Spend Your Gap Year in Australia!

Before heading off to college, perhaps, you’ve been considering taking a year off — or what’s commonly called a gap year. If you’re looking to spend a year away from school, you’re certainly not alone. The popularity of gap years is on the rise with 35 percent more students electing to do one in 2020, keep in mind, that gap years are not just for students; if you are in between jobs or careers, a gap year may very well provide the direction or inspiration you are seeking.

Deciding to travel, work, or volunteer abroad during your gap year is a major decision, in and of itself, but what will you actually do, and where will you go? Enter Australia, one of the most popular gap year destinations with a lot to offer.

Spend Your Gap Year in Australia

From the wild lands of the Outback to the dazzling beaches to the stunning city skylines, Australia buzzes with life and energy. Diverse, developed, and beautiful, Australia is an excellent choice, with its country’s friendly people and awesome working holiday visa making it an even greater destination.

When it comes to working, interning, or volunteering in Australia, opportunities abound. For instance, those interested in marine and animal conservation have access to a variety of programs, given Australia’s need to protect native wildlife like koalas and sea turtles. Nature preservation projects are another option if you want to help protect Australia’s fragile ecosystem. Programs involving the Great Barrier Reef are particularly popular.

Additionally, numerous gap year volunteer and intern programs involve working with indigenous communities. In such programs, you support local communities in a variety of ways, such as offering elderly care, helping with agricultural initiatives, and assisting with educational workshops. The goal is to empower these communities to build a brighter future.

Also, in major cities like Sydney and Melbourne, there are opportunities to help disadvantaged people, from working in childcare programs to helping the homeless. Such programs are a good way to enjoy Australia’s modern culture, while still doing your part.

Best Gap Year Programs In Australia

There are many ways to spend your gap year in Australia. Listed here are some of Australia’s best-structured gap year programs.

Note: Since it’s your gap year, chances are you may want to stay longer. The longer you stay, the cheaper prices usually get per week (which means a better value for you).

International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ)

A gap year in Australia offers the perfect blend of adventure and meaningful contribution through volunteering. Join the Marine Conservation project on the Great Barrier Reef, where you’ll help protect one of the world’s most iconic ecosystems. Based in Cairns, you’ll work on reef monitoring, marine debris collection, and sea turtle conservation. Live in a vibrant, dormitory-style hostel, with plenty of opportunities to explore Australia’s stunning beaches, rainforests, and cities. This experience is ideal for those passionate about the ocean and looking to gain hands-on conservation experience while enjoying the beauty and culture of Australia.

GoEco

Taking a gap year in Australia with GoEco offers an incredible opportunity to immerse yourself in conservation work while exploring one of the world’s most diverse and stunning environments. Whether you’re protecting marine life on the Great Barrier Reef or caring for native wildlife at a sanctuary near Sydney, you’ll contribute to vital environmental initiatives.

In the Great Barrier Reef Conservation program, you’ll get PADI certified, dive among coral reefs, and assist with marine species monitoring and turtle rehabilitation. For wildlife enthusiasts, the Wildlife Animal Sanctuary program lets you work closely with koalas, kangaroos, and other unique species in a natural bushland setting.

Volunteering Solutions (VolSol)

Taking a gap year in Australia with Volunteering Solutions offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in wildlife conservation while exploring the country’s stunning landscapes. 

In the Endangered Species Conservation Program in Gladstone, you’ll care for native animals like the Bridled Nailtail Wallaby and Northern Hairy-nosed Wombats. Your tasks will include feeding animals, cleaning enclosures, and assisting with medical care for injured wildlife. 

If you prefer a more intimate setting, the Wildlife Shelter Volunteer Program in Holbrook provides an opportunity to care for orphaned and injured animals. You’ll be involved in feeding, cleaning, and maintaining enclosures, as well as assisting with animal rescues. Living on-site, you’ll experience the day-to-day operations of a wildlife rescue center, learning valuable skills and making a meaningful impact.

Love Volunteers

Love Volunteers’ Great Barrier Turtle Conservation program is held on Fitzroy Island, just off the coast of Cairns. Volunteers can expect very full days that begin with an early morning ferry ride to the Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre. During the program, you care for sea turtles who have been injured by boats and/or are suffering from disease. You also get the chance to research these precious creatures and offer solutions for protecting them.

During the evenings and weekends, you can visit tropical villages, learn about Aboriginal culture, and retrace the steps of pioneers in Australia’s history. Cairns is located in tropical North Queensland and is a gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest, offering endless outdoor and wildlife adventures. You will definitely not have a lack of things to do with the friends you make from around the world.

Fronteering

Few organizations run as many reputable volunteer programs in Australia as Fronteering. Most are centered around wildlife and nature conservation. Programs you can join for your gap year include:

• Devil Care and Release: Head to stunning Tasmania and care for the amazingly cool Tasmanian devils. 
• Kangaroo Island: Take a leap to Australia’s Galapagos and help protect the kangaroo–a national treasure. 
• Dolphin Conservation: Swim with dolphins off the coast of Western Australia and work on projects to increase public awareness of the need to protect them. 
• Koala Sanctuary: Have close encounters with koalas and contribute to their protection. 
• Bat Rescue: Fly up to Northern Australia and help save the flying foxes. During the program, you’ll appreciate this mammal-like never before. 

In addition to these programs, Fronteering also holds a program for sea turtle conservation. You can also volunteer at an Australia Zoo. 

Choosing the Right Gap Year Program in Australia

To choose the right gap year program in Australia, really consider your true interests, budget, location preferences, and time frame. Also, consider whether you want to volunteer, work, and/or just explore the country. With so many reputable programs in Australia available, you’re certain to find something suitable after some research and introspection.

Touted as a way to explore interests, travel, work, and volunteer, a gap year gives you time to grow as an individual. That’s probably why renowned institutions, like Harvard University and the University of North Carolina, encourage and promote taking a gap year.

Once you have selected a program you wish to attend, we’re here to help make your gap year dreams come true. Sign up on Volunteer Forever today, and begin fundraising for your gap year adventure in Australia.