Support a grassroots wildlife rehabilitation centre to care for sick and injured animals. Join Rustic in Southeast Queensland to partner with WRREA (Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation and Education Association), a small organisation with a big mission – to rescue, protect, and rehabilitate local wildlife by providing food, water, natural habitat, and medication to animals in need. Students gain hands-on experience with wildlife while supporting one of Rustic’s Foundation projects. Along the way, support environmental projects, cook meals for the homeless, discover the magnificent Glass House Mountains, learn about the region’s Aboriginal heritage and enjoy the beaches of the Sunshine Coast.
Arrive in Brisbane and Australia Zoo
Your Rustic Pathways program leaders will be waiting to welcome you when you arrive into Brisbane Airport (BNE) this morning. You will then transfer to Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo, which is just 20 minutes from our Base House in the Glass House Mountains. We’ll meet with the education and volunteer coordinator to learn how Australia Zoo is supporting wildlife conservation. There’ll be the opportunity to see the croc show before visiting their Wildlife Hospital, the most advanced wildlife hospital in Australia! This will give you some context and background information in preparation for the next few days of service at a grassroots wildlife rehabilitation centre.
Next, you will make your way to our beautiful Glasshouse Mountains Base, which is nestled in the ‘bush’ and rainforest about an hour north of Brisbane and 40 minutes from the coast. Your staff will help you settle in before enjoying your first meal together followed by a campfire.
Overnight: Rustic Pathways Base, Glass House Mountains
Service with Sunshine Coast Council & Aboriginal Cultural Workshop
This morning you’ll awake to stunning views across the tree-tops to the peaks of the Glass House Mountains. After breakfast, you will participate in a short volunteer program. Rustic Pathways has partnered with the Sunshine Coast Council for over 10 years. Today the students will just be joining a ranger from the council, you will participate in a briefing to receive specific instructions for work to be performed that day. Our service projects will include planting to rehabilitate habitat for wildlife and wetland macroinvertebrate surveying.
After lunch, you will have the opportunity to engage with a member from the local Gubbi Gubbi Aboriginal community. This will be your chance to learn about the traditional owners of this land and hear stories of the area. You will also be able to learn about some bush tucker and traditional medicine.
In the late afternoon, take a short hike up to the top of a mountain for magnificent 360-degree views of farmland, hills and coastline. Watch the sunset behind the hills and hear stories of the area’s Aboriginal history.
Overnight: Rustic Pathways Base, Glass House Mountains
Service Projects at Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre
These three days will be spent supporting a wildlife carer who has devoted her life to rehabilitating injured wildlife. Our host has developed her 40-acre property to be a sanctuary for rescued kangaroos, echidnas, emus, lizards and birds. Your project will depend on her needs at the time, cleaning enclosures, building new enclosures, bottle-feeding the animals, or any other tasks around the property. Lots of hands-on work to support an under-resourced facility that makes a significant contribution to the local community.
In the afternoon and evenings, the group will spend time exploring the creek, chilling in the pool, telling stories by the fire and battling each other in a BBQ MasterChef cook-off at the local campground.
Overnight: Camping, SE QLD
Departure Day
This morning will be a chilled-out morning with bacon and eggs as we pack up camp for the last time. Before heading back to Brisbane you’ll participate in our famous Rustic Ties ceremony. Then, will be full of fond farewells as you say goodbye to new friends and prepare for your journey home, we’ll hop in the van and start making our way back to Brisbane.
We hope you’ve enjoyed your time with Rustic Pathways!
Overnight: In your own bed ☺