Volunteer in Australia

33 Years Experience

IVI is an Australian charity & non profit organisation founded in 1989 and is one of the pioneers of overseas volunteering successfully placing over 20,000 volunteers globally.  We accept volunteers from all over the world and place them in meaningful overseas missions.  

Affordable Volunteer Travel

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Volunteering in Australia can be the most cost effective way for gap year students and backpackers from all over the globe to experience this great country. From pristine surf beaches to hinterland mountains and outback deserts, IVI has options available to suit various needs and budgets.

Australia is a vast country, with a variety of different scenery. The Western side is much more quiet, with beautiful beaches, snorkelling and National Parks. The East side is popular with backpackers doing the trip from Melbourne to Cairns (or vice versa). And in the middle, you have the Outback, where you will find Uluru, formally known as Ayres Rock. Wherever you choose to explore in Australia, you are guaranteed to find adventure!

Australia is generally warm year rounnd in most places. Up North in Darwin you will find it’s always hot and humid and in the mountains in the South it will snow in winter, so always check the climate for whichever region you will be visiting.

Summer is from December to March and will be hot in most places. Winter is from June to August and can be warm or cool, depending which area you are in. Spring and Autumn can be the best months to travel due to the temperate climate. 

Australians are very friendly people and love being outdoors, active and enjoying the year round sunshine. It’s a very diverse country with many different cultures and backgrounds, such as Asian, British, Irish, Greek, African and of course the Indigenous groups. Australia holds some of the worlds first people.

Australians love a good drink and catch up with friends, as well as enjoying watching or playing sport! The outdoor lifestyle is evident here, with locals enjoying the beach, outdoor bars or the open parks and bushland. 

We offer volunteer programs in Queensland & New South Wales

Mossman, is situated in tropical North Queensland, the pretty town located at the bottom of the mountain regions. Neary is Mossman Gorge, a lush jungle trail leading to a waterfall, inside Daintree National Park.

Newcastle is around 161km north of Sydney and is a cool beachside town. It has an artsy vibe, with lots of museums and art galleries, as well as plenty of cafes and restaurants. It’s also got a gorgeous beach, with a stunning lookout. 

Sydney is home to the Sydney Opera House and bridge, 2 of Australia’s most iconic structures. There are also lots of beautiful beaches to explore close to the city. The harbour is a great destination to enjoy some food and drinks, whilst watching the sun go down. 

All accommodation is included during your volunteer program in most programs. Accommodation will be comfortable, clean and is single gender either twin or dorm style, with adequate bathroom and toilet facilities including running water.

Choose from either home stay or volunteer guest house depending on the program. Single supplements are provided at an extra charge.

3 meals are provided every day in most cases and volunteers are expected to help prepare meals and clean up.

The Australian volunteer programs are very autonomous and often you may be the only volunteer on site. Orientation generally involves between 1-3 days in which the host family or volunteer coordinator provides various local tours and/or an in depth orientation of the area and the likely day to day objectives as a volunteer.

Airport pick-up is generally included in the volunteering cost unless specified. This may involve either a local pick-up by your volunteer host or a public transport ticket where necessary. These details will be finalised with you upon making a booking.

There is plenty to get up to in Australia. From a trip into the Outback, admiring Uluru, wandering around the big cities, going on a river crocodile cruise in Darwin, surfing, diving, snorkelling, trekking through the rainforest, relaxing on a beautiful beach, swimming with whale sharks on the west side, sipping on delicious coffee, hugging a koala, the list goes on!

Check out this amazing blog with step by step info on how to raise funds for your overseas volunteer experience to help maximize your impact abroad. Guide to Fundraising