UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH DOLPHINS ON A PARADISE BEACH IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA! This fascinating and very worthwhile project gives you high levels of personal satisfaction and you'll contribute to the well-being of dolphins, in one of the most beautiful parts of Australia! The sheer size, amazing natural wealth, awesome scenery and huge variety of plant and animal life make Australia an essential destination for anyone with a passion for nature and wildlife.

Your project is based at a non-profit Centre in Bunbury committed to dolphin research, education, conservation and tourism. Facing Koombana Bay to the North, the Centre enables people to interact with Bottlenose dolphins in a variety of ways. There are up to 100 dolphins living in the Bay and groups of

them regularly visit the shallow waters in front of the Centre.

FREE WEEKEND IN PERTH DURING YOUR PLACEMENT:

As an added bonus on this placement, you'll get a FREE weekend in Perth to explore this great city! We'll bring you up from Bunbury by coach and you'll stay in a Backpackers in the heart of the city, by vibrant North Bridge, famous for it’s nightlife.

YOUR WORK:

As well as time in the water with the dolphins your role involves interaction with the public. You’re there to learn and then educate. 80% of your day will involve talking to people who come to see the dolphins, educating them about their characteristics and making them aware of how crucial it is to conserve these wonderful animals.

Other tasks may include:

► Talking to visitors on the beach - explaining what the Dolphin Centre does.
► Assisting to coordinate the Interaction Zone when dolphins visit.
► Managing the front entrance and Dolphin Room area.
► Participating in ’’Coastcare” activities and assist with current research projects.
► Assisting with the research program, recording observations in the bay and monitoring dolphin visits to the zone.
► Inputting the research data into databases for analysis
► General maintenance and cleaning.
► Tour guiding through the Interpretive Centre for the general public, tour groups and school students.

Work varies at different times of year.

VOLUNTEER TRAINING:

You'll learn a lot on the training course which includes presentations from guest speakers. After having completed a minimum of 20 hours training, you'll receive an official Volunteer T-Shirt which will identify you to the public as a trained representative of the Centre.

The Centre relies on the assistance of volunteers to advise visitors on the operations and ethos of the Centre, help manage the dolphin interaction program, actively participate in their research program and act as a guide. Staff members attend monthly meetings, as well as regular video and BBQ nights, which you'll be invited to attend. You’ll work 5 days a week, around 8 hours per day.

This placement is definitely for animal loving enthusiasts who are willing to work hard and aren’t afraid of getting their hands dirty - the rewards are well worth it! Whilst volunteering is rewarding in itself, time spent at a project such as this is an excellent springboard for traveling around Australia. Meeting other volunteers from around the world, and listening to their stories and recommendations can give you the confidence to travel and experience more.

ABOUT THE CENTRE:

The Centre is the only site to offer shore-based and boat-based swim tour interaction with wild dolphins as well as dolphin watching tours and a fascinating and educational Interpretive Centre. It is not clear why wild dolphins choose to visit the Zone. There are many dolphins that visit the Zone regularly that do not receive any fish and many of them stay for extended periods of time for interaction with the human visitors. Sick and injured dolphins also treat the beach as a haven, with some repeatedly visiting during periods of illness or injury.

ABOUT THE DOLPHINS OF KOOMBANA BAY:

The Koombana Bay dolphins are Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). They have beaks that are short, usually only 7-8 cm long, wide and rounded, with a lower jaw which protrudes conspicuously beyond the upper. The line of the mouth is soft and curves upwards at the back to give this species its familiar, faintly amused facial expression.

LOCATION & ACCOMMODATION:

This programme is located in Bunbury, the third largest city in Western Australia about 2½ hrs south of Perth. Bunbury markets itself as ‘the real Australia’. It is located on a peninsular surrounded by spectacular blue waters. Bunbury has a Mediterranean climate with warm to hot summers and cool winters.

In the town there is a colourful street of sidewalk cafes called the "Cappuccino Strip". With a variety of award winning waterside restaurants, atmospheric historic pubs and plenty of Entertainment Centres, Art Galleries and cinemas - the town buzzes all day.

You'll live in a backpackers in the heart of Bunbury with great facilities. You'll have the
beach, the City Centre and lots of other attractions all within two minutes walk and you’ll be able to explore the nearby forests, national parks, beautiful waterways, historic towns, hundreds of vineyards and the incredibly beautiful coast-line on your days off.