australian tropical research foundation

Volunteers

Volunteers will assist in research activities and the daily running and maintenance of the Research Station, the Bat House and the 25 acre grounds; thereby contributing to the overall success of AUSTROP and its conservation aims.

Possible activities are:

• Helping out in the Bat House, interacting with visitors and flying foxes
• Feeding the resident bat colony
• Radio-tracking bats and other animals
• Removing invasive plants from rainforest plots
• Replanting native plant species
• Counting figs
• Stomping grass for forest regeneration
• Helping with the general upkeep of the facility
• Constructing Station buildings
• Whatever else is necessary!

The work that volunteers will undertake at the Station has international, national, and local significance. Volunteers will be directly helping to conserve the most ancient rainforest remnant in the world through revegetation. In addition, volunteers will be contributing to a thriving nature-based tourism industry that promotes global awareness of rainforest conservation issues. The Daintree rainforest receives more than half a million visitors each year, and many of these are young backpackers from North America, Europe and Australia. By instilling in them an appreciation of this unique environment through ‘nature-based tourism’, AUSTROP hopes to promote the national and international importance of conserving the rainforest.

Working conditions are normally quite pleasant. As we are in the tropics, winter days can be quite warm. Volunteer work may involve moderately strenuous activity, including digging and shifting rocks. Revegetation work can involve a lot of bending and kneeling.

Volunteers are our lifeblood! The normal stay is 2-3 weeks but extensions are available at the discretion of the Director (and are rarely refused).

You should not expect to be tagging around behind a learned scientist for the duration of your stay or have your own project - but it still will be a thoroughly worthwhile experience!

Download complete information for prospective volunteers here.