Volunteering Opportunities
The Great Barrier Reef, one of the world’s most iconic natural wonders, is a breathtaking marine ecosystem teeming with vibrant coral reefs, diverse marine life, and stunning underwater landscapes.
Volunteering on the Great Barrier Reef offers a unique and rewarding opportunity to contribute to the conservation and protection of the region’s most vital ecosystems.
You could play a crucial role in conservation initiatives, ranging from citizen science projects and seagrass restoration to community education and sustainable tourism. By participating in these programs, you could help preserve the region’s biodiversity but also gain hands-on experience in marine science, develop a deeper understanding of environmental issues, and foster a strong connection to nature.
Whether you are an aspiring marine biologist, an animal lover, or simply someone who cares about the environment, there are numerous volunteering opportunities available on our doorstep. From monitoring coral and marine life on the Great Barrier Reef to participating in beach clean-ups every effort counts in the fight to protect the environment.
Volunteering in the Whitsundays and on the Great Barrier Reef is not just an act of service; it is an unforgettable adventure that allows you to make a tangible difference while experiencing the beauty and wonder of one of the world’s most magnificent natural habitats.
Eye on the Reef
One of the easiest ways to help is to join this citizen science movement – the Eye on the Reef program. Simply download the Eye on the Reef app and record your sightings whilst out on the water.
The Eye on the Reef monitoring and assessment program allows anyone who visits the Great Barrier Reef to contribute to its long-term protection by collecting valuable information about reef health, marine animals and incidents. This information is used to inform on how the reef is managed.
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority have also provided a list of Responsible Reef Practices tips that you can view here.
Eco Barge Clean Seas
Eco Barge Clean Seas Inc. is a not-for-profit environmental organisation, established in Airlie Beach, designed to engage the community to protect the marine environment by removing marine and land-based debris, recycling and transforming ocean plastics to reduce landfill, and providing care for sick and injured marine turtles.
Eco Barge have regular volunteer opportunities that include collecting marine debris out on the Whitsunday Islands (via their barge), counting and sorting through the litter at their mainland base, or voluntary care at their turtle rescue centre.
Tangaroa Blue
Tangaroa Blue is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the removal and prevention of marine debris, one of the largest environmental issues worldwide. They have successfully created the Australian Marine Debris Initiative (AMDI), a citizen science network that works on solutions to stop of the flow of litter at the source.
There are multiple ways in which you can help Tangaroa Blue with the Australian Marine Debris Initiative. There are coordinated events in partnership with the Coral Sea Academy, such as Clean Up Australia Day, or you can assist by collecting marine debris in your own time and logging the data on their free app.
Fauna Rescue Whitsundays
Fauna Rescue Whitsundays is a not-for-profit voluntary group who cares for and rehabilitates sick, injured and orphaned native wildlife. They provide a 24 hour wildlife hotline service, give informative talks to schools and encourage the valuable participation of the community in all of their activities.
Fauna Rescue Whitsundays are looking for volunteers to rescue or transport animals, answer the hotline, care, construct caring facilities, do presentations, sew pouches, help with marketing, grant writing and run workshops.
Whitsunday Seagrass Restoration Project
Beneath the bright blue Whitsunday waters lie the unsung heroes of the ocean habitat: seagrass meadows. They protect shorelines from coastal erosion, filter out fine sediments which protect the reef and offset our carbon footprint by catching and storing organic matter. However, they are degrading at a rapid rate and the Whitsunday Seagrass Restoration Project aims to lend a helping hand.
Volunteer at one of their flower collection events which help collect seeds for restoration at the seagrass nursery site at Coral Sea Marina.
Whitsunday Catchment Landcare
Whitsunday Catchment Landcare plans towards environmental, economic and social sustainability within the Whitsunday catchment. They run volunteer mornings at the Community Nursery every Tuesday and Thursday morning from 9am – 12pm. Activities include native plant seed processing, storing, propagation, tubing-up and nursery maintenance tasks. They also endeavour to provide an alternative volunteering activity to the nursery work on the 3rd Thursday of each month. These activities may involve visits to various local revegetation sites for maintenance or seed collecting, or just visiting sites of regional botanical significance and interest.
