Welcome to our AWC Volunteer Community

Project Title and AWC Sanctuary

Karakamia and Paruna Frog Survey

Project Description and Dates

The Australian Wildlife Conservancy’s Karakamia and Paruna Sanctuaries are both located within the Perth Hills near Chidlow and Gidgegannup Western Australia. Karakamia covers approximately 275 hectares of the Jarrah Forest Bioregion of Western Australia and contains a mosaic of Jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) forest, Marri (Corymbia calophylla) woodland, Wandoo (Eucalyptus wandoo) woodland, riparian zones, and granitic heathlands and shrublands. Paruna is 1,913ha, providing home to a number of significant species including the threatened Chuditch, Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo and small mammals such as the Honey Possum, which lives in Paruna’s diverse heathlands, and the Western Pygmy Possum. Nine species of frogs have been identified at each sanctuary in previous surveys.

The primary purpose of the 2026 Karakamia & Paruna Frog Survey is to confirm the continued presence and determine the occupancy of the frog species known to occur at the sanctuaries.

Survey period 1: April 7^th – 9^th 2026, inclusive.

Survey period 2: August 11^th- 13^th (dates TBC)

Survey period 3: November 2^nd – 4^th (dates TBC)

The survey will be conducted by three teams of two, over three nights of fieldwork.

Hours will be ~6pm-10.30pm, (season dependant) Tuesday to Thursday.

Additionally, there may be an extra 1-2 hours during the day on Tuesday to deploy an audiomoth remote recording device at one site.

It is a live-listening survey, with participants sitting for 5 minutes at survey sites across the sanctuaries, listening to and recording all frog species heard calling within a 50m radius. Area searches of each site will be conducted once per site throughout the week.

Each night, one team of 2 will survey sites at Karakamia, while two other teams of 2 survey sites at Paruna.

An audiomoth recorder will be deployed at one Paruna site by one team during daylight hours at the start of the survey, and collected in daylight hours in the days following the survey.

Volunteer tasks

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

• Walking through the bush at night to frog survey sites
• Recording data into online/paper forms
• Data entry
• Using a GPS
• Listening to and helping ID frog species from calls and visuals
• Assisting Survey/Team Leaders with any other tasks
• Deploying audiomoth (remote sound recorder)

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

• Physically fit to walk short distances in the bush at night
• Work will be conducted at night, finishing around 10-10.30pm

AWC Provides

• Shared accommodation at Karakamia, with shared cooking and bathroom facilities
• AWC Vehicles to conduct fieldwork
• All survey equipment
• Frog ID Guides
• First-aid kits
• Water jerry on car if needed
• Insect repellent
• Sunscreen
•  

Volunteers Provide

• Personal items:

  • Backpack – carry at least 2L of water & bring snacks for each night
  • Head torch (one can be provided if needed)
  • Fieldwork clothing – long pants and shirt, boots, hat, sunglasses
  • Warm clothing (beanie, jumper etc.)
  • Linen (sheets, pillowcase) and sleeping bag
  • Food for the survey’s duration
  • Mobile phone
  • Toiletries
  • Food for the survey’s duration
  • Any personal medications
  • Camp chair

   

Project Coordinator Contact:

Shannon Verhagen, Field Ecologist

Shannon.verhagen@australianwildlife.org

IMPORTANT NOTES:
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.

Shift Schedules- Schedules are use as a 'sign up' and hour tracking guide only and may not always accurately reflect actual project start and finish times. Confirmed project dates and daily schedules are outlined in the project description and onboarding information with final details confirmed directly by the Project oordinator for successful applicants.