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Pilliga Bilby & Bettong Trapping Survey Oct – Nov 2026

Project description: 

The Pilliga project is a joint partnership between Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) located in the Pilliga State Conservation Area, approximately 1 hour south of Narrabri in NSW. The project involves the reintroduction of six regionally extinct native mammals to a 5,800 fenced area in which feral predators (foxes and cats) have been removed. AWC closely monitors all reintroduced species annually using a variety of methods including live trapping. 

The science team in the Pilliga are looking for two capable and keen volunteers to assist with an upcoming trapping survey of the reintroduced Greater Bilby and Brush-tailed Bettong. This survey will take place for two weeks from:

• Sunday the 25^th of October - Thursday the 29^th of October

• Sunday the 1^st of November – Thursday the 5^th of November 

We are looking for two volunteers per trapping week. Ideally volunteers will be available for the full two-week survey (25/10 – 5/11). If you can only volunteer for one week, please specify which week you have preference to volunteer for, or contact the survey coordinator directly. Please note that no survey will be occurring from Friday 30^th-Saturday the 31^st of October.  

Volunteer Tasks

The volunteer will carry out tasks at the direction of their AWC Team Leader. Tasks will include:

• Setting and baiting wire cage traps each afternoon. This involves walking through forest/scrub and some bending over traps to set, clean and bait.  

• Working through the night (typically from 9:00pm to 6:30am – may be earlier or later depending on number of captures) to check and clear traps. Volunteers need to be comfortable working in the dark with a head torch, working through the night and sleeping during the day.   

• Using a tablet to accurately record data.  

• Assisting with closing and packing up traps on the last night. This involves some lifting and carrying traps (~3 kg in weight) to the car. 

AWC Provides

Accommodation is located at the Pilliga Operations base and shared with the Science team, consisting of single person’s quarters in a demountable block. This includes a king single bed and ensuite, which has shared cooking and laundry facilities. Transport between Narrabri and the Pilliga forest will be provided. The survey will be fully catered (breakfast/lunch/dinner/snacks) with preparation of meals and clean up shared amongst survey participants. Dietary requirements will be accommodated for, but if you prefer to self-cater, please let the project coordinator know. 

Things to be aware of when considering applying for this volunteer role/requirements:

Universal bait balls will be used containing peanut butter during the survey. Peanut butter is unavoidable in this survey so please be aware if you have allergies. The volunteer is required to bring their own headtorch, bedding, suitable field clothes, and toiletries. They will also need to arrange their own transport to and from Narrabri. It is recommended to arrive and depart Narrabri the day before and after fieldwork, if possible, to help manage fatigue and to settle in.  
Accommodation will need to be arranged by the Volunteer for themselves outside of the survey dates that they are volunteering for, as volunteers are not permitted to stay at the Pilliga Operations Base without AWC staff.

Please be aware that the Bilby & Bettong Trapping Survey is generally our busiest survey of the year and we will be consistently checking traps until approximately 6:30am each night. Please only apply if you are comfortable with nocturnal work and capable to do so. If you have any questions or concerns, please discuss them with the project coordinators before applying. While there are no specific requirements for previous experience, some relevant skills are always appreciated.

Project Coordinators: 

Lewis Loncar:  lewis.loncar@australianwildlife.org

Maisie Duffin: maisie.duffin@australianwildlife.org

Keiley Bell - Administration Assistant: keiley.bell@australianwildlife.org

Recruitment Process- AWC Project Coordinators will assess volunteers’ profiles upon application (signup). Suitable candidates that meet project requirements will be contacted directly for a follow up discussion before final decisions are made. Once successful candidates have been offered a position volunteers will be assigned to the project and should expect to receive all relevant onboarding documentation soon after and before deployment. Please ensure your MyImpact profile is complete with contact details and all supporting information to provide you with the best opportunity for a successful placement.

Please Note: Due to the high level of interest these roles attract we regret that we are not able to contact unsuccessful applicants