Australia Offers Unique Sights and Land Worth Protecting

November 21, 2011

Australia presents an opportunity for travel and exploration unlike any other place on Earth, right alongside a modern country many might not expect. Many in America think of Australia and imagine the rugged outback, filled with kangaroos and other unique wildlife. Perhaps some might remember the majestic Sydney Opera House, but far fewer would realize that the country actually hosts one the world’s 20 largest economies.

Indeed, CBS’s Moneywatch.com notes that Brookfield Global Relocation Services ranks Australia as the sixth most popular destination for companies considering an office abroad. World-class cities like Sydney and Canberra, four of 10 largest companies in the world and one of the globe’s most well-developed financial sectors have made Australia an economic powerhouse. The natural beauty of the country and the welcoming atmosphere of the population have also helped make it appealing for international companies.

Some of the same factors that have made Australia a destination for corporations also make it an ideal location for those looking for a chance to volunteer abroad. Experiencing a unique culture like Australia’s can develop an important perspective, especially when a person takes the time to help protect the land, its people and its history.

Cultural exchange organization InterExchange Working Abroad offers a program allowing anyone who meets Australia’s visa requirements the opportunity to work directly with Australia’s largest conservation group to help to protect endangered species and habitats. Isolated as it is at the end of the the long chain of islands off Southeast Asia, Australia has developed an incredible array of diversity in both plant and animal life, even before colonists from Europe began to introduce foreign species.

Some of these animals, like the kangaroo or the koala, have become iconic outside Australia, but other equally unique species have never achieved that level of international fame. All face the same dangers, with some ecosystems struggling to accommodate the growth of modern industry in the country. Volunteers in the Working Abroad program can attempt to protect these fragile habitats from damage and in some cases, help them recover.

InterExchange offers programs lasting anywhere from a single week to more than a month and a half. Volunteers can find programs from Sydney to Perth, in cities and in more rural areas. Moving through multiple projects, the volunteers will have the opportunity to work side-by-side with some of the Australians who have dedicated themselves to preserve and restore such a unique and beautiful land.