Conservation Internship
Launch your ecological career with a hands-on Conservation Internship with Arid Recovery
Arid Recovery offers 2 to 3 internships each year for recent graduates looking to deepen their practical experience in ecology and conservation. Working alongside an experienced multidisciplinary team, the intern will contribute to the delivery of ecological research and field surveys that support threatened-species recovery and arid land conservation. The role also offers exposure to land management, stakeholder and community engagement, and science communication within a small, innovative conservation NGO.
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Location: Olympic Dam, South Australia
Applications are now closed for 2026
Tasks may include:
Collection and collation of ecological monitoring data (including vertebrate trapping and vegetation assessments)
Camera-trap and track-count surveys
Data management and reporting
Participation in land-management activities such as feral-animal control and reserve maintenance
Exposure to stakeholder and community engagement
Participation in research projects with Arid Recovery staff and collaborators
Community engagement through tours, events, and school visits
Housekeeping tasks essential for running a small NGO
Selection criteria:
A Bachelor degree in Science, Ecology Natural Resource Management, or Enivornmental Science
Experience in ecological and/or land management fieldwork
Experience with data entry and basic data management
Demonstrated ability to work independently and in a small team
Proactive and willing to take on unfamiliar tasks, seek guidance when needed
Physical fitness to undertake manual work outdoors in arid conditions
Willingness to live in a small, remote community for the duration of the placement
Eligible for living and working in Australia for at least 4 months
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Fluency in written and spoken English
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Current driver's licence
Bringing your own car for travel to and from the office and, as well as for personal use during the internship, is highly recommended.
Accommodation and a living allowance will be provided, as well as contribution to your travel to and from Roxby Downs. Opportunities for paid casual work (tour guiding) may be available.
Past Interns
Tom Stevens
Tom is a botanist and graduate of the University of Sydney, where he completed his Honours research investigating the population ecology of the desert poplar. During his internship at Arid Recovery, Tom championed our vegetation surveys and assisted with cage trapping. One of his major achievements was developing a long-awaited field plant identification guide, a valuable resource for staff, interns and volunteers undertaking vegetation monitoring. His keen botanical eye also helped identify 7 plant species previously unrecorded at Arid Recovery. Following his internship, Tom returned to the Desert Ecology Research Group at the University of Sydney.
Tegan Koolis
A graduate of the University of Sydney, Tegan completed her Honours research investigating the impacts of prescribed burning on mammals. She later worked as a data analyst with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority in Townsville. Tegan brought her data skills to Arid Recovery, developing a dashboard and reviewing 30 years of scientific publications to collate research recommendations. She also expanded her field skills, assisting with kowari trapping, cage trapping and radio-tracking. Beyond the field, Tegan supported community events, attended a careers day and introduced Reception to Year 2 students to the wonderful world of western quolls. With plenty of rain during her internship, she also quickly learnt another essential outback skill: how to recover a bogged vehicle.
Alex DeLuca
Originally from North Carolina, USA, Alex has a background in threatened species conservation, including working with the endangered red wolf. With a Masters focused on the genetic health of data-deficient mammals, Alex has a passion for understanding and protecting lesser-known species. During her internship at Arid Recovery, Alex analysed our long-term cage trapping dataset, helping refine methods for estimating animal populations and improving how we monitor the success of our reintroductions. Following her internship, Alex has gone on to work as an Environmental Scientist with OZ Minerals in the Pilbara, continuing her career in Australia.
Ruby Adams
Ruby joined Arid Recovery from Wollongong, bringing a Bachelor of Science majoring in Geography from the University of Melbourne. She arrived with experience managing invasive plants in Kosciuszko National Park and an internship in Nepal. During her time with us, Ruby threw herself into all aspects of fieldwork; from bettong trapping, where she assisted in moving them between paddocks, kowari trapping, and camera monitoring. She also drew on her plant expertise to support five weeks of intensive vegetation surveys, and her plant identification skills quickly became invaluable to the team. Inspired by her time here, Ruby plans to begin Honours in 2026.
Nina Manning
Nina completed her Bachelor of Science at the Australian National University, and has worked with CSIRO on a biosecurity research project. Nina has gained extensive experience in mammal trapping and handling through our annual cage trapping and kowari surveys. She assisted with the relocation of burrowing bettongs and led the monitoring of their movements post-release. Nina also contributed to our track count monitoring program, quickly developing an eye for identifying animal tracks. In addition to fieldwork, she played a key role in delivering tours and engaging the public with our conservation work. The experience Nina gained has set her up well for her Honours research in 2026.