Learn and be involved

Volunteers and work experience in parks

You can apply to be a volunteer in parks and reserves in the Northern Territory (NT).

As a volunteer, you can:

learn about nature and wildlife
contribute to conservation management
help maintain park infrastructure and visitor facilities
gain new skills
work outdoors
improve your health and wellbeing
meet new people.

All volunteers must read and follow the volunteer code of conduct.

Who can volunteer

Volunteer placements are limited.

Placements can vary in duties performed, frequency and skills required.

Volunteers under the age of 16 years may participate in volunteer activities, provided they are accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Volunteer positions are not available at all times in all parks.

If you're an international visitor, you must have a visa that allows you to do volunteer work.

How to volunteer

Below are the different ways you can volunteer in parks.

Apply to become a volunteer

You need to apply to become a volunteer.

To register your interest, fill in the application and select your areas of interest.

Volunteer program application PDF (190.1 KB)
Volunteer program application DOCX (74.4 KB)

You should include all relevant experience and availability on your application. This helps match volunteers with placements available.

Email your form or any questions to volunteer.parks@nt.gov.au.

If you want to volunteer at any of the below parks, you will need to contact these parks directly:

Volunteer as a campground host

Campground hosts are people who volunteer their time in national parks around the NT.

They carry out various roles associated with park and visitor management.

They usually enjoy the outdoors and have good health and fitness levels.

Campground hosts are mostly self-sufficient with their own tent or caravan, staying on site for 3 weeks at a time.

Responsibilities include:

welcoming visitors
providing general information about the area
assisting with the cleaning and maintenance of visitor facilities.

Where you can volunteer

The campground host program operates in a number of campgrounds across the Top End and Central Australian regions of the NT including:

Litchfield National Park
- Wangi Falls
- Florence Falls
- Tjaynera Falls
Elsey National Park (Jalmurark Campground)
Judbarra / Gregory National Park (Big Horse Creek Campground)
Keep River National Park (Jarnem Campground)
Karlu Karlu / Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve
Trephina Gorge Nature Park
Finke Gorge National Park (Palm Valley Campground).

When you can volunteer

Hosts are particularly needed from May to August. This is the dry season in the Top End and the cooler months in Central Australia.

Expressions of interest submitted outside of these months will also be considered.

How to apply

Step 1. Review the campground host program position descriptions PDF (2.0 MB).

Step 2. Fill in the volunteer application:

Volunteer campground host application PDF (187.7 KB)
Volunteer campground host application DOCX (76.6 KB)

Step 3. Submit the completed form to:

Volunteer Programs Manager
Parks and Wildlife
PO Box 496
Palmerston NT 0831
volunteer.parks@nt.gov.au

For more information, call 08 8999 3821.

If your placement is confirmed, you will get online training and an on-site induction.

Volunteer with friends groups

There are conservation-focused volunteer groups operating across the NT.

For more information and to get involved, contact the groups directly:

Work experience

Work experience placements in selected parks and reserves may be available to senior secondary school students considering a career in land and resource management.

Work experience placements must be supported by a school. That school must provide evidence of public liability insurance. Some restrictions to activities apply.

Students need to provide their own transport to and from the workplace.

Students work alongside park rangers, wildlife rangers and office staff.

Group work experience placements are occasionally available in some parks or reserves. Groups are assigned a volunteer project and must provide their own supervision.

Places are limited.

Prospective work experience students are asked to provide a letter of application and resume to the Community Engagement Unit by emailing communityengagementpw@nt.gov.au.

Contact

For more information, contact Parks and Wildlife.

Be Crocwise learning materials and talks

Be Crocwise learning materials and talks by community engagement officers help Top End teachers and students learn about crocodile safety in the Northern Territory (NT).

School talks

The community engagement team can come out to your school to hold talks with your class (for urban schools) and can also give talks to your class via Skype.

To book a free Be Crocwise talk for your school, fill in the Be Crocwise school booking form:

Be Crocwise school booking form PDF (448.9 KB)
Be Crocwise school booking form DOCX (228.4 KB)

Submit it by mail, email or fax to:

Darwin Community Engagement Unit
GPO Box 1448
Darwin NT 0801
Fax: 08 8999 4558
becrocwise@nt.gov.au

Katherine Community Engagement Unit
PO Box 344
Katherine NT 0851
Fax: 08 8973 8899
becrocwise@nt.gov.au

You can also call a community engagement officer to get more information:
Darwin: 08 8999 4432
Katherine: 08 8973 8865.

Be Crocwise learning materials

Getting creative with crocs

Getting creative with crocs activity resources engage students to think creatively about crocodiles.

getting creative with crocs PDF (74.3 KB)

Resource kit

The Be Crocwise teaching and learning resource kit PDF (8.3 MB) can be used by early, primary and middle-year teachers and activities can be modified to suit other year levels.

Activities can be completed as stand-alone lessons or as part of a larger unit of work.

The Be Crocwise resource kit has all of the following:

introduction and teacher notes
early years activities
primary years activities
middle years activities
appendix.

Resources

You can find out more about crocodiles from the following Be Crocwise resources:

View a Crocwise flyer PDF (571.0 KB) about boating and fishing safety in crocodile areas.

Design and graphics activities for students

Use the following Be Crocwise visual activities in your classroom:

create a crocodile collage or poster using clippings and images from newspapers and brochures
create textures/patterns and images inspired by crocodiles to print on fabric or posters
use hand, foot and body prints to make life-sized crocodile images, use these to compare and contrast saltwater and freshwater crocodiles
research the number of businesses that have nothing to do with crocodiles but have used saltwater crocodiles in their marketing/advertising to promote their businesses
design a logo or a graphic design package such as a letterhead, flyer, or banner for a mock business and use saltwater crocodile images in your design
research the fashion and design industry and where saltwater crocodiles have inspired fashion, also look at where saltwater crocodile leather has been used in the fashion industry
design a collection of crocodile inspired clothing for a particular theme: evening wear, sportswear, resort wear, beach clothing, shoes, bags or head gear
create a sculpture of a saltwater and a freshwater crocodile using recycled materials only.

Language and maths activities for students

Use the following Be Crocwise activities in your classroom:

use length and weight measurements or crocodile distribution in mathematics studies
set up debates and forum discussions using role plays to investigate the impact of saltwater crocodiles in your community
create an anthology of crocodile poems, songs and stories
write a jingle or song about Be Crocwise that could play on radio or TV
write a rap about how deadly saltwater crocodiles are
research how many books, both fiction and non-fiction, have been written about crocodiles and investigate the themes that have been covered
write a story about how your community sees saltwater crocodiles and produce it as a book to present to your school library - if possible translate this book into at least one other language spoken by children at your school.

Performance activities for students

Use the following Be Crocwise activities in your classroom:

write, produce and perform a musical based on a crocodile story
make a film about saltwater crocodiles set in your community or school
research and find out how many movies, documentaries and feature films have been made about saltwater crocodiles
compare and contrast the different genres of movies - which are scientifically accurate and which have used artistic licence.

Tourism-related activities for students

Use the following Be Crocwise activities in your classroom:

create a restaurant menu using saltwater crocodile as your theme
research your ingredients and write up the menu to make it sound irresistible - include entrees, mains, desserts and drinks inspired by saltwater crocodiles
imagine you are starting up an exclusive tour guiding business based around crocodiles in the NT - design itineraries and experiences and a brochure to promote your crocodile tour guiding business
imagine you are a landscape or exhibit designer for a new crocodile theme park with live animals and interactive displays and themed rides. Create a landscape plan for the theme park by researching what is needed to house and display saltwater crocodiles in their natural habitat.

Photos for school use

The following photos can be used in your classroom to support learning activities.

Learn more about crocodiles

Find out more about the Be Crocwise crocodile safety campaign, conservation of crocodiles and crocodile capture and management.

See parks resources for schools about other wildlife.

Become a junior ranger

If your child becomes a junior ranger, they will have the opportunity to explore parks and reserves through fun and hands-on activities.

All activities are free and may include:

identifying wildlife tracks, plants and weeds
finding their way using maps
wildlife spotlighting
bird watching
helping conserve the environment
exploring Aboriginal culture.

The program runs every year in Darwin, Katherine and Alice Springs.

Parents are also welcome to attend.

Applications are open for Katherine. Intake for Darwin is full and intake for Alice Springs will open in June 2024.

Who can apply

To be eligible, your child must be 9 to 12 years old and have average fitness.

You must also live in Darwin, Katherine or Alice Springs.

Priority will be given to those who apply first and who can commit to all planned activities in the schedule.

Schedule

The program schedules vary between locations.

Your child can choose to take part in:

Katherine – every Tuesday in term 3 from 5:30pm to 7pm
Alice Springs – term 3 (applications open in June 2024).

How to apply

To apply for Katherine, you can apply online or by email.

Online

Apply now

By email

To apply by email, fill in the junior ranger registration form and submit it to CommunityEngagementPW@nt.gov.au.

Junior ranger registration form - Katherine PDF (554.1 KB)
Junior ranger registration form - Katherine DOCX (63.5 KB)

Contact

To find out more, email the Parks and Wildlife team at CommunityEngagementPW@nt.gov.au or call:

Darwin – 08 8999 4432
Katherine – 08 8973 8865
Alice Springs - 08 8951 8247.

Activities and events in parks

Parks and Wildlife rangers and staff host a wide range of activities and events in Territory parks for you to enjoy.

The Parks Alive program runs from May to August every year.

It includes free activities for various ages, fitness and interest levels like:

guided walks
talks
slideshows and spotlight activities.

Get the Parks Alive brochures:

Top End brochure PDF (1.7 MB)
Central Australia and Barkly brochure PDF (1.8 MB)

To stay informed about park activity and upcoming events, like Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife on Facebook.

When you visit Territory parks, make sure you also rate them on the TripAdvisor website.

Safety

When you attend an activity, you must:

wear a hat, sunscreen and suitable footwear
have an adequate supply of drinking water
observe COVID-19 and social distancing advice.

You should also get park maps on your mobile phone.

Contact

For more information on activities and events in the:

Darwin region, call 08 8999 4555
Katherine region, call 08 8973 8865
Alice Springs region, call 08 8951 8250.