Join the Coral Crusaders!

Volunteering with Reef Restoration Foundation will provide you with a once in a lifetime opportunity to play an active role in our pioneering ocean-based coral nurseries on the Great Barrier Reef!
Volunteers are vital to the work undertaken by Reef Restoration Foundation. Our volunteers are motivated, passionate and an inspiring bunch of amazing people who are committed to making a positive difference to the Great Barrier Reef.

“I like working with Reef Restoration Foundation because it is well organised, the people behind it are professional and the volunteers I work with are so dedicated and really believe in this project,"
- Ian Prescott, Reef Restoration Foundation Volunteer.

To be considered as a volunteer, you must be based in Cairns or the surrounding area.

Dive Volunteers

As a dive volunteer, you will assist with the general work at the nursery with maintenance and monitoring. These will involve diving at the coral trees.

Task include 
•Cleaning the coral tree frames to remove the settlement of algae and encrusting  organisms
• Assisting with new installations and maintenance of coral nurseries
• Propagating coral fragments and outplanting corals back into the reef
• Potentially functioning as a leader in the field

Requirements
• Mininum PADI Rescue Diver or Equivalent with Perform Diver Rescue Statement of Attainment (VET Rescue)
• AS/NZS 2299.1:2015 Occupational Dive Medical.
• Minimum 50 hours of logged dives
• Possess your own dive gear, including fins, mask, stinger/wet suit, BCD and  regulator. These must be serviced within the past year
• Diving Insurance for non-resident. 
• Be able to commit to a minimum of six months

Schedule
Our Volunteer Coordinator sets out a schedule a month in advance requesting availability on the days required. The days selected are chosen depending on the weather, number of volunteers, other events and availability of Dive Leaders. Typically, there will be six volunteers per outing, and we endeavour to rotate the volunteers to provide everyone with an opportunity to be involved.

Usually, it will be a full day activity and you will depart Cairns at 8am and return by 6pm.

Science Volunteers

As part of the science team, you will be involved with ground-breaking research to gain a deeper understanding of the effects of coral restoration practices. This branch is also suitable for land-based volunteers who will assist with data analysis and management.

Task include
• Data collection on the growth of the coral fragments  
• Monitoring the health of the coral nurseries and the outplants
• Analysing the data with image processing software

Requirements (Water-Based)
• Strong identification skills of different coral families
• Good understanding of the ecology of the Great Barrier Reef
• Knowledge on scientific process
• Mininum PADI Rescue Diver or Equivalent with Perform Diver Rescue Statement of Attainment (VET Rescue)
• AS/NZS 2299.1:2015 Occupational Dive Medical.
• Minimum 50 hours of logged dives
• Possess your own dive gear, including fins, mask, stinger/wet suit, BCD and  regulator. These must be serviced within the past year
• Diving Insurance for non-resident. 
• Be able to commit to a minimum of one year

Requirements (Land-Based)
• Good understanding of the ecology of the Great Barrier Reef
• In-depth knowledge of scientific procedures
• Strong identification skills of different coral families
• Experience in using MS Excel and image processing software

Schedule
• The majority of the work is data collection and monitoring and is done every six    months. We currently have 30 coral trees so there is plenty of work to be done.
• A minimum of two hours per fortnight is required.

Volunteer Induction and Training

Successful applicants will need to undergo induction prior to volunteering. Inductions are conducted in the last week of the month and are subject to a minimum of five new registrations. Training is also provided by Reef Restoration Foundation. Training will include Coral Identification Workshops, Coral Outplant Surveys and several hands-on skills required to be working at the nurseries.
If you are passionate about making a positive difference to the Great Barrier Reef and you want to volunteer with an amazing bunch of people, please register now.