Where to start
| Volunteer programs available Please choose the area from one of the following list: Volunteer opportunities for undergraduates and postgraduates
Please contact the co-ordinators of any programs you are interested in. They will answer any questions you may have and discuss the programs in greater detail. For information on any other volunteer opportunities apart from these programs , contact the nearest district or regional office. Contact a volunteer co-ordinator or email us |
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| Brisbane Forest Park | Get involved in the Go Bush, or Resource Volunteers programs and help the Rangers at the D’Aguilar Range Parks. Or join the track maintenance volunteers at Bunyaville. Contact Brisbane Forest Park on (07) 3300 4855 for details. |
| Moreton Bay Marine Park and islands | Help protect the Bay on Brisbane’s doorstep. Contact:Cleveland office on (07) 3821 9000; Peel Island on (07) 3409 9409; Moreton Island on (07) 3408 2710; St. Helena on (07) 3396 5113, or Bribie Island on (07) 3408 8451. Join the sea-grass monitoring program by phoning (07) 3821 9029 |
| Fort Lytton National Park | Interested in helping to protect an historic site close to the city. Call (07) 3893 1780 |
| Daisy Hill Koala Centre | Find out about koalas and nature conservation. Work with the Daisy Hill Rangers who conduct special educational programs and events for visitors and schools. Call (07) 3299 1032. |
| Venman Bushland National Park | Help protect this haven for local wildlife. It is an important part of the koala coast. Call (07) 3808 1741. |
For further volunteer opportunities near Brisbane contact the QPWS Central Moreton District Office on (07) 3202 0200. |
| Gold Coast and hinterland |
| David Fleay Wildlife Park, Gold Coast | Volunteers can contribute to the park in a range of areas including boardwalk guiding, school holiday programs, park maintenance, gardening, or park presentation. To contact David Fleay Wildlife Park Ph (07) 5576 2411. |
| Burleigh Heads Information Centre | Answer public enquiries about the Gold Coast hinterland parks. Call (07) 5535 3032. |
| Gold Coast Parks Management Unit | Help maintain one of the state’s most visited natural areas, Burleigh Head National Park. Call (07) 5576 0271. |
| Hinterland parks | If you want to work in World Heritage-listed rainforests, contact Tamborine National Park (07) 5576 0271 or Springbrook National Park (07) 5533 5147. Alternatively, join the Lamington National Park Natural History Associations. Call Binna Burra on (07) 5533 3584 or Green Mountains on (07) 5544 0634. |
For further volunteer opportunities at the Gold Coast and hinterland contact the QPWS South Coast District Office on (07) 5520 9600 |
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Sunshine Coast and hinterland
| Noosa National Park | Being surrounded by suburban neighbours presents special challenges for Noosa National Park. Volunteer help is welcome. Contact the ranger on (07) 5447 3243. |
| Maleny | Contact the QPWS office, Maleny, for information on volunteer opportunities in parks around the Sunshine Coast hinterland on (07) 5494 3983. |
For further volunteer opportunities at the Sunshine Coast and hinterland contact the QPWS Sunshine Coast District Office on (07) 5443 8940. |
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Toowoomba and beyond
| Bunya Mountains National Park | Volunteer efforts are appreciated at this large, scenic park north-west of Toowoomba. Contact the ranger on (07) 4668 3127. |
| Main Range National Park | Become a volunteer at one of the jewels of the Scenic Rim. Call (07) 4666 1133. |
| Lake Broadwater Conservation Park | Just outside Dalby, this is a bird-watcher’s paradise. Join the Natural History Association by calling (07) 4669 9579 |
Central Queensland coast
| Mon Repos Conservation Park | From November to March volunteers help deliver educational information to visitors at Mon Repos, an important turtle rookery in the South Pacific.Call (07) 4159 1652. |
| Capricornia Cays National Park | Work as a campground host on Lady Musgrave and North West Islands in the Great Barrier Reef or join the weed-buster activities. Call (07) 4971 6510. |
| Whitsundays | Join this volunteer program for the mainland and island national parks around the Whitsundays. It is based at Airlie Beach. Call (07) 4946 7022. |
Central Queensland inland
| Roma district | Includes parks in areas such as Carnarvon and Taroom. Contact the District Office on (07) 4622 4266 |
| Longreach district | This is the largest district in the state. It manages parks such as Diamantina, Bladensburg, Lochern, Idalia and Welford. Contact the district office on (07) 4652 7333. |
| Mount Isa district | Volunteer with the staff at parks including Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) and Camooweal Caves. Contact the District office on (07) 4744 7888 or Boodjamulla on (07) 4748 5598. |
North Queensland
| Townsville | Join in the interpretive and other programs by calling (07) 4722 5239. |
| Cairns | Check out the opportunities for volunteer participation in the tropical north by calling (07) 4046 6696. |
| Centre for Tropical Rehabilitation/TREAT (Trees for Evelyn and Atherton Tablelands) | Volunteers on the Atherton Tableland help with tree propagation and planting schemes that establish and restore natural corridors for native wildlife. Call (07) 4095 3768 |
| Wet Tropics volunteers | Rally around the rainforest! Volunteer programs for the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area are based at Cardwell (07) 4066 8115 and at Lake Eacham on the Atherton Tableland (07) 4095 3768. Activities include running programs for park visitors, programs for schools and tree planting and rehabilitation. |
| Mossman and Daintree | Explore the volunteer opportunities where the rainforest meets the reef. Call (07) 4098 2188. |
Wildlife
| Wildlife care | Community groups and individuals around Queensland help care for sick, injured and orphaned wildlife. Contact your local Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service office for information on the wildlife carer’s group near you or (07) 5520 9600. |
| Moggill Koala Hospital | Volunteers provide care for sick, injured and orphaned koalas at this centre, (07) 3202 0200. |
| Wildlife monitoring | Volunteers across the state help to locate, identify and record the native plants and animals that make up our fascinating wildlife. See NatureSearch below. |
| Mon Repos Conservation Park | From November to March volunteers help with turtle research at Mon Repos, an important turtle rookery in the South Pacific. Call (07) 4159 1652. |
| NatureSearch | Take on the challenge of surveying our plants and animals as a NatureSearch team member. Contact your nearest NatureSearch co-odinator at: (07) 3202 0222 |
| FrogSearch (at Kroombit Tops and Eungella national parks) | Get off the beaten track and help with ongoing frog research and monitoring. Call (07) 4936 0596. |
Nature needs you
If you would like to volunteer to help look after the nature of Queensland, contact your local national park or Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service office. Your help today will protect Queensland's wonderful natural legacy for the future.
Southern Region
Brisbane (07) 3202 0232
Toowoomba (07) 4639 4599
Maryborough (07) 4121 1800 Bundaberg (07) 4153 8048
Herbarium (07) 3896 9316
Central Region
Gladstone (07) 4971 6500 Rockhampton (07) 4936 0511 Mackay (07) 4944 7812
Northern Region
Townsville (07) 4722 5382
Cairns (07) 4053 4310
Cardwell (07) 4066 8115
Innisfail (07) 4061 4291
Lake Eacham (07) 4095 3768
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The Agency is often able to provide meaningful volunteer opportunities for tertiary students and graduates. The following points apply to these activities:
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While workplace health and safety remains a very high priority, standards of accommodation and access to convenience/luxury items will reflect the isolation and nature of the activity.
o You may experience extreme weather, climate or terrain.
o Your work hours and roster will reflect the activity you are doing, e.g. marine turtle monitoring at rookery sites is primarily a night activity and fauna surveys start at dawn.
o You may be required to work as a member of a very small team in an isolated environment for some time.
- If you are studying to become a ranger, you should be aware that any park or management unit can take on volunteers even though they may not be able to run a formal volunteer program. You should discuss your the requirements with the ranger(s)-in-charge. For contact details click here. Opportunities will vary with the management unit work programs.
- You may also wish to refer to the Work Experience web pages. “Work experience” positions are filled on a priority basis with top priority given to students meeting tertiary curriculum requirements. However, the contacts listed may also be able to help with volunteer opportunities in these technical fields.
- If you are interstate or overseas and unable to telephone the staff directly, please e-mail us on and your messages will be sent on.
You should discuss matters such as transport and accommodation with the program co-ordinator.
| Activity | Detail | Contact |
| Southern Queensland | ||
| Biological research and monitoring | Engage in fauna and flora research and monitoring with the NatureSearch program. Includes regular planned field activities along with the capacity for self-motivated research and a variety of skills/species recognition training is available. | (07) 3202 0222 |
| Biological research and monitoring | Join in field flora and fauna research covering a broad range of species and sites from a base at Toowoomba. (Staff with extensive herpetological skills and knowledge). | (07) 4639 8319 |
| Biological research and monitoring | Participate in flora and fauna survey work along with other conservation management activities on Fraser Island. | (07) 4127 9128 |
| Biological research and monitoring | Help the team at Brisbane Forest Park carry out various biological projects and deliver a variety of interpretive messages. | (07) 3300 4855 |
| Botanical research and monitoring | Take part in sea-grass monitoring in Moreton Bay. Most suitable as a long term commitment. | (07) 3821 9029 |
| Entomological research and monitoring | Participation in a formal volunteer program, “BugCatch” conducted in conjunction with the Queensland Entomological Society. Comprises field trips in response to seasonal influences. | (07) 3247 3299 |
| Post Graduate Research | For general information on opportunities to conduct volunteer post graduate research which supports Agency goals. | (07) 4639 8372 |
| Projects research and monitoring, ranger style activities etc. | Find out about opportunities available in the Sunshine Coast District. | (07) 5459 6129 |
| Projects research and monitoring, ranger style activities etc. | Discuss the opportunities available in the Great Sandy District (includes Fraser Island and Rainbow Beach). | (07) 4121 1933 |
| Zoological care of wildlife exhibits, and Interpretation |
Join the team at David Fleay Wildlife Park and get hands on experience caring for a range of native animals including many rare and threatened species. | (07) 5576 2411 |
| Zoological research and monitoring | Participate in a broad range of field research activities. Based at Indooroopilly. | (07) 3896 9212 |
| Zoological research and monitoring (marine), and Interpretation | Get involved in marine turtle research and monitoring based at the Mon Repos rookery through the summer period. | (07) 3225 1976 |
Central Queensland (coast) |
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| Biological research and monitoring |
For access to volunteer projects including sea-grass monitoring, based in Rockhampton. | (07) 4936 0580 |
Biological research and monitoring |
Join staff involved in conservation management of fauna (including threatened species and specialising in frogs), fire management and conservation management. | (07) 4936 0596 |
| Interpretation | Get involved in interpretive and other activities in the Townsville area. | (07) 4722 5239 |
| Zoological research and monitoring | Opportunities to engage in the Bridled Nailtail Wallaby recovery program. | (07) 4936 0569 |
| Zoological research and monitoring | Help the team managing the endangered northern hairy nosed wombat. Also an opportunity to assist as a caretaker on site. | (07) 4936 0549 |
| Zoological wildlife management |
Join the Rockhampton based wildlife management team. | (07) 4936 0568 |
Northern Queensland |
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| Biological research and monitoring |
Discover flora and fauna survey work and other field activities in the Mossman and Daintree areas. | (07) 4098 2188 |
| Botanical research and monitoring large-scale nursery activities. | Participate in the activities of the Centre for Tropical Restoration on the Atherton Tableland. | (07) 4095 3406 |
| Zoological research and monitoring | Enquire about field research and monitoring activities, including crocodile management. | (07) 4046 6654 |
| Zoological wildlife management | Join the Cairns based wildlife management team. | (07) 4046 6756 |
| Zoological research and monitoring | Get some experience with the Atherton based threatened species management team. | (07) 4091 7768 |
Queensland Inland |
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| Projects research and monitoring, ranger style activities etc. | Visit Longreach District (includes Lochern, Diamantina, Bladensburg, Idalia and Welford National Parks). | (07) 4652 7333 |
| Projects research and monitoring, ranger style activities etc. | Visit Mount Isa District (includes Boodjamulla {Lawn Hill} and Camooweal Caves National Parks). | District Office |
| Projects research and monitoring, fire management, ranger style activities etc. | Travel to Roma District (includes Carnarvon, Taroom National Parks etc.). | (07) 4622 4266 |
| Zoological research and monitoring | Research on species of far western Queensland including the Bilby. Operating from the Charleville area. | (07) 4654 1255 |
Last updated: 19 March 2008
