Australian Endangered Species Conservation Care

The Project

The Endangered Species Conservation facility manages a number of captive breeding programs and partners with Government authorities, universities and zoological institutions to conduct vital research on Australian wildlife. The facility focuses on threatened species, Northern and Southern Hairy-nosed Wombats.   

The centre also provides medical care for injured, sick and orphaned wildlife through its rescue and rehabilitation program. Animals are nursed back to health with the goal of being well enough to be released back into the wild. The facility also supports other wildlife carers who assist with this dedicated work.   Volunteers are a valuable partner helping with the care and feeding of the injured animals.

The centre delivers a range of wildlife education programs to enable local community groups, industry bodies, school groups and individuals to be actively involved in the conservation of native animals. The programs highlight the importance of maintaining a healthy natural environment to ensure the well-being of our native species.   

The facility welcomes students and volunteers from all over the world to learn about Australian wildlife and contribute to the breeding, release, research and education programs.

The Location

The Gladstone Region is located on Queensland’s Central Coast and is home to over 67,000 people. Situated at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef, Gladstone offers access to uninhabited coral cays, waterways and beaches. Its sub-tropical climate is perfect for year-round boating, fishing and swimming.

Gladstone itself is a hillside city, overlooking Port Curtis, Queensland's largest multi-commodity shipping port. Marine activities are the lifeblood of the city; the people of Gladstone own more boats per person than nearly any other community in Australia! Charter boats provide access to the area’s many off-shore islands.

Mainland Australia is the world’s largest island, but the smallest continent covering an area of 7.69 million square kilometres. Its ocean territory is also the third-largest in the world, spanning three oceans and covering around 12 million square kilometres.

Our Volunteers

As a not for profit organisation, the facility relies on financial support from grants, fundraising, donations and membership fees. Volunteer fees contribute to the cost of food, water and utilities such as electricity. You will be contributing to the survival of endangered species that are found nowhere else in the world.

Furthermore, you will help to support animals who require intensive care in order to be rehabilitated and released back into the wild. You may have the opportunity to go on rescue calls.

You will care for many different species of animals although the project mainly cares for Hairy-Nosed Wombats. Volunteers will be directly involved in the animal’s care. You may have the opportunity to physically handle the animals depending on the specific task you are undertaking, for example, you may assist with rescues and releases back into the wild or the trapping of animals for health checks. Some animals like a scratch and if there are joeys in care they require regular bottle feeding.

Conditions Onsite

The project is based in a quiet location away from a major town.

You will be working in the heat, so work starts in the early morning to avoid the hottest part of the day, but please be prepared for that.

Please Note

The second instalment of your project fees is due within 1 week after you paid the deposit on Volunteer World. This is a total of $495 AUD and comes off your balance. The balance is due 90 days prior to travel. For all further information about the fees, please scroll down to the section "Program Fees“.

Volunteers will be directly involved in the care of many animals. Your day will consist mainly of animal husbandry duties, including food preparation and harvesting and cleaning of enclosures. Other activities include enclosure maintenance, tree planting and participation in fundraising events and community education activities.

The animals volunteers will care for include wallabies, Southern Hairy Nosed Wombats, Northern Hairy Nosed Wombats, Sugar Gliders, Squirrel Gliders, lizards, snakes and birds. Koalas and kangaroos also frequent the project grounds!

Once a week, staff and volunteers visit Gladstone to stock up on supplies and look around town. 

Only minutes from the project location is Gladstone's most prominent natural landmark – Mount Larcom. If you are up for a challenge, why not climb to its peak, 632 metres above sea level? It might take a few hours, but once at the summit you will be rewarded with uninterrupted views of rural farmland, Gladstone’s harbour and, on a clear day, the islands of the Great Barrier Reef.

If Mount Larcom sounds a bit too strenuous, try taking in the spectacular view from one of the more easily accessed lookouts in Gladstone, such as Round Hill Lookout or Auckland Hill Lookout right in the city.

On the city’s foreshore you will find Spinnaker Park. Enjoy the native wetlands, explore the walking tracks or have a good old fashioned Aussie barbeque amongst the beautifully landscaped parkland. You can take a dip at the park’s beach cove or relax at one of the many nearby beaches. Or perhaps take a trip to nearby Heron or Wilson Islands and experience all the magic of the Great Barrier Reef. Swim, snorkel or scuba dive with brightly-coloured fish and turtles or simply enjoy the peace and quiet. 

If you like to throw in a line, consider a visit to Lake Awoonga, 25km south of Gladstone. The lake, which is Gladstone’s primary water source, has been stocked with over 2 million barramundi over the past 10 years, along with several other fish species. For keen birdwatchers, over 200 species of bird can be found here.

Head back to Gladstone to experience the city’s famous mud crab and fresh seafood, take in some culture at the Gladstone Regional Art Gallery or enjoy one of the many community events and festivals on offer.

If you are lucky enough to visit in April, enjoy watching the yachts arrive at the finish line at the Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race. If visiting in June, don’t miss Ecofest, central Queensland’s largest environmental awareness event, with its wide range of eco-friendly displays and stalls.

Please note that project staff cannot provide transport for sightseeing, therefore volunteers are best to either hire a car or see the sights before or after their placement.