Humpbacks & High-Rises is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to the research and protection of whales and dolphins in southeast Queensland. We focus our research and protection strategies on the coastal impacts of urbanization, for the benefit of marine mammals and urban communities. Our mission is to ensure that current and future generations of the community can enjoy, appreciate, and care for humpback whales and other charismatic marine mammals. We aim to provide adaptation strategies for whales in urbanized waters, bring the community closer to whales, and maintain whale watching on the Gold Coast for future generations. To achieve this, we improve knowledge of humpback whales and dolphins by collecting data on the physical properties of the water, studying their abundance, distribution, behavior, and movement patterns, and engaging the community in the Gold Coast "bay" region and beyond. We collect, analyze, and publish information about marine mammals for the public, with the support of our community members. Our findings show that Gold Coast Bay is an important resting place for mothers and their calves and is becoming a calving ground. We studied the behavior of over 2,000 individuals over several seasons and discovered resting behaviors very similar to those observed in Hervey Bay. Our findings have implications for the management of Gold Coast coastal waters and also demonstrate the importance of sharing the waters with our gentle giants so they can rest safely.

English courses of min. 5 weeks followed by 8 to 24 weeks of eco-volunteering.

For English courses, you can choose one or a combination of courses from the following:

▪ Intensive General English

▪ IELTS exam preparation

▪ English for academic purposes

▪ Preparation for the Cambridge First Certificate English (FCE)

▪ Preparation for the Cambridge Advanced English (CAE) exam

▪ Barista@BROWNS English Language School

Description of volunteering / eco-volunteering :

•  Volunteer opportunities are limited in terms of the number of participants.
• Time spent in the field aboard commercial whale-watching boats will allow you to learn more about the species and individuals (including identification, biology, behavior and the opportunity to photograph the animals).
• You will be given the opportunity to interact with the public to answer questions and provide educational materials and information.
• Working on a wide range of tasks, including data collection, data entry and analysis, community engagement, ocean education, design, software development and sea bream pairing.
• Candidates are recruited for at least four trips per month (boats depart from Main Beach and Surfers Paradise ).
• No experience or qualifications are required.
• The list of volunteers will be provided after the first training session.

Dates

• 2024 Volunteer Orientation Dates*: - Tuesday, May 14, 2024 - Monday, June 24, 2024 - Monday, July 22, 2024 - Tuesday, August 20, 2024 - 2025 dates to be announced

*Orientation dates are indicative only and may be subject to change. Students must arrange their own transportation to the orientation and boat departure points.

Volunteer Orientation : Before commencing the whale conservation volunteer program, students must attend an orientation session. Students should aim to begin their English classes at least one week prior to the orientation . Orientation Location: Griffith University, Edmund Rice Dr, Southport, Queensland 4215 (G51 smartwater facility)

Profile

• Pre-intermediate or higher level of English
• Open to students holding a student visa, a Working Holiday visa or a visitor visa.
• Age: 18 years and over
• Having successfully completed the on-site volunteer orientation (organized monthly at Griffith University)