Conservation Internship
Launch your ecological career with a hands-on Conservation Internship with Arid Recovery
Arid Recovery is offering two internships in 2026 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
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Internship 1 dates: 30th April - 24th July 2026
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​Internship 2 dates: 13th July - 9th October 2026
Applications are now open until the 12TH of March
HOW TO APPLY IS
HERE
Tasks may include:
Collection and collation of ecological monitoring data (including vertebrate trapping and vegetation assessments)
Camera-trap and track-count surveys
Data mangement 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 engagment 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 management
Demonstrated ability to independently and in a small team
Proactive and willing to take on unfamilar tasks, seek gudiance 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
Current driver's licence
Fluency in written and spoken English
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 awll as contribution to your travel to and from Roxby Downs. Opportunities for paid casual work (tour guiding) may be available.
Past Interns
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.
Charlotte Drake
Charlotte completed her Honours research on brush-tailed phascogales on Kangaroo Island and is about to begin her PhD on bandicoots in the same region. During her time at Arid Recovery, Charlotte gained valuable hands-on experience in mammal trapping, handling, and pitfall trapping, skills that will serve her well in her upcoming research. A standout moment for Charlotte was bilby netting and the unforgettable experience of seeing her first Shark Bay bandicoot in the wild. Charlotte also enthusiastically supported Arid Recovery’s outreach efforts, helping run activities at the Roxby Community Library and BHP’s Family Day, where she shared her passion for wildlife with families.
Rylie Pan
Rylie joined Arid Recovery after completing her Honours research on northern bettongs and one-way gates. Previously working at Hidden Vale Research Station in Queensland, she brought with her extensive expertise in wild animal husbandry and a passion for lizards and snakes. At Arid Recovery, Rylie contributed significantly to the annual vegetation survey and played a vital role in community events, including Open Day, Science Week, school camps, twilight dinners, and Family Day. She will joining Redleaf as a graduate environmental scientist.
Arvind Srinivasgowda
Arvind arrived in Australia from India in 2022 to pursue a Master’s degree at the University of Western Australia, focusing his research on traits in ornate dragons. He often amazed the team with stories from his work in India’s national parks, where he managed human-wildlife conflicts involving tigers, leopards, and elephants. During his time at Arid Recovery, Arvind helped develop and manage the Quoll-Spot ID project, which used remote cameras and AI to identify individual quolls, aiming to estimate their population size at the reserve.