Working Bees

Upcoming Working Bees are listed below. If you see an opportunity that may suit you, please apply! Read the How to apply for volunteer positions page for details.

MARCH

Boolcoomatta Reserve, SA - applications closed

Nearest town - Broken Hill, 100km

Working bee - heritage building maintenance
Boolcoomatta reserve features historical buildings dating back to the 1870s, but these require maintenance and repair. Work is necessary to reduce the hazards that these buildings pose to staff and visitors, and to ensure that the buildings may be utilised in the future by people carrying out reserve management activities.
When: 21 - 27 March
Time commitment: 7 days
Places: 3 - 6 (optional +1 volunteer cook) 
Activities: Core - painting, rendering, and basic repairs to heritage buildings. Optional - cooking for team.
Requirements: Essential: physically fit and able to undertake 5 days manual labour, tolerant of hot conditions, experience in one or more of the following - painting, rendering, basic building and repair. Preferred: 4WD experience. For the optional cooking role: experience in cooking for small groups is required.
Support: basic accommodation, supervision, materials, tools and equipment provided.
Food: BYO or provisions for group meals are available for $85 per person. 

  

Scottsdale Reserve, NSW

Nearest town - Bredbo, 4km

Working bee - seed collecting - applications closed

Spend the morning collecting indigenous seeds. Seeds from some of our favourite natives will be collected from the reserve to be redistributed at a later date throughout the region as part of the Kosciuszko 2 Coast project. The seeds collected will support local property owners to revegetate with plants of local provenance.
When: Sun 14 March
Time commitment: 1/2 day, 8.45am - 1.00pm
Places: 8 - 22
Activities: Walk and collect shrub and tree seed according to advice provided on the day.
Requirements: No previous experience necessary. Essential: physically fit to walk over uneven and undulating ground, some bending and carrying involved.
Support: supervision, materials, tools and equipment provided.
Food: BBQ lunch provided.  

APRIL

Scottsdale Reserve, NSW

Nearest town - Bredbo, 4 km 

Working bee - tree planting and weeding
In support of the Kosciuszko 2 Coast and the Great Eastern Ranges Initiative plans to restore connections between natural mountain environments, Bush Heritage is working with Greening Australia to revegetate Scottsdale Reserve.
When: 7 April
Time commitment: 1/2 day
Places: 20
Activities: tree planting and hand weeding
Requirements: Essential: volunteers will need to be reasonably fit, the terrain is rugged and the quite rigorous activities involve bending, lifting and carrying.
Support: materials, tools and equipment provided, experienced staff onsite
Food: BBQ lunch provided

Working bee - tree planting and weeding
In support of the Kosciuszko 2 Coast and the Great Eastern Ranges Initiative plans to restore connections between natural mountain environments, Bush Heritage is working with Greening Australia to revegetate Scottsdale Reserve.
When: 21 April
Time commitment: 1/2 day
Places: 20
Activities: tree planting and hand weeding
Requirements: Essential: volunteers will need to be reasonably fit, the terrain is rugged and the quite rigorous activities involve bending, lifting and carrying.
Support: materials, tools and equipment provided, experienced staff onsite
Food: BBQ lunch provided

MAY

Burrin Burrin Reserve, NSW

Nearest town - Braidwood, 20km

Working bee - tree planting
Burrin Burrin Reserve is holding a tree planting day, with the aim for these new seedlings to protect some of the native tree ferns in the area and increase their survivability.
When: 1 May
Time commitment: 1 day
Places: 12
Activities: Planting seedlings to help protect some of the native tree ferns on the reserve
Requirements: Essential: volunteers will need to be reasonably fit, the terrain can be ruggesd and the activities rigorous involving bending, lifting and carrying. 
Support:  materials, tools and equipment provided.
Food: BYO lunch, BBQ dinner provided following the day's activities 

 

Boolcoomatta Reserve, SA
Nearest town - Broken Hill, 100km

Working bee - fence removal
The low sprawling plains of the Boolcoomatta landscape are broken in places by old fences. The fences are potentially lethal for wildlife such as emus and kangaroos. A small team of volunteers is needed to continue removing internal fences, to redmove the hazard and to promote freedom of movement for wildlife.
When: 23 - 29 May
Time commitment: 7 days
Places: 4 - 8 (optional incl 1 volunteer cook) 
Activities: Core - dismantle fences, roll wire, load all the bits and pieces on trailers for disposal. Optional - cooking for the team.
Requirements: Essential: physically fit and able to undertake 5 days manual activity including bending, lifting and carrying. Preferred: Senior First Aid certificate, current driver's licence. For the optional cooking role: experience in cooking for small groups is required.
Support: basic accommodation, supervision, materials, tools and equipment provided.
Food: BYO or provisions for group meals are available for $85 per person. 

 

Cravens Peak Reserve, QLD - applications closed

Working bee - Robbie's Hut
Assistance is needed to develop new infrastructure to accommodate staff. A demountable building known as Robbie's Hut is near completion. Volunteers are needed to apply the finishing touches i.e. to stain the floor in kitchen and dining room and to paint the walls and ceilings.
When: 17 - 22 May
Time commitment: 7 days
Places: 4
Activities: prepare surfaces, paint walls and ceilings, stain/laquer floors, clean up afterward.
Requirements: Essential: physically fit and happy to complete the activities described. Preferred: experience painting, offroad 4WD experience.
Support: accommodation in volunteer quarters with small kitchen or basic camping available, materials, tools and equipment provided. Use of BH vehicle on site for assigned activities.
Caution: volunteers will need a 4WD with high clearance and 2 spare tyres to get to Cravens Peak.
Note: there will be a working bee at Ethabuka Reserve directly following this working bee. Suitable volunteers are encouraged to apply for both. 
Food: BYO

Ethabuka Reserve, QLD

Working bee - fence repair - applications closed

Ethabuka is a desert property that is also home to ephemeral and semi-permanent wetland systems of national significance. To protect these water systems (including Pulchera waterhole) from intruding cattle and camels, boundary fence maintenance is necessary.  
When: 22 - 29 May
Time commitment: 7-8 days
Places: 4
Activities: complete fencing tasks as directed onsite.
Requirements: Essential: general level of fitness to walk sand dunes, hammer steel pickets and strain fencing wire, familiar with straining fencing wire, ability to work in a small team with limited supervision. Preferred: Off-road 4WD experience and training.
Support: accommodation in volunteer quarters with small kitchen or basic camping. Materials, tools and equipment provided. Use of BH vehicle for assigned activities.
Caution: volunteers will need a 4WD with high clearance and 2 spare tyres to get to Ethabuka.
Note: there will be working bee activities at Cravens Peak Reserve directly before this working bee. Suitable volunteers are encouraged to apply for both. 
Food: BYO

Working bee - volunteer quarters shade cloth refit - applications closed
To ease the way for successful volunteering opportunities at Ethabuka in the future, it is necessary to improve the volunteer quarters. This working bee is to replace shade cloth, to provide volunteers with a more comfortable stay while staying on site in future.
When: 22 - 29 May
Time commitment: 8 days
Places: 2
Activities: volunteer quarters shade cloth removal and refit
Requirements: Essential: general level of fitness. Preferred: familiar with cordless drill, basic woodwork skills, 4WD experience.
Support: accommodation in volunteer quarters with small kitchen or basic camping. Materials, tools and equipment provided. Use of BH vehicle for assigned activities.
Caution: volunteers will need a 4WD with high clearance and 2 spare tyres to get to Ethabuka.
Note: there will be working bee activities at Cravens Peak Reserve directly before this working bee. Suitable volunteers are encouraged to apply for both.
Food: BYO

Nardoo Hills, VIC

Nearest town - Wedderburn, 12km

Working bee - weed control
Nardoo Hills Reserves form part of a complex of protected land that is home to a large number of declining woodland birds. We are looking to control invasive weed species to protect this grassy woodland habitat and it's unique species including Northern Golden Moth Orchids.
When: arrive Friday evening, Sat 29 & Sun 30 May
Time commitment: 2 days
Places: 5 - 10
Activities: Manual weed control. Some use injecting and spraying weeds with glyphosate herbicide possible (subject to seasonal conditions).
Requirements: Essential: moderate fitness for manual labour including bending, digging and walking rugged terrain. Preferred: ability to carry 5kg backpack and use hand-held wand to spray target weeds, plant id skills.
Food: BYO 
 

JUNE
 

Nardoo Hills, VIC

Nearest town - Wedderburn, 12km

Working bee - weed control

Nardoo Hills Reserves form part of a complex of protected land that is home to a large number of declining woodland birds. We are looking to control invasive weed species to protect this grassy woodland habitat and it's unique species including Northern Golden Moth Orchids.
When: arrive Friday evening, Sat 12 & Sun 13 June
Time commitment: 2 days
Places: 5 - 10
Activities: Manual weed control. Some use injecting and spraying weeds with glyphosate herbicide possible (subject to seasonal conditions).
Requirements: Essential: moderate fitness for manual labour including bending, digging and walking rugged terrain. Preferred: ability to carry 5kg backpack and use hand-held wand to spray target weeds, plant id skills.
Support: accommodation and access to fully equipped kitchen, supervision, tools and equipment to complete necessary tasks, coffee and tea.
Food: BYO
 

JULY
 

Working bee - weed blitz/creek restoration 
Southwest Western Australia's plant species diversity is one to make the tropics jealous, with 52% of the nation's rare and threatened plant species occurring here. We are looking for assistance in controlling weeds at Eurardy in order to maintain the property's valuable habitat.
When: 25 - 31 July
Time commitment: 2 - 5 days, must attend first day for safety induction
Places:4 - 9 (up to 12 if participant prepared to use own 4WD) 
Activities:  manually remove weeds growing in areas that contain rare plants and help to continue erosion control work at Bungabandi Creek
Requirements: Essential: physically fit for 5 consecutive days of manual labour, Preferred: 4WD experience
Support: Accommodation (BYO linen), materials, tools and equipment for the necessary tasks, supervision, reimbursement for fuel used for 1 personal vehicle on site
Food: BYO

Nardoo Hills, VIC

Nearest town - Wedderburn, 12km

Working bee - weed control

Nardoo Hills Reserves form part of a complex of protected land that is home to a large number of declining woodland birds. We are looking to control invasive weed species to protect this grassy woodland habitat and it's unique species including Northern Golden Moth Orchids.
When: arrive Friday evening for Sat & Sun, dates to be announced.
Time commitment: 2 days
Places: 5 - 10
Activities: Manual weed control. Some use injecting and spraying weeds with glyphosate herbicide possible (subject to seasonal conditions).
Requirements: Essential: moderate fitness for manual labour including bending, digging and walking rugged terrain. Preferred: ability to carry 5kg backpack and use hand-held wand to spray target weeds, plant id skills.
Support: accommodation and access to fully equipped kitchen, supervision, tools and equipment to complete necessary tasks, coffee and tea.
Food: BYO
 

AUGUST

Working bee - scrap metal recycling
Craven's Peak Reserve lies on the northern end of the Simpson Desert and was run as a pastoral holding prior to purchase by Bush Heritage. To minimise hazards to people and wildlife, and to help create a more natural area, the reserve is in need of a good clean up. Volunteers are needed to remove some of the old station equipment and internal fencing.
When: August, dates to be confirmed
Time commitment: 7 - 10 days
Places: 6
Activities:  remove sundry equipment and scrap metal, sort scrap for recycling and disposal. Remove internal fence.
Requirements: Essential: physically fit and happy to undertake manual labour for one to two weeks, includes lifting and carrying. Preferred: offroad 4WD experience.
Support: accommodation in volunteer quarters or basic camping available. Materials, tools, equipment and some personal protective equipment provided. BH vehicle available for use while on site.
Caution: volunteers will need a 4WD with high clearance and 2 spare tyres to get to Cravens Peak.
Food: BYO

Nardoo Hills, VIC

Nearest town - Wedderburn, 12km

Working bee - weed control

Nardoo Hills Reserves form part of a complex of protected land that is home to a large number of declining woodland birds. We are looking to control invasive weed species to protect this grassy woodland habitat and it's unique species including Northern Golden Moth Orchids.
When: arrive Friday evening for Sat & Sun, dates to be announced.
Time commitment: 2 days
Places: 5 - 10
Activities: Manual weed control. Some use injecting and spraying weeds with glyphosate herbicide possible (subject to seasonal conditions).
Requirements: Essential: moderate fitness for manual labour including bending, digging and walking rugged terrain. Preferred: ability to carry 5kg backpack and use hand-held wand to spray target weeds, plant id skills.
Support: accommodation and access to fully equipped kitchen, supervision, tools and equipment to complete necessary tasks, coffee and tea.
Food: BYO

SEPTEMBER

Nardoo Hills, VIC

Nearest town - Wedderburn, 12km

Working bee - weed control

Nardoo Hills Reserves form part of a complex of protected land that is home to a large number of declining woodland birds. We are looking to control invasive weed species to protect this grassy woodland habitat and it's unique species including Northern Golden Moth Orchids.
When: arrive Friday evening for Sat & Sun, dates to be announced.
Time commitment: 2 days
Places: 5 - 10
Activities: Manual weed control. Some use injecting and spraying weeds with glyphosate herbicide possible (subject to seasonal conditions).
Requirements: Essential: moderate fitness for manual labour including bending, digging and walking rugged terrain. Preferred: ability to carry 5kg backpack and use hand-held wand to spray target weeds, plant id skills.
Support: accommodation and access to fully equipped kitchen, supervision, tools and equipment to complete necessary tasks, coffee and tea.
Food: BYO

Working Bees are recommended as an introduction to Bush Heritage volunteering, as they offer a way to actively learn about a reserve, our operations and our people. 

Working Bees are good practical experience and experience is valuable to equipping volunteers for more challenging and independent roles in future.

Volunteer contact

Email
volunteer@bushheritage.org.au

Post
Volunteer Coordinator

Bush Heritage Australia
PO Box 329 Flinders Lane

Melbourne Vic 8009

Telephone
03 8610 9102