Turtle Conservation Program in Northern Australia

Volunteers undertake a five-day working week from Monday to Friday, however, they can request to work weekends. Your daily activities may consist of:

• Preparing food for the turtles
• Feeding the turtles
• Cleaning the turtle tanks and filter bags
• Scrubbing algae off the turtle’s backs
• Providing enrichment for the turtles
• Maintaining and repairing turtle tanks
• Keeping the project grounds clean and tidy

Other activities may include:

• Attending a turtle release, but thee only happen once a year
• Helping to promote humane and sustainable practices through co-operation and education initiatives
• Fundraising (Cairns markets, handing out leaflets)

Volunteers take a ferry ride to an island off Cairns. Here they will spend the morning at the Rehabilitation Centre.
The general schedule is as follows:-

7.30 AM - Be at the Reef Terminal
7.45 AM-8.30 AM - Ferry ride to the island
8.30 AM – 12.00 PM - Caring for the turtles 
12 PM – onwards - Lunch and return to Cairns (you will be notified each day of the return time – between 12 pm and 5 pm)

The majority of your time will be spent cleaning and feeding turtles and their tanks. It is important that volunteers must be willing to work and show initiative as there are specific tasks that need to be completed each day prior to all of the volunteers leaving for the day.

Arrival Info

Volunteers need to arrive at Cairns International Airport (Airport Code: CNS) between 8 am to 8 pm on Sunday. You will be provided with a discounted shuttle code to get you to the hostel accommodation. 

Orientation

On Monday morning, volunteers will meet the program staff and board the ferry to the island and will be given an orientation there. Volunteers will be introduced to each turtle in care, given an orientation around the center and guided about the work to do. In case of any help needed, our coordinators will be available.

Accommodation

Volunteers would be staying at a hostel accommodation in central Cairns. Volunteers are allocated a 6-bed male or female dorm room with a shared bathroom. If you would like to upgrade to a single, double, twin, family room or a room (some with ensuites) - you can write to us and we can arrange for the same. The accommodation is centrally located and has excellent facilities available such as a swimming pool, wifi, communal kitchen, and a large outdoor area. Good restaurants and cafes are located in close proximity to the hostel.

Meals

Breakfast is included daily at the hostel accommodation. There are grocery stores and supermarkets in the area if you would like to buy your own food supplies and use the fully equipped kitchen at the hostel. At the end of the day’s work on the Island, it is nice to sit at the restaurant and have a cool drink.
You can prepare your own lunch and take it with you to the island as well. A free Sunday evening BBQ is also arranged at the hostel every week.
Cairns is full of restaurants and eateries so there is an abundance of options to meet everyone’s dietary requirements.  

During Your Free Time

After the workday is completed, you are free to do as you please. If you are on the island, you will finish the turtle tasks usually before 12.00 pm leaving the rest of the day as free time. This free time will be either on the Island or back in Cairns, depending on your return ferry time. 
The island facilities include a diving school, restaurant, bar, walking trails, glass-bottom tours, kayaking, and snorkeling. Volunteers may use the water sports equipment for a fee - snorkeling, paddleboarding, kayaking, etc, while a favorite pastime is sunbaking on the coral beach (remember your sunscreen!). If you are swimming during the stinger season, you can hire a stinger suit. If you are wanting to swim more than 1 day, we recommend purchasing a cheap stinger suit on the internet.