AUSTRALIAN WILDLIFE SANCTUARY 2017

By joining this program volunteers will have an opportunity to make a real contribution to all varieties of Australian wildlife. The purpose of this program is to protect indigenous animals and plants through direct conservation activities such as Eucalyptus tree plantation providing a long term food supply for the koalas and native grasses for kangaroos and wallabies, building and repairing fences, gates, barriers and tracks that control visitor access to environmentally sensitive areas whilst protecting ancient Aboriginal sites and making sure the bush habitat is protected so animals can live safely and happily in their natural environment which is really important for the survival of these animals. Program Description Your Australian experience begins in Sydney, wherein you will be given the best of the experiences that Sydney has to offer with fun filled activities to project information and preparation which will prepare you to step up in the wildlife zone at Australian Wildlife Sanctuary. After your arrival on day one at the Sydney airport and check in at YHA. On the remaining 2 days in Sydney, you will be taken to a beautiful market and Chinatown. You will also visit the contemporary art museum and visit the famous opera house and also indulge in some great Australian food. During these 2 days you will also be visiting Hyde park, Australian museum, botanical garden, a beautiful walk in the city of Sydney, and many more. On the fourth day, you will be transferred to NSW in the morning via a scenic train ride to Gosford station and picked by our coordinator at Gosford station. After your arrival in Walkabouts, check-into your accommodation and get lunch served with some great Australian food. After your lunch, your induction program begins with a ranger assisted tour around the park where you will gain much understanding of the park activities. From day 5 to day 13, you will continue to undergo training and also participate in the daily activities at the park. Australia has some of the world's most unique wildlife, with many species found only in Australia. This makes wildlife conservation in Australia incredibly important. Sadly, however, Australia is facing an extinction crisis, and has the worst mammal extinction record in the world, with 30 native mammal species becoming extinct since European settlement almost 130 years ago. Even still today, there are more than 1,700 species of animals and plants listed by the Australian Government at risk of extinction. The leading threat to native wildlife is humans, with most losses due to introduced species and destruction of habitat due to urbanisation. It is for this reason that animal sanctuaries are of crucial importance, to provide a safe habitat for wildlife as well as a place for wildlife conservation, education, rehabilitation and release. In this program you will have an opportunity to undo some of this damage and make a real contribution to the conservation of Australia's native wildlife by supporting a local sanctuary that provides a refuge for Australia's threatened species. Set amongst 170 acres of natural bushland, with 80 acres protected by a state of the art feral-predator proof fence, this is the largest feral-free natural bushland in New South Wales, providing a safe habitat for over 180 species of mammals, birds, frogs and reptiles. This sanctuary also provides refuge for rehabilitated injured and orphaned animals, treated and raised by professional carers but unable for various reasons to be re-released into the wild. Along with providing a refuge for wildlife, the sanctuary is also home to ancient aboriginal sites, including cave paintings and middens.