Combine Volunteering and Adventure Travel in Australia!

  Australia

Adelaide,  Arlie Beach,  Ayers Rock,  Ballarat,  Bathurst,  Brisbane,  Byron Bay,  Cairns,  Canberra,  Cape Tribulation,  Central Highlands,  Coffs Harbour,  Darwin,  Fraser Island,  Great Barrier Reef,  Hobart,  Katoomba,  Launceston,  Melbourne,  Mildura,  Perth,  Port Arthur,  Queensland,  Sydney,  Tasmania,  Wagga Wagga,  Wollongong

Durations of Program: 1-2 weeks, 2-4 weeks and 5-8 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: Programs run regularly throughout the year

Description: The ISV Australia Program
ISV's Australian program is a unique opportunity to explore Australia's unique features and volunteer in this vast continent. Projects focus on environmental conservation and are based in various locations from the remote outback to the tropical rainforests of the north or even the Australian suburbs. Explore Australia's unique environment as you visit amazing cities, stunning beaches, and World Heritage areas including the Great Barrier Reef, Fraser Island, the Wet Tropics, the Blue Mountains and more. Come with ISV and see the country in a way you'd never dreamed of.

About ISV
International Student Volunteers Inc, is a US-based non-profit organization that offers globally minded participants the unique opportunity to combine meaningful volunteer projects and adventure travel. ISV has offices all over the world to look after over 4,000 participants who volunteer with us every year. ISV volunteers come from all countries and you don't have to be a student to participate. ISV offers programs in Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Costa Rica, The Dominican Republic, Eastern Europe, South Africa and Ecuador. Because of ISV's strong educational focus, many university students apply to receive academic credit for their involvement in the program.

About Australia
Australia has an enormous range of unique landscapes, environments and animals. It is a gigantic island (nearly as large as the USA) with a population of only 21 million people. With isolated deserts covering 70 per cent of the country, Australia's environments range from desolate sand dunes, to lush rainforests to the stunning Great Barrier Reef.

Although aboriginal inhabitants have lived sustainably in Australia for well over 40,000 years, the colonization and development over the last two centuries has seen the unsustainable expansion of human influence across the continent. In the last 200 years, Australia has lost many of its iconic species and has one of the worst mammal extinction rates in the world. As a volunteer, you have the opportunity to work alongside local Australian organizations that have partnered with ISV to develop hands-on conservation volunteer projects. Your work will help to protect and restore the unique and fragile Australian landscapes which provide habitat for Australia's threatened flora and fauna.

Volunteer Projects
Projects focus on habitat restoration, and you may find yourself working in a wildlife sanctuary, doing scientific research or an outdoor education project.

Current Volunteer Projects include:

Wildlife Sanctuary: Make a difference to Australia's wildlife!
ISV has several projects located in wildlife and nature sanctuaries. The goal is to conserve native animals in a relatively natural setting. Primary tasks vary and can include building and maintaining animal enclosures, fence building, vegetation removal, tree planting, surveying, and animal husbandry (daily care for animals). All of these tasks are directly related to the establishment or maintenance of the sanctuary and the species within it. Volunteers have worked with a range of animals from fairy penguins, to potaroos, and even flying foxes)

Habitat Restoration: Volunteer in unique Australian landscapes!
ISV is dedicated to assisting with numerous habitat restoration projects throughout Australia on public and privately-owned land. Get ready to get your hands dirty and see the results of your efforts by helping to rehabilitate land. The goal of these projects is to help restore important habitats through native revegetation (planting) and exotic species removal. Tasks may also focus on specific issues, such as soil erosion and salinity.

Scientific Research: Collect data to make a difference!
Be part of important research which is critical to the success of conservation management plans. ISV has been involved in both baseline surveys and long-term studies. The primary goal of this type of project is to obtain data that will be used to assist with conservation of species and ecosystems. Primary tasks include surveying and monitoring (such as measuring size, age and abundance of plants and animals), experimental set-up, and other data collection.

Outdoor Education: Help educate and inspire others!
Get involved to help develop or operate existing outdoor education facilities that teach others about sustainability. The goal of these projects is to facilitate understanding and appreciation of the natural world and the importance of taking care of it. Opportunities exist for volunteers to be involved in facilities design and development. Other volunteer tasks vary by project and can include weeding, planting, light construction, nature trail building and property maintenance.

Adventure Tour
You will travel throughout Australia's beautiful east coast between Sydney and Cairns, exploring the World Heritage Areas of the Blue Mountains, Fraser Island (which is the world's largest sand island), the Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropic areas, in addition to primary rainforests, wild rivers, pristine beaches and the cultural attractions of Sydney and Cairns. You will have the opportunity to participate on activities such as:

* Snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef
* Whitewater rafting the Tully River
* Discovering Fraser Island, the largest sand island in the world
* Visiting a traditional Aboriginal cultural center
* Ocean Rafting to the famous Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsunday Islands
* Surfing at the eastern most point of Australia, Byron Bay
* Rappelling down sandstone cliffs in the Blue Mountains
* Visiting an Australian Wildlife Park
* Taking a sunset cruise on Sydney Harbor
* Experiencing the true Aussie night life of Sydney and Cairns
* Visiting an Australian wildlife park

Highlights:
Key achievement from last year:
Planted 64, 142 native trees!

Optional Fiji Excursion: After your stay in Australia, you'll have the opportunity spend five days on the beautiful tropical islands of Fiji! You will have the chance to relax and unwind after your amazing adventure as you snorkel, scuba and sail around this island paradise. Details about this trip will be sent to you by ISV once you are confirmed on the ISV Australia Program.

Why Travel with ISV?!
* Combine meaningful volunteer projects with exciting adventure travel
* ISV has support offices in every program country we operate in
* Trained staff to guide your project and tour
* Group travel you will make friends from across the globe and not be alone
* Educational learn a lot and possibly receive academic credit (if applicable)
* ISV is not a sending agent we run our own programs with our own trained staff to ensure you have the most amazing experience possible.

Qualifications: No qualifications are necessary; ISV will give you all the training you need. To maximize your experience it is preferable you can speak English fluently. You do not need to speak the language of your host country, as you will have bi-lingual project and tour leaders to guide your experience. Minimum age is 18 years old by the time of departure. This program is open to everyone, not just students.

Cost in US$: Program prices vary. Please visit our website

The program cost also goes towards the equipment or building materials needed for your projects, your in-country support, your adventure activities, your amazing trained project and tour leaders, AND towards the ongoing sustainability and training of each project. We give you and our projects the support and structure many other volunteer organizations cannot, as we have an office in each country to look after your entire experience and develop lasting relationships with the communities in which we operate.

Cost does not include: passport costs, insurance, international flights, in-country domestic flights (if required), vaccinations, spending money, extra activities on tour (available through Optional Activity Package).

Credit Available: yes

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Despite our name, any person may volunteer with ISV as long as they are over 18 years old. The majority of our participants are 18 to 30 years old, but we welcome anyone who wishes to join us and make a difference. You do not need any special skills to volunteer with ISV. We just ask that you are willing to give back to your host country; you are willing to learn as much as you can about the people, environment and issues facing your host country, and are ready to make the best friends along your adventure of a lifetime.

Age Range: 18+

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Australia in Groups

Typically Participants Work in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Alumni Network
• Job and Internship Network

International Student Volunteers's Mission Statement: To create an environment that combines conservation, community development, education and recreation into the ultimate adventure travel program for anyone who desires to make a difference by volunteering in local communities abroad.

Year Founded: 1981