Bats play a vital role in maintaining the health of our ecosystems. They pollinate flowers and disperse seeds while foraging for nectar and pollen. Insect-eating bats contribute to controlling many pest insects, including mosquitoes, flying termites, and lawn grub moths. Scientists have highlighted the role bats play in ensuring Australian rainforests' survival. Unfortunately, bat populations are experiencing devastating declines. Negative public opinion has long targeted bats; this issue, combined with habitat loss, is at the core of their conservation challenges.
Our partner organization, situated in the beautifully scenic Atherton Tablelands of northern Queensland, focuses on rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing several species of native Australian bats. The hospital is devoted to the care of sick, injured, and orphaned bats, treating Australian flying foxes, such as the Spectacled Flying-foxes and Little Red Flying-foxes, Tube-Nosed Fruit bats, and even a few microbats, including Nyctophilus and Freetail bats. These world-class facilities are also home to a select group of permanent resident flying foxes that are ambassadors for the educational program. We are convinced that education is the key to shifting public attitudes positively towards bats, and the centre delivers educational programs through its visitor centre.
Common issues treated at the centre are tick paralysis, injuries from entanglement in barbed wire fencing, and caring for orphaned bat pups. The optimal period for volunteering spans from October to February, when numerous flying foxes, afflicted with tick paralysis, require urgent care, and up to 500 orphaned young are being fostered.
Volunteers help with all aspects of care for the bat patients. This includes cleaning cages and enclosures, assisting with laundry, preparing special diets and formulas, feeding weaned bats, and measuring and weighing the orphans. There's also hand-feeding our nursing babies, doing general upkeep and maintenance of the hospital, unloading donated fruit, whipping up and freezing large batches of banana smoothies, and joining rescue or release missions to the rainforest when possible.
We welcome volunteers from October to March, our busiest season. During this busy time, volunteers are asked to contribute six days a week.
A typical day for a volunteer can stretch up to 10 hours, filled with various activities needed to keep the centre running and the baby bats hand-fed. At peak times, we could be looking after more than 200 bat pups at the same time! To manage this, we split the workload into two shifts: an early shift starting at 6 am and a late shift winding down around 11 pm, ensuring our little pups receive care throughout the day. But don't worry, you'll never be working solo. There's always the supportive presence of our staff or fellow volunteers around you.
Should you need a day off, you can easily coordinate with our volunteer coordinator. While the experience is incredibly fulfilling, we still strive to accommodate our long-term volunteers with a well-deserved break for a few days during their stint with us.
This program not only contributes to bat conservation - it's designed to be a fun, fulfilling, and truly unforgettable experience, blending professional care with friendly teamwork.
As a volunteer, you'll live amidst the action at the Bat Hospital. Charming luxury tent gazebos dot the grounds, and you'll be assigned your own private tent for your stay. Equipped with electrical power, a cozy single bed, shelving unit, table, and chair, it's practically luxury camping in the heart of the Australian tropics! Essential facilities like the bathroom, common room, kitchen, dining room, and laundry facilities are communal and situated in the main house. The centre includes and provides meals―volunteers commonly take turns preparing meals, and of course, tidying up is a shared responsibility. Free WiFi is always at your disposal for your convenience.
Got any questions about safety? We're ready with answers!
We’ve got you covered every step of the way! Your volunteering journey includes:
Airport pick-up and drop-off at Cairns Airport
Comfortable accommodation
All meals
Wifi
Comprehensive pre-departure & on-site training
A donation to our Placement Partner
AEI Travel Manual brimming with key travel insights including packing list, currency information and in-depth placement description
Premium Individual Travel Insurance (up to USD 500,000 in emergency medical coverage)
24/7 emergency support throughout your placement
One tree planted for every volunteer to help offset carbon emissions and create more livable ecosystems for wildlife
Enrolment with the Global Travel Academy to earn a certificate in International Volunteering
The package does not cover flights, entry visa costs, international and domestic airport taxes, immunizations, and medications. Please note that a rabies vaccine, not included in the package, is mandatory for this volunteering experience. The average cost ranges from $600 to $1000 in North America.
Thinking of raising funds to cover a part or the entirety of your fees? Many of our clients have found outstanding success with their fundraising endeavours. To learn more about their successful fundraising initiatives and explore how you can fundraise for your experience, kindly check out our fundraising page!
Your help will be especially valuable during the hospital's busy season, which starts in October and lasts until February, with the most hectic months being from November to January. We do consider placements during the off-season in exceptional cases. This placement can commence on any given weekday.
Your commitment of 4 weeks would be greatly appreciated during our high season.Rest assured, this is an ongoing program that is operational all year round with no specific starting or ending dates. We value your time and will align with your schedule to allow you to offer your service to this community and the animals when accessible to you. Please note that placements kick off on weekdays and we kindly ask volunteers to arrive on the day their experience begins.
Immediate action is essential to rescue and rehabilitate bats and inform the public about their importance and the urgent need for conservation measures. By supporting our partner in Australia, you align yourself with an award-winning organization at the forefront of bat conservation. The Bat Hospital is dedicated to wildlife care, educating the public, advocacy, and bat research. They build community partnerships and work towards habitat protection at a local level. As a volunteer, you'll be fully immersed in every facet of bat rehabilitation, gaining knowledge on how to nurture baby bats and understanding the processes involved in their release back into the wild. Throughout the busy season, you'll engage closely with hundreds of bats, becoming well-versed in their care and the broader challenges of bat conservation in Australia. If you're considering a future in bat-related work or aim to advocate for public education, this opportunity is tailored for you.
There's an indescribable joy in cradling a flying fox pup wrapped in a blanket, patiently waiting for its next bottle feed. With their soulful brown eyes, these tiny orphaned creatures will capture your heart as you nurture them back to health, granting them a chance to thrive once released. The satisfaction of making a tangible difference in the life of each pup is nothing short of miraculous.
While the work is bustling, the camaraderie shared with fellow international volunteers makes it rewarding and enjoyable. Together, volunteers cook meals, share stories over dinner, and relax in communal areas or private gazebos after a productive day. Nestled in the tropical tablelands, the Bat Hospital offers stunning jungle vistas, enhancing your working experience on-site. You'll not only fall for the charm of Australia but also develop a profound connection with the bats you're helping to save.
"As we were in the off-season there were not hundreds of babies to rear, but we were lucky enough to have three baby little reds to help raise. My friend and I each selected a baby to take care of. We learned that baby bats can develop a bond with their caretaker, so it was important for us to have a designated bat. In the busy season, since there are so many baby bats, it is impossible for people to have designated bats to take care of, so we had the unique opportunity to develop a bond with the little red we selected. I greatly enjoyed watching my little red grow physically and develop her personality.”
B Corps are certified by the non-profit B Lab to meet rigorous social and environmental performance standards, accountability, and transparency. We have been a B Corp since 2013, and since then, we have always been in the top 10% of quantifiable benefits to the environment and the communities in which we operate.
We acknowledge the traditional and contemporary custodians of the land on which Animal Experience International’s Barrie office is located. These people are the Ho-de-no-sau-nee-ga (Haudenosaunee), Anishinabewaki ᐊᓂᔑᓈᐯᐗᑭ, Mississauga, and Wendake-Nionwentsïo People and we recognize their continuing connection to the land, waters, and culture. We pay our respect to their Elders, past, present, and emerging.
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