Volunteer Programs in Australia & Oceania

GoEco is one of the world’s top volunteer organizations, with award-winning and ethical programs selected by sustainable travel experts. Since 2006, tens of thousands of volunteers have taken part in projects and internships worldwide, focusing on wildlife and marine conservation, education, and medical initiatives. GoEco operates in over 50 countries, providing unique cultural immersive experiences that aim to make a positive impact on the environment and society. The organization also offers internships and academic programs for students. GoEco provides safe and meaningful experiences while promoting sustainable travel and reducing carbon emissions.

Come to New Zealand and get involved in a crucial environmental conservation project which aims to restore native forest habitat for the vulnerable local seabird, the Westland Petrel. This is one of the country's unique bird species with its only breeding location confined to a 5 km area in the foothills of the Paparoa Range. This project is located on the rugged and wild West Coast of New Zealand's South Island which will allow volunteers to explore some of the incredible scenery in the region. Volunteers who are in this project usually work in groups and take part in varied activities such as environmental monitoring, tree planting, weed control, seed collection, and prevention of the propagation of some plant species, among others. This project is ideal for those who love the outdoors and care so much for the environment. There are no specific skills required for this project. Volunteers should be prepared to work as a member of a team and must have a positive attitude. You are also expected to have a reasonable level of fitness in order to participate in all activities.

Jumpstart your career in Australia. Partnering with leading companies and NGOs, our Melbourne internship program provide students, graduates, and early-career professionals with international work experience, professional skills, and global networking opportunities. Intern in Melbourne, one of the world’s most livable cities, known for its vibrant business scene, innovative industries, and rich cultural life. Gain placements across business, finance, marketing, PR, tech, entrepreneurship, and NGOs, tailored to your career goals. Participants also benefit from professional development tools, mentorship, cultural events, and expert guidance, helping build a standout résumé and advance your career. Whether you’re a student, graduate, or early-career professional, our Melbourne internship program provides the ultimate pathway to international experience, career growth, and global opportunities.

This Gapforce program is an action-packed, six-week tour combining travel and adventure with volunteering on Australia's famed East Coast. Your journey begins in the awesome city of Sydney before heading north to Brisbane via the legendary Byron Bay. You will spend two weeks volunteering on an environmental conservation project, a great way to give back to this amazing country, before continuing north into Queensland. Sailing on the Whitsunday islands, 4x4 jeep rides on Fraser Island, and snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef are just some of the highlights. Your epic adventure ends with a week in Cape Tribulation, a stunning paradise where the reef meets the rainforest.

This important conservation program works in parks and sanctuaries across the Wellington region to protect precious natural places and their inhabitants. Volunteers work on various projects in different locations. From aiming to plant 100,000 native trees in inner-city parks to restoring wetlands to working in wildlife sanctuaries on predator control, all these projects play an essential role in protecting and enhancing the Wellington region’s unique natural heritage. New Zealand has many native species of birds that are in grave danger of extinction, along with giant snails, frogs, lizards, and fish. Sanctuaries play a vital role in protecting and conserving the country's unique biodiversity and animal species. They strive to recreate a landscape that pre-dates the arrival of pests by reintroducing species into protected spaces and creating a pest-free environment. Replanting and restoration of native bush areas destroyed by pests is also a crucial project. From working with the most threatened species to assisting in environmental restoration, volunteers can make a huge difference in New Zealand!

This project gives volunteers the unique opportunity to experience life in a traditional Fijian village. Located near Nadi on the main island of Viti Levu, volunteers will see Fiji from a very different perspective than the well-known tourist image. The village has its own kindergarten with an elementary school nearby. Volunteers will split their time between arranging educational games and activities for the children, as well as renovation work on the school and other community involvement. Students will live with local host families in the village and get involved in all aspects of traditional islander culture and customs and daily village life.

Looking to apply your talent and expertise to a good cause? Find a program that matches your interests and skills through Volunteer World! We are the largest volunteer abroad comparison platform around the globe, enabling you to seek and compare offers from major travel agencies as well as smaller grassroots NGOs and local specialists in more than 80 countries. All these with just one click! Find projects in wildlife, teaching, community development, and several other areas. Simply choose your desired destination and desired travel date, and our search engine will compare the best volunteer abroad programs on your behalf. Whether you wish to gain experience at a wildlife sanctuary in South Africa or teach English at a monastery in Nepal, we've got you covered. Volunteer World guarantees a quick and easy application. We will guide you through this process, as well as help plan your next meaningful trip. We provide free access to quality-checked projects and flexible options. And if anything goes wrong, we've got your back with our qualified support team and our refund guarantee.

Looking for an international internship that will set you apart—and give you the skills, experience, and confidence to thrive in your career? Connect-123 designs fully customized programs that match your background and goals, offering hands-on experience in some of the world’s most exciting cities: Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Cape Town, Dublin, and Sydney. Whether you’re a student, recent graduate, or experienced professional, our programs span dozens of fields including business, finance, medicine, public health, journalism, marketing, human rights, law, sustainability, education, and more. You’ll gain meaningful, career-related experience while also exploring life in a new culture. We take care of the details so you can focus on making the most of your time abroad. From the moment you apply, our team helps guide you through the process, secure your placement, and prepare you for your new adventure. With flexible start dates and customizable program lengths, your life-changing internship begins on your schedule.

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.

This program goes beyond ordinary high school travel programs and build cross-cultural community service summer trips perfectly geared to your interests and curiosities. Whether you’re looking to contribute to authentic service projects, experience exhilarating adventure, or develop your language skills, GoBeyond will immerse you in a new culture where you can make a meaningful difference while on the journey of a lifetime. Our high school community service summer programs proudly serve in many under-resourced communities and environments throughout the world. Explore our journeys in the British Virgin Islands, Costa Rica, Galapagos & Ecuador, Peru, Iceland, Spain, China, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, and Australia. Beyond experiencing the adventure of a lifetime and creating lasting memories, we believe our community service summer trips enable lasting positive change in the world. For over forty years, we’ve been transforming communities, environments, and students’ lives through meaningful, collaborative adventures and service that develop skills and a more sophisticated worldly outlook—ultimately shaping the person you become.

Experience an unforgettable 10-week Gap Year Semester through New Zealand and Australia, two of the world’s most amazing travel destinations. This Pacific Discovery program is designed for students taking a gap year, seeking an alternative study abroad, or looking to combine travel with purpose. Journey across dramatic landscapes, from the fjords of New Zealand to the tropical reefs of Australia. Hike, surf, snorkel, and dive while building global perspective through hands-on conservation and meaningful service learning. Learn directly from Māori and Indigenous Australian communities through authentic cultural exchange. Along the way, develop real-world skills in leadership, teamwork, and sustainability with the option to earn U.S. college credit. With experienced instructors by your side, you’ll gain clarity, confidence, and lifelong friendships while exploring two iconic destinations for adventure and growth. Whether you’re preparing for college, building your resume, or redefining your education through travel, this immersive journey will leave you inspired and ready for what’s next. Inquire today to start your New Zealand & Australia Semester with Pacific Discovery.

Through World Internships, we offer flexible customized internships (volunteers are also welcome) in a variety of fields in the "Land Down Under". Realize your dream of living and working in beautiful Australia while enjoying exceptional support and group activities that will engage you with both your fellow international interns and the locals. Sydney and Melbourne are fantastic locations for students, recent graduates, and pre-professionals to explore their fields and add an international perspective to their resumes. The high creative energy in Sydney and Melbourne makes them the perfect places for internships in advertising, architecture, graphic design, interior design, and journalism, while their popularity as cities make them ideal for those involved with event management, hospitality, travel, and tourism. Sydney, Australia’s oldest and largest city, boasts the world-famous Sydney Opera House, stunning harbors, and beautiful beaches. Melbourne is the country’s art center where you can check out the cultural hub of Federation Square, attend one of the many music and film festivals, or spend a day at one of Port Phillip’s many beaches.

Embrace the welcoming culture in Fiji as you go island hopping and dive into meaningful service projects. Our Sun, Sand, and Island Service program is designed to maximize community interaction. Learn about environmental conservation efforts and infrastructure needs. Enjoy lessons on cooking and weaving. Slide down large dunes and relax in natural hot springs. And at each stop, enjoy being treated like family on a journey you will not forget. On this two-week service-focused program, you'll stay at our South Pacific Eco-Lodge base and journey to the Yasawa Islands for a few days. After service, relax and enjoy island living. This popular program will give you insight into the Fijian way of life and introduce you to the natural beauty of this island nation.

Work alongside conservationists and researchers and dive with sharks in a controlled environment in this exciting program for young participants who are at least 15 years old and have a PADI Open Water Diver or equivalent scuba certification. Dispel negative myths surrounding sharks and discover their importance to ocean ecosystems. On a single dive, observe bull, lemon, and tiger sharks. At the Shark Reef Marine Reserve, dispel the myths surrounding sharks and observe multiple species in a controlled setting. Learn all about shark biology and behavior. Contemplate their incredible survival over the past 400 million years and discuss their future. Even assist with research and conservation efforts. In Fiji, the study of sharks isn't limited to the ocean. Listen to locals tell stories of Dakuwaqa, the ancient Shark God in a Fijian village. Develop a greater understanding of these beautiful and often misunderstood creatures. And discover a newfound love and respect for the Fijian people and their islands. On this extraordinary South Pacific adventure, you’ll acquire much more than college credit.

World Endeavors offers exciting programs that allow participants to experience Fiji while contributing to the community in a meaningful way. Volunteers can choose from a variety of immersive, unique and rewarding community engagement projects like Island Project Construction, Health Check-up Camps, and Youth Sports Coaching! Fiji is an archipelago of 333 sun-kissed, picture-perfect islands tucked away in the South Pacific, close to Australia and New Zealand. It’s famed for its rugged landscape of blue lagoons and palm-lined beaches, and eco-activities ranging from mountain climbing and surfing to soft-coral diving and zip-lining. Its major islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, contain the lion’s share of the population, meaning much of the country is uncrowded. Volunteer projects are available in Suva, the capital city of Fiji, and Sigatoka, known as Fiji's adventure capital.

Journey through the South Pacific on an immersive adventure that spans Fiji’s coral-rich waters, New Zealand’s alpine landscapes, and Australia’s rugged Outback and iconic reefs. Begin in a coastal Fijian village, where you experience island traditions, explore waterfalls, and snorkel alongside local dive experts. Ski New Zealand’s Southern Alps, join a welcoming Kiwi homestay, and then sail through Australia’s Whitsunday Islands as part of a working crew. Cap it off with time in Sydney and epic hikes around Uluru and Kata Tjuta.

The magic of Fiji's pristine waves is matched only by the world-famous friendliness of its people and their diverse, captivating culture. Experience this culture to its fullest by sharing in the communal life of a small village, where the people hold the deep belief that family and friends are the most important things in life - a truly immersive teen travel program! This program has been designed to bring together open-minded and adventurous students. It combines authentic cultural exchange, meaningful service, and adventure. We immerse ourselves in communities that exist without cars or stores and gain a deeper understanding of the Fijian way of life. Then, we top it off by visiting the beautiful Yasawa Islands and supporting biological researchers in community service work. A student travel program to Fiji is something you will never forget!

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.

Spend a semester or academic year in Wellington with AIFS Abroad. Earn up to 16 credits studying at Victoria University, choosing between the Full Curriculum Program and the Specialized Study Abroad Program. AIFS Abroad adds a unique academic experience with the optional Pacific Studies Program in Suva, Fiji, for an introduction to the history and culture of the Pacific Region at the University of the South Pacific. Global Leadership and Service Learning opportunities include: • Wellington Plus, an extracurricular certificate program that includes volunteerism, workshops, and seminars. • The Wellington International Leadership Program, a self-paced extracurricular certificate program about global issues, competency, and employability. • International Buddy Program, a friendship and peer support program. Live in a university residence hall and receive a transportation subsidy, which you can use on Wellington's excellent public transportation system. You’ll enjoy cultural and social activities such as: • Guided city walks • Cable car ride over the city • Sporting events like rugby or cricket • Lord of the Rings Tour • A 3-day excursion to Rotorua