemic species from the Australian rain forest are critically endangered. In voluntary projects or internships in conservation you will be able to contribute actively to the protection and preservation of Australia’s sensitive nature as well as its unique biodiversity in flora and fauna.

On your way to the coast you will also experience many spots of natural beauty. The northeastern coast of Australia is famous for its stunning natural habitats, especially due to the Great Barrier Reef. With a size of over 2,300 km the Great Barrier Reef that has gained the status of a UNESCO world heritage site in 1981, extends from the Torres Strait offshore Papua New Guinea to the east coast of Australia. This stunning underwater world is home to an impressive biodiversity. Due to global warming and the acidification of the oceans, a great number of species is highly endangered.

In the time from 1985 to 2012 the coral coverage in the reef dropped from 28% to 14% with further degradation during the past few years. Diverse conservation projects as well as research initiatives aim at putting a halt to this development or at least at slowing the development down. For example protected zones are declared within the reef to reduce the human influence. Moreover, new coral reefs are built to prevent coral species from vanishing.

Australia's central region is mostly uninhabited due to the desert climate with temperatures ascending up to 50°C during the day. Therefore, also flora and fauna is less diverse and this habitat is dominated by extremophile organisms that adapted to the extreme weather conditions in this region.

In the southern and south-eastern region of the continent, climate is more or less moderate. This region is also habitat to the only egg laying mammal in the world – the platypus. Temperatures in this region can be compared with temperatures in central Europe. The southern island Tasmania lies within a more moderate zone so that temperatures in winter are generally higher in this region than on the mainland. Therefore, this region is perfect for everyone who loves nature but prefers moderate temperatures.

A journey to Australia, perhaps even in combination with volunteering, will be a delight and you will make unforgettable memories, no matter which region of this huge country you will choose to visit. Besides countless spots of natural beauty, you will also have the opportunity to learn more about the culture and history of this manifold continent – from the first arrival of the aboriginals to the discovery by European colonists.

By participating in a voluntary project, you will educate yourself, broaden your personal horizon, support projects with a communal benefit and, in addition to that, you will be able to enjoy the stunning landscapes of this beautiful country.