Coastline near Cairns in Far North Queensland

Volunteer in Australia

Great Barrier Reef citizen science, marine research and native wildlife care in Queensland, from a single island day to a four-week research placement.

8 programs in Australia

Diver conducting a reef health survey on the Great Barrier Reef

Marine Conservation

Great Barrier Reef Marine Conservation

Cairns, Queensland, Australia

Reef-based citizen science and marine conservation on the Great Barrier Reef, with dive training or a liveaboard reef experience.

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Rainforest meeting the reef coastline in Far North Queensland

Marine Conservation

Reef & Rainforest Adventure

Far North Queensland (Cairns · Great Barrier Reef · Daintree · Cape Tribulation · Kuranda)

Three weeks combining reef research, marine conservation and rainforest exploration in tropical Far North Queensland.

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Family snorkelling on a reef conservation expedition

Marine Conservation

Eco-Expedition for Families & Groups

Far North Queensland, Australia

A 5-day expedition for families and small groups: reef, rainforest and wildlife, with real marine conservation alongside the O2E team.

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Smiling volunteer in a blue t-shirt on the back deck of a boat, with the wake and open sea behind

Marine Conservation

Marine Conservationist for a Day

Fitzroy Island or Green Island, near Cairns, Australia

Spend a day on a Great Barrier Reef island learning reef science and contributing to real citizen-science surveys.

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Study-placement volunteers recording marine survey data on the reef

Marine Conservation

Diploma of Marine Conservation Volunteering

Cairns, Queensland (fieldwork) + online study

A study-and-fieldwork pathway combining an online diploma with hands-on reef fieldwork on the Great Barrier Reef.

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Family taking part in a reef education day near Cairns

Marine Conservation

Family Education Day

Fitzroy Island or Green Island, near Cairns, Australia

A family day on the Great Barrier Reef: reef learning and hands-on citizen science in a beautiful island setting.

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Native Australian wildlife in care at a small home-based shelter

Animal Welfare & Conservation

Endangered Species Conservation

Deepwater / Agnes Water region, Queensland, Australia

Support a small home-based wildlife shelter caring for threatened native Australian species. Expressions of interest only, join the waitlist.

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How the work runs in Queensland

Australian placements are based around Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef, plus native wildlife care in regional Queensland. Reef work is genuine citizen science: coral and fish identification, reef-health observations, turtle monitoring and marine debris removal, with data that feeds ongoing monitoring rather than a folder.

Wildlife placements are hands-off by default. Volunteers support the daily routines local staff already run, feeding, food preparation, cleaning and enclosure maintenance, in line with the O2E Wildlife Code.

Read the Wildlife Code and our ethical standards

Not sure where to start?

We can help you choose.

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Get the 5-day ethical volunteering course

One short email a day. How to spot a genuine project, what fees really pay for, and how to prepare.