Employment

Jobs are advertised through WA Government jobs board jobs.wa.gov.au.

Students

If you are interested in future opportunities with North West Shelf Flatbacks, please contact us.

Volunteers

DBCA run two monitoring programs each year, which provide opportunities for volunteers to get involved with and learn more about the North West Shelf Flatbacks (read more below). If you are interested in volunteering please register your interest at turtles@dbca.wa.gov.au by end of August each year.

 

 

Volunteer monitoring sites

 

                                                                                                        

Thevenard Island   One of the Mackerel Islands, a group of 10 islands off the coast of Onslow WA		Delambre Island   One of the islands of the Dampier Archipelago, off Point Sampson
Self-contained cabins with 2-5 bedrooms, shared rooms with two single beds in each.		Camping on the beach – whole camp is transported to island each year.
Covered costs: Transport from Onslow to Thevenard Island by boat and return. Food and accommodation on Thevenard Island. Remainder of flight cost from Perth to Onslow.		Covered costs: Transport from Karratha to Delambre Island by boat and return. Food and accommodation on Delambre Island. Remainder of flight cost from Perth to Karratha.
Not covered costs: We ask for a contribution towards the flights from Perth to Onslow. Food and accommodation in Perth/Onslow prior to and after the trip to Thevenard Island. Transport to and from the airport in Perth. International volunteers are expected to have their own personal travel and health insurance. Personal expenses		Not covered costs: We ask for a contribution towards the flights from Perth to Karratha. Food and accommodation in Perth/Karratha prior to and after the trip to Delambre Island. Transport to and from the airport in Perth. International volunteers are expected to have their own personal travel and health insurance. Personal expenses.

                                                                                 

                                                                                          

Major responsibilities

Volunteers help with research on flatback turtles. Duties include:

Patrolling the beach at night for nesting turtles; tagging; measuring; taking skin biopsy; deploying satellite tags; patrolling the beach and counting tracks during the day; monitoring nesting success and hatching success; data entry.

Shifts will vary due to tides, the number of turtles on the beach and the number of staff/volunteers available, however volunteers should expect long hours working under difficult conditions (approximately 5-8 hours per night).

Requirements

All participants must be physically able to

• walk the beach at night for five/six hours carrying 6kg
• walk on uneven terrain (rocks, soft sand)
• walk 6 - 12km in hot (30-40°C) daytime conditions
• lift 15kg
• Applicants must, present fit for work whilst on duty and act in accordance with the Department’s Code of Conduct. Senior First Aid qualification is desirable.

Location map

Alternative volunteering opportunities monitoring flatback turtles in WA can be accessed from the monitoring locations map.

If you are not able to volunteer there are lots of other ways that you may be able to contribute to the conservation of turtles in WA. 

See the individual sections on threats to flatback turtles to find out what you might be able to do.

Alternative volunteer opportunities with other species of turtle may be found on the DBCA website.