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Volunteers at work on Scottsdale Reserve. Photo: Peter Saunders.
Volunteers at work on Scottsdale Reserve. Photo: Peter Saunders.

Volunteering

Over 1,400 people actively support our work as volunteers.

We have a very active volunteer program with over 1,400 people currently supporting our work. 

However, placements are limited in some locations because we need to ensure all of our volunteers are safe, adequately resourced, doing meaningful work and covered by insurance.

Most of our volunteer placements are very remote. 

We are currently recruiting for volunteers on all of our Reserves in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. We are still taking enquiries for our Queensland, Western Australian and South Australian reserves, but placements are limited.

Registering interest does not guarantee a spot on a placement. Volunteer selection will be based on merit and completed by the supervising staff member.

Check out some of the opportunities available below including how to register your interest:

Gecko on a volunteer shirt. Photo by volunteer Jerzy Lipinski.

Volunteer registrations

Before applying to volunteer with us it's important to ask yourself:

  • Do you have regular email access? (this is a requirement to communicate with us efficiently.)
  • If you'd like to volunteer on our reserves, do you have your own reliable transport (4WD is required for some)?
  • Do you have. remote travel experience?
  • Do you have an interest in work such as weed control, fence removal o revegetation?
  • Do you have a good level of physical fitness (required for many reserve-has opportunities)?
  • Are you able to commit to remote volunteer placements (most require a commitment of at least one week)?
  • Have you read through our Frequently Asked Questions?
  • If you answered YES to the above, please send an enquiry to

[email protected]

Scottsdale Reserve (80km south of Canberra)

Scottsdale offers regular daily placements based on Reserve needs and the volunteers skills and interests. Some of the regular activities include nursery work, track maintenance and repair, and weed control.

Photo by Wayne Lawler

Tarcutta Hills Reserve

50km SE of Wagga Wagga

Tarcutta offers 2–7 day placements between February and November in weed control, fence removal, planting, weed and native vegetation monitoring, and bird surveys. 


Volunteer Hayley Sime. Photo by Eliza Herbert

Kara Kara Wedderburn region in Victoria

This includes Nardoo Hills ReserveNgulambarra Reserve and Buckrabanyule (232km NW of Melbourne). The cluster of Reserves offers 2-4 day placements between March and October in vegetation monitoring, planting, wheel cactus control, and nursery work.

Liffey Riverolunteers fencing at Liffey River Reserve. By Beatrice Bentley

Liffey Valley (55km SW of Launceston)

Monthly working bees are offered between March and November which include a mix of weeding, groundskeeping, maintenance, fence removal.

Frequently asked questions

We welcome interest from enthusiastic adults (over 18 years). If you're under 18, you may be able to help with some activities with the support of a parent or guardian.

Some volunteer jobs call for specific skills or knowledge. In particular demand are land management skills, plumbers, electricians, welding skills, builders, tractor operators and ecological monitoring skills. However, other opportunities only require a can-do attitude. When volunteer positions are advertised, any prerequisites will be described.

Position descriptions give specific information about roles.

On reserves tasks include: caretaking, grounds and building maintenance, fencing, fence removal, feral animal control, weed control, ecological monitoring and other ongoing land management activities.

Office tasks include: research, administration and fundraising, events and other projects relating to the business of the organisation.

Registered volunteers are the first notified of new roles. Occasionally we organise and invite volunteers to social events, or have free tickets or other gifts to reward volunteers.

Volunteers get a chance to work in amazing locations with like-minded people to help achieve conservation outcomes. Along with a sense of camaraderie and achievement, some gain experience and skills that help on their path to employment.

We're expanding our volunteer program, but we want to ensure volunteers are safe, doing meaningful work, adequately resourced, and covered by insurance. This limits the placements available. When we have a position, initially information is emailed directly to volunteers already registered. If they can't cover the position, we may advertise.

All roles have position descriptions. Selection depends on skills, experience and availability matching the position description. There are also limited roles available for people without experience, who wish to learn new skills and become involved in the work we do.

You don't have to be a donor – volunteers are selected based on the best match to the role.

Children may be allowed if under your direct supervision, at the discretion of the supervisor (based on risks, facilities available and whether it would reduce places for other volunteers). If there are age-appropriate tasks available, your child may be able to volunteer too. Unfortunately pets can’t be brought on to any reserves.

Our work is shaped by weather events and seasons. Volunteer jobs are limited over the summer because of high temperatures, increased fire threat and monsoonal rainfall in the north so generally are not available in most locations. Similarly, weather sometimes causes volunteer activity to be postponed or cancelled. All positions are subject to change.

There’s no cost to volunteer, but you may incur out-of-pocket expenses including travel and meals. Accommodation is provided where the infrastructure is available, but sometimes you’ll need to stay in the local town at your own expense. On a priority basis, financial support for travel and food is pre-approved for some volunteer projects and activities. When a volunteer position is advertised, the availability of financial support will be explained.

We maintain Volunteer Workers personal accident insurance to cover some out-of-pocket expenses following accidental injury, disability or death while volunteering. This doesn't cover expenses from travel disruptions (including flood, fire or dust-storm). We strongly recommend you consider taking out your own travel insurance before volunteering. We also recommend an ambulance subscription.

If you're volunteering at our Melbourne CBD office, public transport is your best option and we have parking space for bicycles. However, if you're volunteering at one of our reserves you'll need to arrange your own transport as Bush Heritage is not responsible for carpooling or arranging transport. Reserves are generally remote from populated centres and without public transport. Some can only be accessed by a 4WD with high clearance.

Volunteers must provide their own food. When overnight stays are involved, we strongly recommend bringing contingency supplies in case you get stuck on location for longer than expected. Come prepared: most of our reserves are remote and shops are many hours’ drive away.

Where an overnight stay is needed we provide accommodation where possible. Facilities vary at each location and can range from a base camp to basic workers' quarters. Where there are quarters, you can expect a simple mattress, shared kitchen, showers and toilets. Campgrounds have basic facilities, including a drop toilet and a fire pit.

Your supervisor will brief you on how to work safely but remote locations can be challenging and, at times, uncomfortable. They may not have ample water or electricity and some reserves are subject to temperature extremes. You may find yourself with powdered milk and bruised fruit, without some of the entertainment you're used to. Entertainment tends to revolve instead around stargazing, sharing meals and conversation with other volunteers, comparing notes, card games, early nights, or catching up on reading.

Remote locations are many hours from medical care. If you have a significant medical condition, carefully consider your health before deciding to go.

When driving to remote places, you can expect extreme weather conditions, challenging terrain, and isolation from services. You should prepare well, be well-provisioned and equipped to cope with unexpected delays or emergencies. Planning can help to avoid hassles or potentially life-threatening situations.

Ensure you have a roadworthy vehicle, two spare tyres, good maps, first aid supplies, extra food, extra water, extra fuel, appropriate communications equipment, vehicle maintenance and recovery equipment, and an emergency plan. Few of our reserves get standard mobile network coverage, so check with your provider for coverage and hire a satellite phone if you don't have guaranteed coverage.

When driving to a remote area:

  • Plan your route and notify a third-party of your expected arrival time.
  • Check road conditions before you start travelling.
  • Avoid travelling in extreme heat.
  • Stay with your vehicle if it breaks down.
  • Drive slowly on unsealed, dusty or narrow roads and always check road conditions before turning off major roads.

Volunteer Advisory Committee

Our Volunteer Advisory Committee is a team of self-nominated volunteers from across the nation. They give us a user's perspective in the review of our volunteer systems and processes.

The committee also supports the development of new and inspiring opportunities to engage volunteers.

Meet the Volunteer Advisory Committee > >

Members of our Volunteer Advisory Committee.
Female White-winged Fairy Wren. Photo by volunteer, Mark Davidson.

Volunteer photo competition

For several years we've run an annual photo competition for our volunteers, with winners selected by ambassador Steve Parish, OAM, and announced in National Volunteer Week. The competition encourages everyone to take more photos when out on our reserves and provides an insight into the volunteer experience.

Results from the 2021 Volunteer Photo Competition > >

Volunteer stories

BLOG 23/09/2021

My desert story

I was hesitant about going out to the desert to volunteer for Bush Heritage in January this year. It’s such a long way and it’s dusty and hot. But a trip to Craven’s Peak was available and I thought I should – don’t I always say, “if you haven’t tried something, don’t knock it?”

Read More

BLOG 06/09/2021

Caretaking at Hamelin Station

Hear from two of our WA volunteers about their recent caretaking experience on our Hamelin Station Reserve.

Read More

BLOG 01/07/2021

Red dirt and Wanda!

Being presented with a wire winder wouldn’t excite everyone but knowing that we were in for a week or two of fence removal at Naree Reserve, we thought it was pretty good!

Read More

BLOG 31/05/2021

Tarcutta Hills rabbit survey

Volunteers Tom O'Hara and Georgie McManus recently complete a rabbit survey on our Tarcutta Hills Reserve, including the recently purchased neighbouring block.

Read More
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