Australia 🇦🇺 is a fascinating travel destination but also offers plenty of volunteering opportunities that will stay in your memories forever. Its stunning biodiversity on earth and in the seas is unique. Therefore, we are happy to support your contributions to maintain it.
1. Volunteering opportunities in Australia
The wildlife and nature on this beautiful continent are incredible but need your help to survive and be sustainably protected on this planet. Within our volunteering opportunities, you can contribute to save:
the Great Barrier Reef 🐟 (the country is the first diving destination in the world 🏊♀️)
the Australian Wildlife (e.g. Koala conservation 🐨, or Kangaroo Conservation 🦘)
the breathtaking flora and landscapes 🌱 (e.g. Reforestation 🌿 🌳)
We understand that this process may seem overwhelming, so we recommend you look into the different programs and options available to you and contact us if you have any questions.
We look forward to having you join the volunteerism movement, and to having you be part of our over 3 million travelers from all over the world who have been and are doing amazing work abroad.
2. Tips around volunteering in Australia
2.1. Is it safe to volunteer in Australia?
Before embarking on your exciting trip abroad, consider the following:
Obtain travel insurance to ensure coverage for any unforeseen events during your journey.
Protect your skin from the intense Australian sun by using highly protective sunscreen and wearing appropriate clothing.
Familiarize yourself with potential bushfire risks in the region you plan to visit, particularly during late spring and summer.
When swimming in the ocean, stay within the designated flagged areas that are supervised by lifeguards. The main concern is strong currents rather than sharks.
2.2. Health advises
Australia, being a developed country with great amenities, offers a pleasant stay for visitors. Stay safe and healthy during your stay with the following advises:
Confirm with your doctor if any immunizations are required for volunteering in Australia, although they are generally not necessary.
Protect yourself from the sun by consistently using sunscreen, as heatstroke and sunburn can lead to significant discomfort.
If you have any health conditions or take medications, remember to bring an adequate supply of your medication along with the prescription. The prescription may be important for customs clearance purposes.
2.3. Packing Tips
What should you pack in your suitcase? Besides swimsuits, shorts, and sunglasses, there are some items that you may not have thought of:
Travel Insurance
Money, cards, credit cards
Passport
Australian power adapter (perhaps more than 1 if you're heavy on electronics)
Waterproof phone case to protect against dust, scratches, water
Water shoes for spending time at or around the beach
Reef-safe sunscreen that protects your skin but contains no damaging chemicals polluting the reef
Personal medication, first-aid kit
Sun hat
Quick-dry towels
Read more about the ultimate packing guide.
2.4. Budget to volunteer in Australia
The suggested daily budget for a volunteer in Australia is between US$45 and US$96. This is an estimate made considering the average price of some of the services and things you may need. It gives you a general overview of how much things cost in this country.
Additional costs you should consider are:
Additional costs you should consider are:
program fees
flight tickets (find cheap flights to Australia)
travel insurance (find your travel insurance)
fees for your visa
personal expenses
2.5. Visa best practice
General immigration information
Before traveling to Australia, it is important to note that all citizens, except for New Zealand nationals, are required to apply for a visa in advance.
As a volunteer, you can typically apply for a tourist visa since you are not receiving payment for your services.
Customs are very strict in Australia. Certain items are prohibited from entering the country, and you will be required to discard them upon arrival:
Dairy and egg products
Uncanned meat products
Live Animals
Fresh fruit or vegetables
Seeds and nuts
Live plants
Check out the following sections below to find more details on travel and visa regulations for Australia:
👉 Best practice for short-term volunteers
👉 Best practice for short-term volunteers
For a number of European countries:
The eVisitor (subclass 651)is a free visa for multiple visits to Australia for tourism or business purposes for up to three months at a time within a 12-month period and it cannot be extended.
For a number of countries and regions outside of Australia:
The Electronic Travel Authority visa (subclass 601) allows you to visit Australia as many times as you want, for up to a year, and stay for three months for each visit. There is no visa application charge for an ETA, however, a $20 service charge applies for online applications only.
For people from countries who are not eligible to apply for the above visas, there’s still the Visitor visa (subclass 600) which allows you to visit Australia, either for tourism or business purposes, for up to three, six, or 12 months. The base application fee for this visa ranges from $135 to $340.
👉 Best practice for long-term volunteers
👉 Best practice for long-term volunteers
The longest you can stay in Australia is 12 months. In this case, the Visitor visa (subclass 600) would be an option if you wish to stay for longer than 3 months. The base application fee for this visa ranges from $135 to $340.
Disclaimer: There are no liability claims against Volunteer World if entry is not possible due to individual visa requirements.