My Wildlife Warrior Volunteer Experience in Australia
As I mentioned before I was keen to do some volunteer work in Australia. I could imagine myself working in an australian organic farm or as a jillaroo in a cattle station in the rugged and dusty australian outback. To be honest I never got round to doing some solid research to find out about all viable volunteer projects and went off to Australia with no clear ideas nor fix plans.
How I found out about the Wildlife Warrior Volunteer Project
As it most of times happens, you do not need to look for something, the law of attraction makes things happen for you! And this is how I found out about the Wildlife Warriors Project, through someone who had joined this volunteer project a few months earlier. Someone I met during the first weeks of my last travels in Australia. Word of mouth is probably the best way to come across good volunteer projects. Listening to others’ volunteer experience is a great way of getting the information about the project so as to assess whether the project can be something for yourself. The best thing is obviously try it out personally and make it real. By listening to this girl’ inspiring story I soon fell in love with the idea of being involved with the australian wildlife protection and did not think much about it. I simply followed my feeling that said, yes I want to “become a Wildflife Warrior”
How to become a Wildlife Warrior Volunteer
As the terms says you will be a “Real Warrior”, a “Wildlife Warrior“, who actively contribute in the daily care of injured and sick australian wild animals. At this point don’t be easily mislead, you will not be cuddling sick animals or taking photographs all the time….surprisingly 50% of people applying for a volunteer post as a Wildlife Warrior has this expectation….The work that expects you is solid work helping out in the daily life of wild animal patients.
What do you do as a Wildlife Warrior Volunteer
Memories from my Wildlife Warrior Volunteer Experience
Watching animal patients’ in the I.C.U and in the emergency rooms
What I have learnt as a Wildlife Warrior Volunteer
Although I spent only a short time volunteering at the Wildlife Hospital, during my 5 days as a Wildlife Warrior I could gathered so much knowledge about the australian wildlife and especially about
- things that can be done to protect and save endangered australian animals
- the threats and risks Koalas in Queensland are currently undergoing
- how to help save koalas in Queensland and preserve their natural habitat
- the importance of education about the australian wildlife
- ways of arising people’s awareness about the australian wildlife issues
- the important role of volunteer work in the australian wildlife protection
- spreading the love about volunteer work with the australian wildlife conservation
Volunteering as A Wildlife Warrior is truly is a fantastic opportunity to get close to endangered australian animals, learn about the threats they are going through, how you can be actively contributing in the australian wildlife conservation. If you really love the australian native animals your work as a volunteer is really important to help save them!
Here you can learn ways of help save endangered koalas.
…Small changes in everyday lives make a BIG difference…
As the Wildlife Warrior Motto says
“Save one, save the species”
Australia is a great country for volunteering. It offers the opportunity to residents as well as to foreign travellers and students to get involved in environmental and social projects, thus become part of the australian community by doing volunteer work. Before getting into details, let’s have a look at what volunteering means.
All about volunteer work in Australia
Volunteer work by definition is something that you personally choose to do and in no way is related to paid work. Volunteer work is no replacement for paid work either. It is something you choose to do out of your wish to experience new challenges and be confronted with the local environmental and social conditions of the country you live in or travel to.
Volunteer work only can take place within non profit organizations which are involved in projects with the goal of being a benefit of the whole community and of the volunteers too.
Why volunteering in Australia
Volunteering in Australia is a great opportunity not only to learn about the environmental, social, needs of the country, but also a way of being part of the related activities of the community and thus contributing to the conservation of the australian land, the australian wildlife, the australian culture as well as promoting equality, dignity, human and animal rights.
There are many individual benefits you can gain and here below I can list some:
- personal development
- acquiring knowledge and new skills
- helping the community
- exploring new environments
- contributing with ideas and abilities
- meeting new people
- doing small things that makes a huge difference
- having fun
Who choose to volunteer in Australia
Australia has a large offer of volunteer work. Did you know that over 5millions of Australians volunteer each year thus contributing to the community with their work ? Over 45% of them are aged 35-44 years, however the younger people between 18-24 represent the biggest growth area in volunteering. The most active volunteers are from Queensland and ACT. On top of this statistics you can add the increasing number of international volunteers, i.e. foreign students and travellers coming to Australia every year to join a volunteer project.
Where to volunteer in Australia
There is a large number of non profit organizations in Australia where you can research and apply for volunteer work. The type of organizations range from:
- sport, recreation
- education
- training
- land conservation
- wildlife conservation
- community services
- welfare
- religios groups
Here is a link to the Organizations Profiles from GoVolunteer as part of an initiative of Volunteering Australia where you can check out for more detailed information and see what volunteering projects are currently available.
What type of volunteer work
I have always wanted to experience some volunteer work in Australia. During my last trip in Australia, I have been lucky to do this amazing Volunteer Work with Wildlife in Queensland.
How to Become a Wildlife Warrior Volunteer
I am sure many of you know about the Australia Zoo in Beerwah, Queensland, but you might not know about about the Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors Project which was established by Steve Irwin and his wife Terri. This Australian Wildlife Volunteering Project was created with the aim to involve people in the protection and care of injured, sick, orphaned, threatened wildlife from the individual animals to the entire species.
A few Facts about the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital
- Located at Beerwah, near the Australia zoo,in Queensland (north of Brisbane)
- Opened in 2004, inspired by the memory of Lyn Irwin (Steve Irwin’s mother)
- Started in 2004 in an old avocado packing shed
- Only treat australian native wildlife
- Has a capacity of treating up to 10,000 patients every year
- From 2004 up to now has received almost 30,000 animals with 38% increase every year
- The new Wildlife Hospital opened in 2008 on Steve Irwin’s day 15th November
- Receive nearly 100 wildlife emergency calls every day
- Up to 30 species are admitted every day
- About 70% of all patients have been injured by car accidents or pet attacks
A few pictures of the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital
The Wildlife Hospital is daily involved with the care of sick and injured australian native animals. In the picture below you see a vet assisting a koala patient which was submitted to the emergency room of the hospital. Every day 100 of australian animals receive medical treatment and care. Thanks to the work of this Wildlife Hospital like many australian animals can survive and brought back to their wild habitat.
How to contribute to the Wildlife Warriors Project
Being a free community service with no government funding, the Wildlife Hospital relies on the generosity of donators and on the work of volunteers . Currently approximately 95 volunteers help out on a regular basis. The majority of volunteers are residents, but an increasing number of international students as well as travellers (like me) join the Wildlife Warriors Volunteering Project every year.
Because “small changes in everyday lives make a huge difference” everyone can support the Wildlife Warriors Project with their contribution.
I am proud of having been involved in this great Australian Wildlife Volunteering Project and am keen of telling you about my Wildlife Warrior Volunteer experience at the Australia Zoo, Wildlife Hospital Beerwah.
You can do it by becoming a Wildlife Warrior at the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital in Beerwah.
As the Wildlife Hospital Warriors’ motto says
“SAVE ONE, SAVE THE SPECIES”
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