Volunteer Abroad Australia: Great Ocean Road Nature Conser­va­tion

To be able to join our Great Ocean Road programme, you need to be 18 years or older and have sufficient English skills. Since you will be outdoors a lot and sometimes working under high temperatures, this project requires you to be physically fit. That’s why we ask you for a doctor’s certificate confirming your state of health and physical fitness. You should be motivated to be part of a nature conservation project, which relies on hard working volunteers. Living and working in a team should not be a problem for you, but you should also be able to work independently. Depending on your nationality you might need a visa for your volunteer stay. You might check out the foreign department’s website for the visa standards or ask the Natucate team directly.

Prior to your departure to Australia we will help you organize and plan your whole stay, assist you in arranging flights and support you with your visa application. During your time in the programme you will be accommodated in hostels with dorm rooms, shared bathrooms and a communal kitchen. Food will be provided so that you can prepare your own meals (except for breakfast on your first and dinner on your last day as well as meals on the weekend). You will also receive the equipment which you need for your volunteer work. The programme’s staff and the Natucate team can be contacted 24/7 if you need support. Included are also visits of the following highlights of the Great Ocean Road: Bells Beach, Erskine Falls, Cape Otway, Tower Hill (plus guided aborigine tour), the Twelve Apostles, London Bridge, Loch Ard Gorge and You Yangs Regional Park. Flights, insurance, visa fees, airport transfer, breakfast on your first and dinner on your last day, meals on the weekend as well as personal expenses are not included.

Travel health insurance is mandatory for every participant. It is also important that you are physically fit, as you will carry out physical work. We recommend checking if you are vaccinated against Diphtheria, Morbilli, Mumps and Rubella (MMR), Hepatitis A/B, Whooping cough, Influenza, Polio, Pneumococcus and Tetanus. You should bring a small first-aid kit, including band-aids, painkillers, medication against diarrhea, electrolytes, antihistamines and, if necessary, any special medication you need (bring enough!). Regarding your medical precautions and your vaccinations, you should consult your doctor and get information on the foreign department’s website about possible risks and how to prevent them.

You can participate for five days up to four weeks.

For your time in the project you should pack long and sturdy pants, long-sleeved shirts as well as sturdy and waterproof boots. Don’t forget to bring warm and waterproof clothing. Especially during the summer months, clothes which you can wear in layers are advised. You will spend most of your time outdoors, so you should bring clothes which can get dirty. A sleeping bag, a towel and maybe a pillow should also be on your packing list. Furthermore, a backpack, a hat for sun protection, sunscreen, sunglasses, insect repellant and a refillable water bottle are very useful. Don’t forget your passport, an alarm clock, your phone and other items which you may use in your leisure time. Note: Luggage is limited to a maximum of 15 kg in this project.

We can help you to find flights. Your arrival flight should be booked to Melbourne (MEL). After your arrival, one day before the project starts, you will make your own way to accommodation in the city, which you have booked before. On the next morning you meet the other participants at the Docklands Ferry Terminal in Melbourne.

The programme is a combination of travelling and volunteer work in nature conservation. Generally, the first half of your day will be filled with volunteer work in different nature conservation projects: Planting trees or seedlings, removing invasive plant species, implementing small research studies as well as becoming active in different renaturation and cleaning activities. During the rest of the day your group will explore the Great Ocean Road and visit the highlights of this beautiful coastline.

There will be a maximum of nine participants in a group.

Note: The project only takes place if at least five participants take part.

Together with the other participants you will be accommodated in hostels along the Great Ocean Road. There are only dorm rooms and you will share the bathroom facilities as well as the kitchen.

All participants receive three meals a day as well as small snacks in between. You will be provided with groceries which you can use to prepare your own meals. The communal kitchen can be used to cook for yourself or with the others.

The mornings and early afternoon are for volunteering (starting at around 08:00 am). The rest of the afternoon will be the time when you travel – until approx. 05:00/06:00 pm. In the evening you have time for your own activities.

Yes, you will be accompanied by a team leader during your time in the programme. You can also contact the Natucate team 24/7 if you have any questions or need support.

The official currency in Australia is the Australian dollar. A couple of weeks before your departure you can order a certain amount of Australian dollars at your bank. You also have the possibility to exchange your money to Australian dollar at the airport. We recommend you bring a credit card so that you can withdraw money at the airport or in the city.
You should plan in some extra money for the time you will be spending in Australia before the project starts as well as for personal excursions or expenses.

When you arrive at your accommodation in the late afternoon, you will have the opportunity to send a message to your friends and family or call them. Sometimes there is Wifi at the accommodation, but the mobile network can be limited. When you arrive at Melbourne you can buy an Australian SIM Card. This way you can use the internet and call your family. Please do not expect the network to operate as smoothly as in your home country!

Seasons in Australia are contrary to the ones in Europe. December until February are the warmest months. It will get cooler from March until May and the coldest time is between June and August, while it will warm up once again from September till November. January and February are usually the hottest months whereas June and July are the coldest and wettest.

All of the team leaders carry mobile phones and are in contact with the area manager on a daily basis. All of the team leaders are furthermore trained in first aid – in a real emergency, participants will be taken to hospital / to a doctor.

Always listen to the instructions and security advice from your team leader. Moderate consumption of alcohol is allowed, but only in the evening when you are finished working. If you are under the influence of alcohol or other drugs during working hours you will be immediately suspended from the programme – without any refund.