Volunteer Testimonials
Antonio
From: Portugal
Year of volunteering: 2022
Volunteer period: 3 weeks
Hello! My name is António, I’m from Portugal, and I went to Australia to join the Australian Animals Care and Education (AACE) with a volunteering program, where I stayed for three weeks cleaning, feeding and caring for all kinds of native wildlife. As a Portuguese child, the idea of Australian animals always seemed appealing to me. I would read about it for hours, I still remember when it all started! I was ten or eleven years old when my mum bought me a book about five Portuguese children – or teens – that went to Australia on an adventure. I read it in three hours… and then I read it again, and again. And again. From that moment on, all I ever wanted to do was to have an adventure in Australia, just like the characters from my book. I spent the last ten years dreaming about flying to this huge and beautiful country on the other side of the world – literally – and get to know its people, its culture and, more importantly, its wildlife. I did not realise that it would change my life. The amazing people I met taught me all I wanted to know about animals, told me the most incredible stories, took me on road trips to meet the country and lent me books about Australian culture. They treated me like I was family, even though they had only known me for five days. Every day something new and exciting would happen.
When I got there, all I wanted to do was see a Koala or pat a Kangaroo. I was so obsessed with getting to see every single animal that I didn’t realise how much pain they were in. Of course, I was aware of the endangered species and the habitat destruction, but I failed to realise the enormous scale that this was happening. I still get sick to my stomach when I think about how they can simply get away with murdering native animals just so they can build some dumb factory. My favourite part of the entire experience was the knowledge that I gained about real-life interactions with animals. Everything looks simple and easy to do when you read about it, but it’s when you’re lifting a forty kilogram huge Green Sea Turtle that you truly understand how amazing, important, beautiful, scary even, wildlife is. Getting to work with the animals made the trip to Australia worth it, but what made it amazing was the people I got to meet, befriend and care for.
Also, here’s a picture of me with a kangaroo!
Natasha
Hometown: Foxworth, Mississippi, USA
Current City: Gladstone, Qld, Australia
Volunteer Since: January 2021
It is an absolute pleasure and an invaluable experience to volunteer at Safe Haven AACE. I believe we must learn everything we can about the creatures who share our planet. Knowing more about our wildlife will help protect it and preserve it for future generations.
I am learning how to care for orphaned and injured wildlife at Safe Haven, as well as how important it is to conserve our native animals. I have seen firsthand how much effort and dedication is put into the day-to-day care of animals in need. Everything from washing the dishes to cutting up fruit to cleaning enclosures is vital to the well-being of the animals in care.
I have gained a sense of purpose from volunteering. I am doing something worthwhile that makes a difference. In addition to enriching the lives of animals around me, I am also enriching my own.
It’s the time spent with the birds and snakes that I enjoy most about volunteering at Safe Haven. The majority of my time there is spent cleaning enclosures and preparing food, but having interaction with all of the animals is a bonus. Eventually, you get to know the personalities of all the creatures and form bonds with them. After watching them grow and heal, you get to see them venture back into the wild. What a great honour and privilege!
Safe Haven’s people are also amazing. They are very patient and willing to answer my questions. Their passion for what they do shows in the way they treat every animal in their care and every volunteer. I look forward to many more years with them.
Dave
From: Gladstone, Qld, Australia
Volunteer Since: January 2021
I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here and look forward to many more years working with the staff and animals.
My volunteering days began with the humble task of raking up poo, washing out food bowls, and preparing vegetables for the many and varied species at Safe Haven. Those tasks continue to this day, but having gained knowledge and experience through my time volunteering, I am now lucky enough to help in transporting animals to the vets in Rockhampton (including trying to hold a large Black Headed Python, nice and still while X-rays were taken!), raise rats for carnivore food, provide the pythons with some enriching time out of their enclosures, and socialize with some of the longer staying critters at Safe Haven.
One of the greatest highlights of my tenure at Safe Haven has been transporting and releasing a green sea turtle named “RnR”. To see that big girl swim free from Rules Beach was just amazing! I have also been lucky to care for several birds and joeys at home for a time until they were ready to be passed onto their next carer, or released back into the wild.
Thank you Safe Haven for the knowledge, experience, and friendships that revolve around this country’s amazing fauna!
Tremaine
From: Brisbane, Qld, Australia
Year of volunteering: 2021
Volunteer period: 3 weeks
Whilst volunteering at Safe Haven, I found the behind-the-scenes access to native Australian animals a great opportunity to experience closely the impact that this kind of work has. Along with this, the access to knowledgeable individuals who have worked directly with these animals had allowed me to learn so much more than I had expected.
An interesting thing I learnt at safe haven is the existence of three separate wombat groups and the differences in conservation status between them.
Rebecca
From: Tannum Sands, Qld, Australia
Volunteer Since: 2018
My favourite part of volunteering at Safe Haven is spending time with the animals and also learning about them. Volunteering here is just a small way that I can help others and also the local wildlife.
In my time here, I’ve learnt that koalas, although very cute, are actually one of the most difficult native species to look after and rehabilitate.
Sugar gliders, also very cute, make the most fearsome growls and noises to ever come out of a tiny little body!
Even if you can’t/are not able to volunteer, you can help in other ways, like sewing, picking up fruit and oats collections, and donating equipment like brooms, and buckets, to name a few. Every little bit really does count, no matter how small.
Audrey
From: USA
Year of volunteering: 2019
Volunteer period: 2 weeks
I loved how involved I was and how I felt like I was making an impact. I think back on that experience a lot because it was so incredible. I experienced things I had never thought of, and I learned so much about the country and its beautiful animals. It was a life-changing experience that I would recommend to everybody.
Tamar
From: Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
Year of volunteering: 2020
Period of volunteering: 3 weeks
Having just completed my undergraduate studies in Wildlife Science, I was eager to develop my animal husbandry skills and knowledge. I spent three weeks at Safe Haven and had an absolute ball of a time from the start. Working hands-on with wombats, kangaroos and wallaby joeys, various reptiles and birds, bettongs, gliders, and more, it was an amazing opportunity to increase my knowledge and contribute to a very worthy cause. The broad majority of animals which come to Safe Haven are either injured, unwell, or both. It was a privilege to be able to support and nurture the beautiful creatures which had found their safe haven at Tina’s non-profit sanctuary. Tina and her family are warm and welcoming people. The accommodation was comfortable and the property is just perfect for the cause. I couldn’t be more appreciative of the time I spent volunteering and found it tough to leave. I don’t know that I necessarily had a favourite occasion throughout my stay, as I was sure to make the most of the entire time. However, tending to and interacting with the resident wombats was definitely an educational and special experience.
Safe Haven will always hold a very special place in my heart. Thank you, Tina, Ruby, and family for doing what you’re doing. The passion, love, and commitment that you show for looking after our native wildlife is next to none ♥
Gustav
From: Denmark
Year of volunteering: 2022
Period of volunteering: 3 weeks
I had an amazing time at the project, learning about kangaroos, wombats, sugar and squirrel gliders, birds, lizards, and much more!
I especially had fun hanging out with the kangaroo and wallaby joeys, and helping out with the yearly wombat health assessments.
The project leaders are very experienced and know a ton about their animals. I learned, among other things, about embryonic diapause: a way kangaroos and wallabies can suspend pregnancies.
Volunteering at AACE was great fun and an amazing experience!
Justin
From: France
Year of volunteering: 2020
Period of volunteering: 3 weeks
My favorite part of coming to AACE – Safe haven was honestly to be away from everything from my normal life and doing something that actually matters. Even though it was exhausting I really felt useful there and the time I shared with the animals was wonderful.
I was impressed by the fact that Tina was there for the animals 24/7 for I don’t know how many years. She devoted her life to the life of other beings and that’s amazing.
Amy
From: Brisbane, Qld, Australia
Year of volunteering: 2021
Period of volunteering: 2 weeks
I stayed at Safe Haven for a fortnight back in November 2021 and had an absolutely wonderful time! It was fascinating to work with such a variety of animals from gliders to emus and of course wombats. I definitely think the experience taught me a lot about conservation, mainly the effort it takes to rescue and treat sick or injured animals, whilst replicating conditions in the wild so they can be successfully released. For me, the highlight was learning about wombats and the breeding program. All in all, I’m so grateful for the experience and the memories I created whilst volunteering.