COURSE LETS MARINE LOVERS DIVE INTO VOLUNTEERING

FORGING a career in marine conservation is difficult but a new, free online training program by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority equips Queenslanders for work experience as a volunteer.

The training package includes eight modules that can be completed at the student’s own pace, comprised of interactive presentations including videos, audio, graphics and reading.

Dr Steven Miles, Minister for Environment and Heritage, National Parks and the Great Barrier Reef, says volunteers currently respond to about 60 per cent of marine animal strandings along the Great Barrier Reef coastline.

“Volunteers who do the online course will be able to help individual animals and also contribute to collection of data,” Miles says.

“Data collection is a critical role. Information about the location and cause of marine animal strandings has helped to introduce protection measures in Queensland, including dugong protection areas, and ‘go slow’ areas in Moreton Bay. The online training also shows volunteers how to collect data from stranding incidents to inform management decisions that work to protect marine turtles in the Great Barrier Reef.”

Miles says marine turtles are the most common animals to strand on the coast.

“Numbers over recent years have varied between about 900 and 1800 per year,” he says. “Reasons for stranding include disease, starvation, boat strike, entanglement, predation, and ingestion of marine debris.

“Stranding response volunteers are all ages and from all walks of life. They do an amazing job, taking sick and injured turtles to Queensland’s turtle rehabilitation centres.

“Most turtles that recover are eventually released back to the wild.

“Our volunteers and rehab centres need plenty more people to help them with this important task.” For more information about the course visit ehp.qld.gov.au/ wildlife/careing-for-wildlife/marine_strandings.html