Australia working holiday and Conservation experience

  Australia

• Sydney: 
Sydney

Duration of Program: 1-2 years

Description: The sixth largest country in the world, Australia is quite literally every travelers dream! From deep sea diving with whale sharks to exploring the rich aboriginal culture& crystal- clear beaches to the great Australian outback, there's so much for the eager traveler to do! This working holiday gives you 52 weeks to explore Australia as a true local, as you'll have exclusive access to thousands of job opportunities through the country, the chance to volunteer for one week at vital conservation projects and the support of our in-country team every step of the way! So let's just say & if you want the true Aussie experience, this is the trip for you!

What you'll be doing:
You will be having the time of your life living and working in Sydney. We will help you get settled in and give you all the tools you need to have a great working holiday in Australia. You can decide to take your week volunteering wherever you please. You can head to the outback soon after arriving in Australia, as a break from your working holiday or at the end of your time in Australia, it's up to you!

Getting a job:
At your orientation we'll help you sort out important stuff like bank accounts and tax file numbers. You will also be able to use the mail holding service so you can start getting postcards right away from jealous friends and family back home. You'll have 12 months of priority access to thousands of job offers, all over Australia. In a one-on-one consultation with a Travelers At Work job specialist, you will get help with your resume and advice on how to organize interviews to get you that first job fast!

Conservation project details:
You will spend a week working with Australia's leading conservation organisation. You can choose from 18 different gateway locations and will need to make your own way to your project start point (except if you choose Sydney of course!). On-going projects include:

- Weed control projects at Uluru Kata Tjuta World Heritage Area (Ayers Rock), NT.
- Assisting with research on Echidnas (spiny anteaters) and goannas on Kangaroo Island, SA.
- Fauna surveys in the Grampians National Park, VIC
- Wetlands restoration projects in the national capital, Canberra, ACT
- Tree planting and wildlife spotting on Rottnest Island, WA
- Koala habitat surveys, starting from Mackay, QLD
- Crazy Ants surveys in remote aboriginal-owned Arnhem Land, NT
- Building boardwalks to protect wetlands in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, TAS
- Building walking tracks on Fraser Island - World Heritage area and the world's largest sand island, QLD
- Coastal conservation installing fencing to protect coastal dunes and penguin habitat in Waterhouse Conservation Area, TAS.
- Developing urban wetlands in Perth, WA.
- Outback projects in north western Australia, including turtle tracking and monitoring, starting from Broome, WA
- Bushfire recovery projects following the February 09 fires, VIC

Please note these are just examples of work the organisation carries out and you can not necessarily specify or request any of the above projects - the project you work on is dependent on the needs of the organization at the time and the gateway location that you choose.

Why the project needs volunteers:
In the last 200 years, since European settlement, Australia has seen the loss of 70% of her native vegetation, including 75% of her rainforests. Loss of species goes hand in hand with loss of habitat and 23% of mammals, 9% of birds and 16% of amphibians are either already extinct or extremely vulnerable. Australia currently has 13 areas listed as world heritage sites and more than 500 national parks. Thought of by many as one of the worlds last wildernesses Australia is home to a unique and fragile ecosystem that needs our help and protection.

Your role as a volunteer:
The variety of conservation projects is as immense as the island continent. The nature of work will vary depending on the time of year you visit and the choice of your destination. Typical projects include: tree planting and promoting reforestation in Australia, dune regeneration, flora and fauna surveys, path and track maintenance, habitat regeneration, heritage restoration work and native vegetation protection.

Where you'll be staying:
You'll spend your first week in Sydney at a funky hostel in the center of the city. You'll get breakfast daily and will be just minutes from everything that Sydney has to offer. You can stay in one of the cool converted railway carriages or one of the comfy rooms in the historic main building. The hostel features a spa pool, internet cafe, 24-hour access, tour desk, indoor and outdoor communal areas and self-catering kitchen.

Depending on which conservative experience is available, you could be staying in lighthouses, shearers' barns, home stays or camping so be prepared to rough it! All food is provided but you'll need to cook it yourself with the rest of your team.

Before you arrive:
Be sure to apply for your working holiday visa at least 4 weeks before you are due to travel. The process is fast and easy so we see no need to charge you a hefty fee to do it for you.

When you arrive:
You will be met at the airport by a member of our in-country team and given a brief orientation to the city. You'll spend your first week at a hostel in the center of the city. You'll get breakfast daily and will be just minutes from everything that Sydney has to offer. Once you've settled in you'll get a Sydney orientation covering all the details of living, travelling, working and partying in Australia. You can arrange the exact date and location of your Conservation experience once you arrive.

Highlights:
* Soft landing into the land of Oz with airport pick up and one week's accommodation
* 12 month access to job placement service
* 1 week volunteering with a conservation project in Australia's vast outback
* Help setting up bank account and tax file number
* Mail holding service (essential for getting your tax file number, bank account and first pay check!)

Cost in US$: USD 1195.00 for 52 weeks

Experience Required: no

Age Range: 18+

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network

i-to-i Meaningful Travel's Mission Statement: i-to-i is an award-winning organization providing unique opportunities for you to travel, work and live abroad. Thousands of travelers aged 18 to 80 have joined our volunteer vacations and over 50,000 have learned to Teach English as a Foreign Language through our tailor-made TEFL courses. With over 400 projects on 4 continents, you can join the worldwide i-to-i volunteer community on an extended adventure in areas such as teaching, community development, sports coaching, conservation, building or internships in tourism, marketing, journalism, or health.

Year Founded: 1994