Volunteer Programs in Cairns, Australia

Gain marine conservation experience by volunteering in Australia. On the first six days of your stay, work toward achieving your PADI Open Water or Advanced certification. This includes understanding the basic principles, gaining relevant skills, and culminating in 4 open-water dives. Then, help conduct research for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) on board a boat. Your role involves taking charge of gathering data on reef life, surveying the sea bed, and recording damage to the coral. This is a wonderful opportunity if you're interested in marine conservation as it allows you to directly impact conservation efforts. This is an ideal program if you have: - Good level of English - Immunizations (consult your doctor) - Good physical fitness

At International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ), we unite people from over 96 countries who want to make a meaningful difference while exploring the world. With 300+ projects in 40+ destinations, IVHQ offers the widest selection of volunteer programs globally—from Teaching and Childcare to Wildlife Conservation, Medical Outreach, and Environmental Sustainability. Since 2007, IVHQ has supported over 147,000 volunteers on life-changing journeys. We specialize in fully-hosted volunteer trips that are safe, affordable, and accessible—starting from just $20 per day. Your experience includes airport pick-up, accommodation, meals, and round-the-clock support from our local teams. With flexible booking options and no change fees, planning your volunteer adventure has never been easier. Our programs run year-round and are available for 1 to 24 weeks across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Pacific, South and Central America, North America, the Caribbean, and the Middle East. Volunteering with IVHQ is about more than giving back—it’s about growing, learning, and building genuine global connections.

Experiencing the Great Barrier Reef is a bucket list item for many. Combine with marine conservation activities, and you have a volunteering program like no other! This amazing dive (or snorkel) program allows budding marine conservation volunteers to learn or improve their skills through a well-renowned dive operator while participating in a credible reef monitoring program. With a high commitment to environmental protection and sustainability, this unique dive program falls under the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s monitoring program, “Eye on the Reef”, and is designed for volunteers interested in scuba diving, marine conservation, and spending time in this incredible marine park. From learning to dive, advancing your dive skills, or participating as a snorkeler, all volunteers will spend time with reef experts to monitor the reef and its marine inhabitants for the Marine Park’s conservation program. Volunteers will find this to be an amazing learning and conservation experience. For those with a passion for marine conservation, this program promises to deliver a life-changing experience.

Fly across the International Dateline and arrive in the Land Down Under! Our journey to Australia and New Zealand is a TFT favorite, combining adventure with cultural exploration and major travel destinations with little-known gems. In New Zealand, we will experience the country’s famed natural beauty and enjoy a boat cruise on picture-perfect Milford Sound in the mountains. During the cruise, we will watch for penguins, seals, and even dolphins! We will also take an exhilarating ride on the world’s fastest jet boat, zooming through rock canyons. To cap off our time in New Zealand, we will enjoy a traditional Maori ceremony and even have the chance to learn the dance and participate! After New Zealand, we’ll hop on a short flight for the ultimate Australian experience. Here, we will enjoy the best of Australia’s wildlife while completing service work with local organizations dedicated to protecting the country’s unique and diverse wildlife and natural habitat. Projects include working at a rehabilitation center where we will help care for injured and orphaned tree-kangaroos and reintroduce them back into the wild, and visiting an endangered ecosystem.

Who is not dreaming about beautiful Australia? White beaches, rainforests, endless roads, relaxed lifestyle and a unique wildlife. Not to forget, the famous Ayers Rock and the diving paradise of the Great Barrier Reef. Australia has definitaly become one of the most popular travel destinations for young people! But how about exploring the country in a complete different way? Working with kangaroos and koalas or protecting the Great Barrier Reef from mass tourism are only some of the options you have!

Join us for a transformative 21-day cultural immersion in Australia and Fiji. We start in Fiji with a warm welcome ceremony, engaging in hands-on cooking classes to explore the diverse flavors of Fijian cuisine. Our community service focuses on a meaningful meal program that empowers Fijian women and fosters connections through shared meals. Traveling to Viti Levu's scenic highlands, we immerse ourselves in traditional island life by participating in bamboo raft building and local farming activities. On Taveuni, we embrace “island time” with snorkeling, kayaking, and preparing traditional meals while learning local customs. Next, we head to Australia, beginning in Cairns, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. Here, we earn our SCUBA certification and experience breathtaking underwater biodiversity while staying on a liveaboard boat. Our adventure includes community service at a wildlife refuge, where we care for iconic Australian animals. We’ll also delve into Aboriginal culture in the Daintree Rainforest, learning traditional practices and the connection between the land and its people.