Volunteers
From the outback to the coast, from the mountains to the desert, from the rainforest to the reef, Queensland has an incredible variety of wildlife and wild places. Looking after this wonderful natural legacy and keeping it intact for future generations to enjoy is a big task.
Conserving the state’s native wildlife and managing national parks and other protected areas is the responsibility of the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS).
Team of volunteers
Helping QPWS meet this challenge is a large team of volunteers. Volunteers provide a service to the community of their own free will without pay.
Volunteering is a positive, motivated, recreational activity.
It gives people the chance to make a direct contribution towards the protection and management of our natural environment. It also provides a worthwhile opportunity to meet people and develop and maintain knowledge, skills and self-esteem.
QPWS places great emphasis on the need to improve community awareness, appreciation and understanding of the environment and promotes community participation in nature conservation. Being part of a volunteer program is a mutually beneficial way of achieving these goals.
By undertaking activities that are additional to QPWS requirements, volunteers are able to involve themselves in a broad range of endeavours.
As a QPWS volunteer, you might:
- care for and rehabilitate sick, injured or orphaned animals;
- survey frogs in our tropical rainforests;
- plant native trees along wildlife corridors;
- help tag nesting sea turtles;
- provide information to help visitors enjoy Queensland’s protected areas such as national parks and World Heritage areas;
- take overseas visitors or school students on guided nature walks;
- join a NatureSearch team and survey the native plants and animals in your local area;
- record migratory wading birds along our coasts; or
- restore degraded land to a more natural state.
These are just some of the many possibilities for QPWS volunteers. Your activities will vary depending on the time and place you are operating. You will get a chance to put your administrative skills, trade or tertiary studies to work for nature.
In serving your community as a volunteer you might choose to engage in a group activity and enjoy the company, spirit and support of a group of like-minded people. Alternatively, you might prefer to take on a more private and independent role.
Either way, you will be guided and assisted by a QPWS officer. This officer will give you an introduction to the QPWS and explain your role as a volunteer. You will receive training. The officer will also assist with any issues or queries that might arise.
The QPWS welcomes nominations for volunteer duties.
Volunteering is a popular pastime for many Queenslanders from every walk of life. If you would like to lend a hand in caring for the environment, choose one of our many volunteering programs.
Last updated: 01 August 2007
