Yookamurra - 2026 Mutze Survey Yookamurra

 

Volunteer Project Description- Mutze (Scat Surveys) February 2026

 

 

 

Project Title: 

Yookamurra Scat Survey 

 

Dates/Schedule: 25th February - 27th February 2026 (shift times TBC)

 

Project description:  

Estimating abundance of herbivores across different vegetation communities to inform our land management activities. 

 

Yookamurra Sanctuary is home to some of the best stands of old growth Mallee still intact in south-eastern Australia, with trees dated over 600 years old. These majestic, venerable trees are a reminder of the age of the landscape, and reveal what the bush was like before extensive habitat loss across southern Australia. There is also a large proportion of long unburnt habitat which is ideal for species such as the Malleefowl and Numbat

 

 

Volunteer tasks:   

Volunteers will work as a team lead by Project Coordinator and AWC Sanctuary staff to carry out tasks including.  

  • Identifying the scat of different herbivores
  • Counting scat within quadrats at 13 sites across Yookamurra Wildlife Sanctuary
  • If time permits, we will try and survey our reintroduced plants as well 

  

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

  • Please bring your own bedding and food with you
  • Peanut butter allergies.  For other surveys, we regularly use universal bait (which consists of peanut butter) and this is often made up in the communal kitchen area so for this reason we cannot guarantee a nut-free environment and something which should be considered if you have allergies.
  • We work during the day but afternoons are free so bring a book, camera, or laptop etc for entertainment
  • Bring clothing for cold nights but warm days
  • Phone and internet is limited but we have a landline you can use to make calls. 

 

AWC Provides:  

 

  • Accommodation room and bathroom, kitchen, shared living area
  • All necessary training
  • All materials including quadrats 

 

Volunteers Provide:  

  

  • Bedding for a single bed (eg. fitted sheet, sleeping bag, extra blanket or doona)
  • Pillow
  • Towel
  • Clothes for fieldwork eg. long pants, long sleeved shirts. 
  • Closed in, sturdy shoes for walking over sticks, rocks, uneven surfaces and to protect toes if something is dropped on them
  • Broad-brimmed hat 
  • Warm clothes.  
  • Raincoat (just in case)
  • Head torch for getting around the village. Battery chargers (AAA/AA) are available to use but please label your batteries with your initials to avoid any mix-ups!
  • Sunscreen
  • Insect repellent
  • Water bottles (at least two or three at 1L each, minimum) 
  • Toiletries and any medication for the duration of your stay (closest chemist and doctor is approx. 40mins drive away)
  • Backpack
  • Sunglasses
  • Food for duration of trip including plenty of snacks. Tea, coffee (instant and plunger), sugar, milo and a variety of condiments are provided in the kitchen. 

 

Project Coordinator Contact:  

Alexandra Ross 

0422 44 54 50 

Alexandra.Ross@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 we receive for our volunteer opportunities we regret we cannot respond individually to unsuccessful applicants. We thank each of you for your keen interest and ongoing support.

 

 

 

Qualifications Required

  • I have read and agree to the Code of Conduct (see info icon for file link) Must be I Agree
  • I have read and agree to abide by the Volunteer Agreement (see info icon for file link) Must be I Agree
  • I understand that both the 2025 AWC Volunteer Agreement and Code of Conduct must be accepted prior to engaging in volunteer activities Must be YES
  • I understand that it is my responsibility (and recommended by AWC) to have my own personal and vehicle insurance cover, and that AWC’s insurance may not cover me in the event of an incident. Must be Yes

Schedule Summary

This activity has the following schedule


Date Start Time End Time
Wednesday, February 25, 2026 8:00 AM 4:00 PM
Thursday, February 26, 2026 8:00 AM 4:00 PM
Friday, February 27, 2026 8:00 AM 4:00 PM
Saturday, February 28, 2026 8:00 AM 4:00 PM