Australia: More to do Than Just Sunbathe with GVI

Boston, MA, March 14, 2010 --(PR.com)-- Further interest was stimulated on Australia, and particularly Queensland, when the position for Island Caretaker, known as 'The Best Job in the World', was advertised in January 2009. People applied in their thousands, from all across the world, for the opportunity to explore and promote the magical Islands of the Great Barrier Reef. The successful applicant was Ben Southall, who took on the much envied position for six months. Based on Hamilton Island in the Whitsunday Islands, Ben enjoyed all that the island paradise and the Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest reef system, had to offer.

If you have an interest in the natural world and a similar desire to experience the real Australia, there are numerous opportunities in Queensland that are available to everyone. Conservation volunteer programs in the region offer the chance to discover Australia whilst also contributing to the beautiful environment.

Like Ben, you can enjoy living on and taking care of a tropical island. GVI has recently launched a volunteer program based on Brampton Island, which, like nearby Hamilton Island, is one of the 74 tropical islands that make up the stunning Whitsunday Islands. Arriving by catamaran and setting up camp on the beach, volunteers will enjoy their own island paradise whilst helping to return Brampton Island National Park to its natural state.

If island living isn't for you but you would still like to enjoy the great Australian outdoors, there are opportunities to volunteer in Northern Queensland with Australia’s leading practical conservation organisation. Working alongside local Australians and international volunteers, you can participate in an variety of conservation initiatives, such as, but not limited to, habitat restoration and heritage protection, endangered flora and fauna surveys and tree planting. By undertaking such conservation projects, volunteers are able to travel to parts of Australia that the average tourist would be unable to visit.

Adventure seekers can choose to follow their conservation experience with a two-week adrenalin-packed tour including scuba diving, sky-diving and white water rafting by participating in GVI's Conservation Adventure Expedition.

To find out more about the volunteer programs on offer by GVI, please visit www.gvi.co.uk or www.gviusa.com.

About GVI

GVI is an internationally based volunteer abroad organization which offers volunteer programs in Africa, South America, Asia, Europe and Latin America. Formed in 1998, GVI provides support and services to international charities, non-profits and governmental agencies through volunteering opportunities and direct funding, filling a critical void in the fields of environmental research, conservation, education and community development. Various types of overseas volunteer work are offered including volunteer holidays, gap year volunteering, short term volunteering, long term volunteering, volunteer internships, intern abroad programs, student volunteer abroad programs and employee volunteering trips abroad.

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