INTRODUCTION WEEK - CULTURAL INDUCTION
During the first week of your adventure down under, you'll be given an induction
and orientation designed to familiarise you with your location and with the culture
and colours of Australia. During this time, you can learn about the local area and
useful information such as how to get around and various cultural activates. The
following Monday you will start working on your project.
SAMPLE INTRODUCTION WEEK SCHEDULE (can be subject
to change):
Monday:
• A day trip to the village of Nelson Bay and its beautiful marina.
• Dolphin Watching on a sight-seeing cruise, optional activity of swimming or
snorkelling while on cruise
• Hike up to Tomaree Head lookout and participate in whale spotting during the
months of May to November.
• Cultural education course, including how to understand and speak the Australian
lingo.
• Group introduction activities
Tuesday:
• Visit one of the local beaches visit and participate in a beach safety education
talk
• Tilligerry Habitat flora and fauna tour, including koala spotting while on
the tour.
• Participate in a talk about Australian wildlife education and snake safety
• Visit a Australian wildlife park
Wednesday:
• Tour an authentic Australian farm
• Tour either an Avocado, Macadamia or Fig farm (seasonal)
• Australian sports education and boomerang throwing
• Watch an Educational Australian film
Thursday:
• Aboriginal Cultural Centre visit and cultural a presentation
• Authentic Australian cooking lessons
• Camp fire building (if available)
• Star gazing
• Optional surf lesson
Friday:
• Unlimited Sandboarding on the largest moving dunes in the Southern Hemisphere
• Fingal Head Lighthouse exploration and Coastal bushwalk
• Optional snorkelling lessons
WORK CONTENT:
As a volunteer you will play a vital role in the rescue, rehabilitation and release
of a range of Australia’s wildlife including possums, kangaroos, wombats, echidnas
and birds. This will be done through a variety of tasks as part of a network
of rescue centres within the Port Stephens region.
Your main role will be to support the rescue centre’s staff in conducting a range
of daily tasks including:
- Preparation of food and water for the animals
- Assist in feeding the animals
- Finding important food and nutrition sources within the animals natural habitat
- Monitoring, reporting and assessing animals on a daily or hourly basis
- Reporting behavioural changes
- Washing and cleaning of animals where required, including changing bandages.
- Administering/applying medicine and ointments as required
- Cleaning of the enclosures and the surrounding environment
- Creating and building Animal enrichment activities
- Searching for and recovering injured animals
- Participate in the release of animals back into the wild (If applicable during the
program)
DAILY SCHEDULE:
Monday – Friday
8.00 am Breakfast
8.30 am Travel to programme from your home base
12.00 pm Rest and light lunch
1.00 pm Continue with programme.
3.00 pm Finish the program for the day
5.00 pm Watch educational video and discussion afterwards.
6.00 pm Dinner, which will be local Australian Cuisine and vegetarian dishes
7.00 pm Free time
Saturday & Sunday are open for you to explore and relax
A little about the Animals:
Echidnas: These very cute looking animals have spines like a porcupine,
a beak and a pouch like a kangaroo. It lays eggs like a reptile and is usually between
12 and 17 inches long.
Possums: There are many species of possums, but generally they
are
marsupials about the size and weight of a cat. They are nocturnal, with long tails
and sharp claws.
Wombats: Wombats are quite pudgy marsupials, native only to Australia
and look a little like a small bear. Generaly, they're about 3 feet long and weight
roughly 55 pounds.
Koalas: These cute, cuddly-looking animals are not bears. They're
marsupial (pouched) and love eucalyptus leaves which not only provide food but also
most of their water needs. In fact, they need about 100 eucalyptus trees per animal,
which is a big problem as human population expands