Internships

We host volunteer Interns each year who assist us with our conservation and research program, including on ground action, ecological research, community engagement and animal husbandry.

Applications open twice per year for our placements. To be the first to know when they open follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or subscribe to our newsletter.

During your internship at the CEC, you will gain valuable experience in:

Conservation Activities: Get involved in hands-on flora and fauna surveys, seed collection and revegetation. Whilst learning about stakeholder engagement, software use (Rstudio, ArcGIS Pro, etc.) and other essential land management activities.

Research Projects: Participate in important initiatives focused on creating resilient forests, climate change adaptation, fire ecology, establishing ecological baselines, and managing feral species to contribute to regional conservation efforts.

Community Engagement: Develop your scientific communication skills by sharing key research insights from the Conservation Ecology Centre with local and international visitors at our social enterprise Wildlife Wonders.

Animal Husbandry: Assist with the daily care of our resident animals at the CEC, ensuring their well-being and participating in health checks.

Operations Management: Support the smooth operations of our non-profit by assisting with equipment maintenance, restocking first aid kits and performing vehicle checks.

If you are interested in joining us in 2026 or beyond, please follow us on Facebook, Instagram or subscribe to our newsletter to receive notifications of when the next round will be open for applications.

Meet our past interns

2025 Interns

2025 Intern
Growing up on Wurundjeri Country, Alyssa has always had a keen interest in nature and wildlife. She loves the sense of community involved with working in ecology, the connection to nature that it brings her, and the deeper purpose associated with the work. Alyssa is particularly passionate about fire ecology because of the broad range of topics it encapsulates, and its importance in a changing climate.
While completing her undergraduate degree, she worked to investigate the impact of varying fire regimes on small mammals in heathland ecosystems, solidifying her interest in fire ecology. She has also participated in a range of other projects involving cryptic and threatened species such as the Eastern Barred Bandicoot, Leadbeater’s Possum and Green Sea Turtles. She found these projects to be valuable learning experiences in how threatened species are monitored and managed.
During her time at the CEC, she is excited to further her skills in the field, gain an understanding of pest management programs, and make meaningful connections with the community while living and working on Gadubanud Country.

2025 Intern
Growing up on Gulidjan land in Colac, Alina developed her appreciation for nature while exploring the Otways with her family. She first discovered the CEC when she volunteered for the Big Otway Tree Plant at age 12. This experience left a lasting impression and influenced her enthusiasm to now join the CEC as an intern.
Alina is particularly interested in how climate change drives heat stress responses in both flora and fauna. During her undergraduate degree, her favourite research projects involved comparing the thermal tolerance of different plant species and investigating patterns of coral bleaching within and between species on Heron Island.
Her experience in Bush Regeneration across Sydney increased her interest in invasive species management and she is excited to be contributing to the CEC’s work on feral pig and cat management.
Alina has also worked as a Cave Guide for Parks Victoria, where she combined environmental education with visitor engagement at the Buchan Caves.
She’s looking forward to gaining further practical experience in conservation ecology and contributing meaningfully to the protection of the Otway region’s unique biodiversity.

2025 Intern
Raised on Boonwurrung country in Victoria, Sylvie spent much of her childhood visiting the Otways and exploring the picturesque bush and coastlines of the region. She completed her Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Music at Monash University in 2021, and her Bachelor of Science (Honours) project in April 2024 at Monash University, in conjunction with Phillip Island Nature Parks.
Her honours thesis investigated the impacts of environmental conditions and diet on the growth and survival of little penguin chicks in Phillip Island, Victoria. She has also volunteered with several other projects, including bandicoot trapping, seal disentanglements, frog surveys, camera trap maintenance and drone footage review.
Sylvie is excited to expand her experience in the conservation field, both practically, through field work, and by expanding her knowledge of different conservation practices, on beautiful Gadubanud country during her internship at CEC.
Alina is particularly interested in how climate change drives heat stress responses in both flora and fauna. During her undergraduate degree, her favourite research projects involved comparing the thermal tolerance of different plant species and investigating patterns of coral bleaching within and between species on Heron Island.
Her experience in Bush Regeneration across Sydney increased her interest in invasive species management and she is excited to be contributing to the CEC’s work on feral pig and cat management.
Alina has also worked as a Cave Guide for Parks Victoria, where she combined environmental education with visitor engagement at the Buchan Caves.
She’s looking forward to gaining further practical experience in conservation ecology and contributing meaningfully to the protection of the Otway region’s unique biodiversity.

2025 Intern
Taylor was raised in the rural bushland regions of Western Sydney (Dharug) before relocating to Melbourne (Naarm) to pursue her passion for music and environmental conservation. She completed a Bachelor of Environmental Science, specialising in Wildlife and Conservation Biology, at Deakin University in 2023. During and following her studies, Taylor has worked and volunteered with a range of wildlife rescue and conservation organisations, including Wildlife Victoria, Zoos Victoria, Phillip Island Nature Parks, and Bush Heritage Australia.
During her time at CEC, Taylor is excited to gain a professional understanding of conservation research, and looks forward to expanding her hands-on ecology and conservation skills. Taylor is eager to contribute to the current and future programs at CEC, while deepening her knowledge of the diverse landscapes, flora, and fauna of the Otway region.

2024 Interns

2024 Intern
Raised in rural Wiradjuri Country, New South Wales, Felix developed an interest in the natural world early in life. After graduating high school in 2019, he spent a year working as a deckhand on open-water pearling vessels in the Northern Territory, which solidified his environmental interests and led him to complete a Bachelor of Conservation Biology at the University of Wollongong.
During his internship, Felix has been able to learn and develop skills that address a broad range of ecological concepts in both field and office settings. He has specifically enjoyed utilizing fire to manage the land and playing a role in monitoring and controlling feral pigs in Cape Otway. He is grateful for this experience and excited to apply the newfound knowledge gained at the Conservation Ecology Centre in his future endeavors. Post-internship, he plans to return to Dharawal Country to conduct an Honours project on the effect of climate change on plant-soil interactions in an alpine setting.

2024 Intern
Jack grew up in Melbourne (Naarm) and was always interested in animals and the natural world. Recently Jack graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor’s degree in ecology and conservation. Whilst completing his degree, Jack volunteered with a number of organisations, including a sea turtle conservation project in Costa Rica. Down in the Otways, Jack has learnt a lot about the role of fire in the landscape as well as feral pig management. He has enjoyed picking up bits of knowledge about the Otways such as bird IDs and signs of feral species and feels more in touch with the landscape.

2024 Intern
Miranda grew up in Melbourne (Naarm) and went on family holidays to the Otways, so has many fond memories exploring waterfalls, boogie-boarding and snorkelling in the region. She studied a Bachelor of Environmental Science (Wildlife & Conservation Biology) at Deakin University and completed an honours degree at the University of the Sunshine Coast. Her honours project was comparing the accuracy and cost of different methodologies to survey for koala density, including the traditional method of line-transect distance sampling with more emerging techniques including thermal-imaging drones and acoustic recorders. During her time on the Sunshine Coast she also worked as a conservation detection dog handler with the Detection Dogs for Conservation team, partnering with rescue dogs to help find koalas, quolls and their scat in the landscape.
Miranda is passionate about optimising survey methods for threatened species conservation and loves all things fieldwork. Whilst interning at the CEC, Miranda is looking forward to gaining knowledge and experience in fire and feral animal management, deepening her flora and fauna ID skills and contributing to effective on-ground conservation in the Otways.

2024 Intern
Molly grew up in Apollo Bay and the Horden Vale region. She left the beautiful seaside town to complete a Bachelor of Science at Monash University where she majored in Ecology, Conservation Biology, and Plant Sciences. Since completing her degree Molly has worked with the Threatened Species Conservancy where she has contributed to and managed conservation projects aimed at protecting a range of species including Harrow Wattles (Acacia acanthoclada) in the Mallee, Butterflies and Snails in the Otways, and Black Gums (Eucalyptus aggregata) in Woodend.
While Molly grew up in Apollo Bay and knows the area well, she is excited to explore the ecology of the Otways and give back to the community that gave so much to her. She is particularly keen to learn more about mammalian ecology, develop her trapping and animal husbandry skills, and solidify her identification skills with a range of species right at the CEC doorstep! The provided stipend will also allow Molly to fully invest her time into learning as much as she can during her internship position.

2024 Intern
Carol-Ann’s passion for nature led her to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Science majoring in Biology at Université Laval in Québec, specializing in animal ecology. She then continued her academic journey with a Master’s Degree in Biology at the University of Ottawa in Ontario, focusing on the life-history consequences of the age at first reproduction, capitalizing on the long-term research on Yellow-bellied Marmots in Colorado. Throughout her studies, she participated in various projects, including wetland characterization, assessment of reproductive performance of the Black- and Brown-capped Chickadees, and nest selection in the Spotted Pardalote. Furthermore, Carol-Ann played a key role in the UniC International Student Network on Climate Action, organizing conferences and activities for the 2021 summit.
Despite being from the cold French-speaking region of Canada, her curiosity for Australia’s wildlife dates back to primary school. Upon completing her studies, she eagerly jumped on a plane to visit Australia. Having the chance to work with the Conservation Ecology Centre, she looks forward to gaining practical skills in conservation methods and exploring the incredible biodiversity of the Otways.

2023 Interns

2023 Intern
Growing up in southern Germany, Isabel was introduced to ecology by her parents when hiking through the Alpine forelands and exploring Europe’s various landscapes. She studied Life Science at the University of Konstanz (Germany), which combines the fields of biology and chemistry. Isabel finished her bachelor’s degree in 2022 and wrote her thesis on the seasonal differences in the weather conditions and the behavior of white storks (Ciconia ciconia) during migration. She is currently undertaking the consecutive master’s program.
Isabel’s passion lies in tracking animals and movement ecology. She has worked at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, exploring high-resolution biologging data and investigating collective migration. Through her studies, she was able to conduct field work on Cyprus, researching the ecology of Egyptian fruit bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus) for future conservation projects.
During her internship at the CEC, Isabel is striving to gain more practical experience and learn about Australia’s unique flora and fauna. She is excited to apply her knowledge to help preserve the Otways in a meaningful way.

2023 Intern
Alisha grew up amongst the rich biodiversity surrounding Perth, fascinated with nature documentaries and the outdoors. This fascination turned into a passion for conservation when Alisha learnt about the biodiversity crisis. This led her to complete an honours degree in Ecology and Conservation Biology at Monash University in 2022. Her honours thesis investigated the response of native bees to desiccation stress, which is predicted to increase with climate change.
After completing her degree, Alisha worked as an Ecological Gardener at the Peninsula Hot Springs. During this time, she conducted a native bee survey focusing on raising awareness of native bees amongst the public. Alisha is also incredibly passionate about regenerative agriculture, having partaken in two international conferences and with a published paper on the subject. Someday, she hopes to combine her passion for native bees, regenerative agriculture, and conservation and undertake a PhD.
Since completing the Great Ocean Walk a few years ago, the Otways has remained a special place for Alisha. She feels lucky to now work on conserving this magical place and is looking forward to learning a range of skills and furthering her knowledge of ecology and conservation.

2023 Intern
Growing up on Larrakia country in Darwin, Angelina developed a deep love for nature whilst camping, hiking and exploring the tropical savanna woodlands and unique sandstone escarpments of the Top End. When she became involved in a Land for Wildlife rehabilitation project for the Black-footed tree-rat with Conservation Volunteers, her passion for nature conservation blossomed. This led her to complete a Bachelor of Environmental Science majoring in conservation and biodiversity at Charles Darwin University. Living remotely on the Tiwi Islands, NT for the past two years, she has worked as a research assistant for the Research Institute of the Environment and Livelihoods, conducting native mammal and vegetation surveys to investigate the potential drivers of native mammal declines on the Tiwis.
Angelina strives to pursue a career in biodiversity conservation to aid in the vital task of preserving biodiversity and regenerating degraded habitats. During her time at the CEC, Angelina hopes to gain a better understanding of applied research methods for native mammals, fire management and further develop practical field skills. She is excited to join the CEC team and explore the highly diverse habitats of the Cape Otways region!
Alina is particularly interested in how climate change drives heat stress responses in both flora and fauna. During her undergraduate degree, her favourite research projects involved comparing the thermal tolerance of different plant species and investigating patterns of coral bleaching within and between species on Heron Island.
Her experience in Bush Regeneration across Sydney increased her interest in invasive species management and she is excited to be contributing to the CEC’s work on feral pig and cat management.
Alina has also worked as a Cave Guide for Parks Victoria, where she combined environmental education with visitor engagement at the Buchan Caves.
She’s looking forward to gaining further practical experience in conservation ecology and contributing meaningfully to the protection of the Otway region’s unique biodiversity.

2023 Intern
Growing up in inner city Melbourne Mahalia didn’t grow up immersed in nature, however, she was always intrigued by the diverse range of environments and species she encountered on her numerous bush walks. It was early on during her undergraduate degree that Mahalia became passionate about environmental conservation and knew she wanted a career in the field. She completed a Bachelor of Science with Honours at Monash University, double majoring in Zoology and Ecology Conservation Biology. Her honours project involved travelling around Australia examining the intrinsic and extrinsic factors of numerous Australian skink species to determine whether differences in these factors existed between range-restricted and widely distributed species.
Currently studying a Masters of Ecosystem Management and Conservation at the University of Melbourne, Mahalia hopes this internship at the Conservation Ecology Centre will provide her with a hands-on experience. She hopes to gain practical fieldwork experience, particularly in mammal trapping and surveying, enhance her species identification skills, and further explore the beautiful Otways region during her time at CEC.

2023 Intern
Chiranjeevi was born and grown up in Nepal, a country rich in ancient cultures and natural diversity. He has been very passionate about wildlife from a young age and to follow his passion as a career, he joined the Institute of Forestry for Certificate Level in forestry continuing it to Bachelor of Science in Forestry, and a Master of Science in Natural Resources and Development.
He is a well-known conservationist in Nepal and has worked with the government and together with several organizations for wildlife research and conservation in his country. Most of his research focused on the distribution and ecology of different wildlife species and wildlife crime in western Nepal. Moreover, he runs conservation campaigns in different parts of country to motivate youth in conservation and has been working as a wildlife rescuer in Nepal.
His focus has been on striped hyaena research and conservation, hyena’s are one of the least studied species. Chiran represents the IUCN SSC Hyaena Specialist Group as a member from Nepal. Chiran was awarded with “Young Conservation Leader Award” by WWF Nepal in 2015.
He loves travelling and enjoys trekking in Himalayas of Nepal and this time he wants to explore Australia mainly in the forest and landscape around the Otways watching native mammals and birds of Australia. Chiran is very hopeful to multiply his knowledge in wildlife research and very excited to gain new experience in techniques for capture and marking of mammals, GPS collaring and genetic data collection during his internship at Conservation Ecology Centre.

2023 Intern
Growing up surrounded by a menagerie of pets, Maia has always loved animals. Her desire to work with Australian fauna stemmed from volunteering as a teenager at JABS Joey and Bat Sanctuary.
Maia’s passion for wildlife conservation led her to complete a Bachelor of Science majoring in Ecology and Zoology at the University of Melbourne. During her degree she completed a year of domestic exchange at the University of Western Australia, where she participated in various reptile, small-mammal, and marine fauna surveys. In her final year of university, she undertook a research project on artificial habitat design for threatened species living in urban environments, building a framework to guide more effective artificial habitat use. After graduating, Maia volunteered in the Maldives, first as a research assistant with the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme, and then at the Olive Ridley Project sea-turtle rescue centre. Her time in the Maldives consolidated her passion for both hand-on research and animal husbandry.
Maia is very excited to build on her ecology and conservation skills while working at the CEC, and is particularly looking forward to expanding her local flora and fauna identification and exploring the Otways.

2023 Intern
Domini has been lucky enough to know from a young age she wanted to work in Ecology and Conservation. She completed her Zoology degree at the University of Edinburgh and then went on to recently finish a Masters in Conservation Science at the University of Queensland. Her thesis was investigating different stakeholders’ perspectives on dingo policies and what this means for wider reaching management.
Together with her studies she has worked in a variety of ecology labs in the UK and rainforest animal rehabilitation centres in Borneo and Costa Rica. Her passion for Australian wildlife grew when helping a PhD student with camera trap data investigating the effects of the 2019 fires on fauna in Lamington National Park, Queensland.
Whilst interning at CEC, Domini hopes to gain a better understanding of National Park managerial work specifically fire management and the application of conservation and ecological research into the field.

2023 Intern
Growing up in rural NSW, Rebecca’s exposure to the environment and concern for wildlife conservation led her to complete a Bachelor of Animal Science with integrated honours at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga.
Her honours project looked at the influence of habitat fragmentation on mallee woodland reptiles in an agricultural landscape. Whilst undertaking her tertiary studies, Rebecca completed various stints of volunteer work with conservation organisations and wildlife rescues. Her time assisting Arid Recovery and Bush Heritage with fieldwork was especially notable, teaching her valuable skills and consolidating her passion for conservation.
Rebecca is striving towards a career in ecological conservation so that she can aid in the preservation of Australia’s native flora and fauna. She is very excited to join the team at CEC to learn new skills, diversify her knowledge and apply effective conservation methods.

2022 Interns

2022 Intern
Growing up around the world, Rik always had an interest in being outdoors and seeing different ecosystems and its wildlife. He majored in Environmental Science & Sustainability at University College Utrecht (Netherlands) where he completed his BSc. thesis studying the effects of a landfill on mangrove forest succession in Aruba. His research provided the first hard data on plastic pollution in Aruban mangroves and was used by local government to develop a bill banning single-use plastic bags. This experience consolidated his desire to work in conservation, after which he completed a MSc. in Forest and Nature Conservation, specialising in ecology, at Wageningen University (NL). For his MSc. thesis Rik completed a microhistological analysis to determine the spatiotemporal response of the Burchell’s (plains) zebra to different supplementary feed choices during the dry season, to assist wildlife management choices on heavily resource-depleted lands.
Rik’s international background, studies and project fieldwork experiences took him around the world, and lead him towards Australia where he wants to start his career in conservation ecology. He worked with aquatic & terrestrial invertebrates, birds, small & large mammals and gained experience in various vegetation and animal surveying methods. He joined the CEC to gain more concrete experience in applied ecology and conservation, to improve his knowledge of Australian fauna and flora, and he hopes this experience can be used as a steppingstone to start a career in wildlife and conservation ecology.

2022 Intern
Ella was introduced to ecology and conservation through the lens of Traditional knowledge in the Northern Territories’ Aboriginal communities, where she grew up.
She also has strong ties to Cape Otway, where she holidayed every year, exploring its beaches, woodlands, and rainforests. She is excited to further her knowledge of the Otways and contribute to positive conservation outcomes as an intern with the CEC.
Ella holds a degree in Masters of Conservation Science, and works as a Research Assistant and Tutor at the University of Queensland, teaching statistics and field ecology. Her work focuses on how rainforest trees vary their functional traits in response to moisture availability, and how they might be affected by climate change.
Angelina strives to pursue a career in biodiversity conservation to aid in the vital task of preserving biodiversity and regenerating degraded habitats. During her time at the CEC, Angelina hopes to gain a better understanding of applied research methods for native mammals, fire management and further develop practical field skills. She is excited to join the CEC team and explore the highly diverse habitats of the Cape Otways region!
Alina is particularly interested in how climate change drives heat stress responses in both flora and fauna. During her undergraduate degree, her favourite research projects involved comparing the thermal tolerance of different plant species and investigating patterns of coral bleaching within and between species on Heron Island.
Her experience in Bush Regeneration across Sydney increased her interest in invasive species management and she is excited to be contributing to the CEC’s work on feral pig and cat management.
Alina has also worked as a Cave Guide for Parks Victoria, where she combined environmental education with visitor engagement at the Buchan Caves.
She’s looking forward to gaining further practical experience in conservation ecology and contributing meaningfully to the protection of the Otway region’s unique biodiversity.

2022 Intern
Emma was introduced to the importance of conservation and ecology in Southern Africa, which inspired her to undertake a Bachelors of Science degree majoring in Ecology and Zoology.
She has led research on climate drivers of morphological evolution of Australian Skinks and Goannas and has volunteered on many important conservation initiatives such as the DELWP Plains Wanderer song meter analysis.
Whilst interning at the CEC, Emma hopes to gain experience in applied ecology and conservation, developing her animal and plant identification skills and learning more about mammal research and trapping.

2022 Intern
Having grown up in the Adelaide Hills with a love for nature Elodie later decided to pursue a bachelor’s degree in science majoring in Biodiversity and Conservation at Flinders University. She became inspired by a university trip to Fiji, where she gained local knowledge of the relationship, awareness, and communication of environmental issues such as deforestation within rural communities.
Much of the time she spent volunteering included part-taking in the implementation of bushfire and biodiversity recovery programs in Kangaroo Island as well as the application of predator-free design mechanisms for the wild Bettong with Arid Recovery.
Elodie’s undertook an honours project which focused on the utilisation of genetic techniques to analyse population structure of the Critically Endangered Spiny Daisy within Mid-north South Australia. This information was then embedded within conservation management intervention for the species, prioritizing strategies that better maximize genetic diversity in aim to enhance the species evolutionary resilience and long-term persistence within the wild.
She undertook an Internship with CEC to increase practical skills within the conservation industry; some which include wildlife handling, flora and fauna analyses, feral animal control programs and fire ecology within the Otway’s region. She hopes to further progress a career within conservation management and the environmental field.

2022 Intern
Like others in the conservation community, Emma’s love and curiosity with nature started from an early age with some of her fondest childhood memories involving insect collecting, bush walking, and listening to her cassette tape of “What Bird Call Is That?” ad nauseum. These interests led her to completing both a Bachelor of Environmental Management (Natural Systems and Wildlife) with honours and a Master of Conservation Science at the University of Queensland.
Emma’s honours project saw her assess the effectiveness of Australia’s protected area network at conserving the most at-risk bioregions, while her master’s project focused on evaluating the costs and benefits of both in-situ and ex-situ management actions in the conservation of the southern Black-throated finch (Poephila cincta cincta). During this period, Emma also spent several years volunteering at Currumbin Wildlife Hospital on the Gold Coast, assisting with the rehabilitation of native wildlife. Although her cassette tape listening days may be over, Emma is still an avid birder and spends a lot of her spare time outdoors with binoculars and camera in hand.
Emma is excited to be spending the next few months interning at the Conservation Ecology Centre and hopes to deepen her animal handling and survey skills as well as gain new knowledge of fire and invasive species management in the Otways.

2022 Intern
Growing up in Sydney, Louisa has always had a natural curiosity for animals which led her to study a Bachelor of Animal and Veterinary Bioscience majoring in wildlife conservation and management at the University of Sydney.
Her enthusiasm for entomology at university then led her to pursue an honours project investigating reproductive interactions between two closely related native bee (Tetragonula) species. Her research demonstrated that males showed attraction to queens of their related species, although no evidence of hybridisation was found.
During university she completed placement on the Great Barrier Reef at the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre aiding injured sea turtles. She has also volunteered with the AWC on a biodiversity survey in Pilliga National Park and assisted a PhD project on mass mortality events in Kosciuszko National Park.
Louisa enjoys learning about wildlife behaviour and is passionate about restoring threatened native flora and fauna populations. This desire has been strengthened from working across a range of ecological communities as a bushland regenerator where she has witnessed the native wildlife that rely on these ecosystems.

2022 Intern
Abbey’s drive for conservation began when she started studying a Bachelor of Environmental Science (honours) at Deakin University (2018 –2021) and through her various volunteer placements.
She has been shaped by her time spent diving off the coral reefs in Thailand as a conservation diver and her time spent caring for Tasmanian natives at Trowunna Wildlife Sanctuary. Further to this, she has gained industry experience while working with Parks Victoria as a member of the Environment, Land and Water team in Halls Gap and through her role as a Conservation Dog Handler for the Middle Island Penguin Project.
After completing her honours year studying the distribution of the Long-nosed Potoroo and the Southern Brown Bandicoot in the Grampians National Park, Abbey developed a strong passion for small mammals and field work. As a young researcher Abbey is thrilled to be working at CEC and is looking forward to developing her research skills, knowledge of wildlife and learning from people at CEC.

2021 Interns

2021 Intern
Enchanted by the wonder of Mother Nature and her majestic beasts, this has brought Alan to undertake a Bachelor of Wildlife Science and a Bachelor of Science (Honours) at the University of Queensland. His honours project focused on the ecology of the European red fox, one of the worst vertebrate pests in Australia, at the Port of Brisbane, Queensland.
Throughout his academic studies as well as after his graduation, he took on as many volunteering works as possible, both locally and internationally, at conservation organisations and wildlife sanctuaries. This included Tasmanian devil husbandry and monitoring in Cradle Mountain and Vale of Belvoir (TAS), Glossy Black Cockatoo’s feeding tree survey in Lockyer Valley (QLD) and aquatic and terrestrial fauna survey at Mai Po Nature Reserve (Hong Kong) with WWF HK. Alan also worked with Ocean Park Conservation Foundation Hong Kong on marine mammal stranding response, and he traversed through rugged terrain and nearly impenetrable vegetation and swamp to investigate the poaching intensity of native freshwater turtles.
Alan is looking forward to participating in a range of applied conservation projects with the experienced team at Conservation Ecology Centre to boost his hands-on experience, knowledge, and analytical skills.

2021 Intern
Claire recently completed a Bachelor of Science (Honours) with a major in Ecology and Conservation Biology at Monash University. For her honours, Claire assessed the efficacy of drones to monitor populations of tree-nesting seabirds compared to traditional ground-based methods. Her fieldwork was based on a remote and uninhabited tropical island of the Cocos (Keeling) Island group in the Indian Ocean.
Growing up in Melbourne, Claire has enjoyed volunteering at Healesville Sanctuary and spending time with animals. During her undergraduate, she completed a research project testing a variety of infrared cameras against spotlighting methods to detect small endotherms, including the Critically Endangered Plains Wanderer in northern Victoria. She has also worked with Superb Fairywrens at Lysterfield Park (VIC), Australian skink species at Kosciusko National Park (NSW), Eastern Reef Egrets on Heron Island (Great Barrier Reef), and understorey rainforest plants in Borneo, Malaysia. Claire previously completed an internship with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) preparing draft conservation assessments for 200 Proteaceae plants for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
While interning at the CEC, Claire would like to learn more about invasive animal control, gain more experience in mammal research and trapping, and develop her plant and animal identification skills.

2021 Intern
Inala has been passionate about wildlife and ecology since day one. Raised in south-eastern Victoria, a childhood spent exploring the bush and learning way too many animal facts eventually led to her studying her Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Zoology in beautiful lutruwita/Tasmania. Her Honours project focused on forty-spotted pardalotes and their relationship with their key food resource, Eucalyptus viminalis.
Since graduating, Inala has worked with Australian Wildlife Conservancy on their Mallee Cliffs feral-proof enclosure and mammal reintroduction project. She also volunteers on a range of causes close to her heart, most notably the Tasmanian Orange-bellied Parrot Program, which has instilled in her equal passions for the role of captive management in species recovery and a maybe over-the-top love of buttongrass moorland.
Inala is excited to learn about the specific ecology and conservation challenges of the Otway region and hopes to develop a broad suite of conservation skills. She is particularly interested in how science-informed management and novel strategies can help build ecological resilience in the face of an anthropogenic world.

2021 Intern
Luke is an enthusiastic ecology graduate determined to make a difference in wildlife conservation. He developed a strong sensitivity for animal conservation during a volunteer trip to Costa Rica in 2011, where he assisted with research into the conservation of bottlenose dolphins and poison dart frogs. The experience opened his eyes to the threats faced by wildlife globally, motivating him to pursue a career in the conservation field.
In 2018, Luke graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor of Science (Hons), majoring in Ecology and Conservation Biology. His Honours project saw him travel around Australia investigating predictors of extinction risk in Australian skinks. He also assisted with several conservation research projects during his degree, developing skills in fauna surveying, research design and community engagement. His highlights included conducting an inbreeding avoidance project on helmeted honeyeaters, volunteering with the Marine Mammal Foundation and visiting the Galapagos Islands where he helped investigate the reproductive success of Darwin’s finches.
By joining the Conservation Ecology Centre, Luke is excited to learn about the complex conservation challenges in the Otways and advance his skills in animal husbandry, land management and species identification. Luke is also keen to explore the vast wilderness of the Otways and capture its spectacular biodiversity using his wildlife photography kit.

2021 Intern
Growing up on the Central Coast of NSW Emma developed a strong interest in the bush and its conservation, in particular Blue Mountains National park which she would frequently hike through with her grandfather. In 2019, she completed a degree in Wildlife and Conservation Biology (honours) with Deakin University, completing an honours project studying the impact that fire ecology has on Frogs, in particular the Southern toadlet Pseudophryne semimarmorata in the Otways National Park. As frogs are under-researched in the Otways she needed to determine possible site locations using GIS mapping, and then detection/ occupancy was determined using frog playback accompanied with song box surveying.
Throughout her degree, and after, Emma has gained further skills and knowledge in threatened species management and science surveying through volunteering with the Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeaters in Yellingbo National Park, the Tasmanian Devil Program on Maria Island, Caramonal Refugia a Sea Turtle refuge in Costa Rica and by assisting numerous PHD and Honours students throughout Victoria and NSW. She has also gained Land management experience through her work with Flora Victoria working in restoring Victoria’s grasslands throughout the Vic Volcanic Plains, and Toolijooa Environmental restoration assisting in bushland revegetation and regeneration in National parks and Mining offsets throughout the Hunter region (NSW).
Emma is excited to learn with the experienced team at the Conservation Ecology Centre and aims to learn more skills in threatened and feral species management, fire ecology and land management in the Otways as well as improving her fauna and flora identification skills.

2021 Intern
Growing up in rural Gippsland fostered Erin’s passion for protecting Australia’s native species and ecosystems. She recently completed a Bachelor of Science (Honours) at Monash University, where her honours project examined how genetic data are used to inform management recommendations for threatened species.
Erin has volunteered for a range of organisations and projects, including at Healesville Sanctuary and the Australian Conservation Foundation. Erin is thrilled to have the opportunity to learn from the Conservation Ecology Centre team and to contribute to their important work in the beautiful Otway region. She is excited to further develop her fieldwork and species identification skills, and to learn more on topics such as fire ecology and feral pest management. Erin hopes to use the skills she gains at the CEC to pursue a career that combines her passion for threatened species research with advocacy and community engagement.

2020 Interns

2020 Intern
Deirdre’s passion for wildlife and conservation led her to undertake a Bachelor of Science at the University of Melbourne and a Master of Conservation Science at the University of Queensland.
Her research project focused on the impacts of marine reserves on the efficacy of fisheries in the Caribbean. She has also volunteered with the Roots & Shoots program of the Jane Goodall Institute Australia, and has participated in community engagement events and marine turtle
conservation campaigns for primary schools.
During her time at CEC, Deirdre has greatly enjoyed the amount of practical, hands-on skills she has gained from fieldwork. Furthermore, she appreciated that she was able to contribute to a wide breadth of projects ranging from feral pest management to native wildlife response to fire. Finally, she adored living in the beautiful Otways and loved the close proximity to rainforests, beaches, and chance encounters with wildlife. Deirdre hopes to utilise the knowledge and experience she gained from CEC towards wildlife management and ecological conservation research.

2020 Intern
Jack developed his interest in Australian wildlife and the bush from his father who is an avid birdwatcher. This led to him undertaking study at the University of Melbourne, completing a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Ecology back in 2018, his project investigated the prevalence of Toxoplasmosis in feral cats across Australia. Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease in felines, that can also affects other warm blooded animals and that can be lethal in Australian wildlife. Throughout his honours year and into 2019 he took on as many ecology volunteering roles as possible, allowing him to travel across Australia and explore different areas in ecologic fieldwork. This ranged from kangaroo and small macropod behaviour on Maria Island (TAS), Crest-Tailed Mulgra trapping survey near Strzelecki (SA), reptile trapping survey in the Mallee (NSW), and Koala surveying on French Island (VIC). During this time Jack picked up a camera and created a love for photography which he uses to showcase the beauty of the Australian bush @regentphotographyaus .
During his internship at the CEC, Jack hopes to gain experience in land management practices, invasive species control, animal husbandry, as well as learning about current fire management practises in the Otways, and science communication & engagement to the public. Jack plans to use this opportunity as a spring board to move into further conservation and ecology roles.

2020 Intern
Yoni is a passionate member of the conservation community. She has completed a Bachelor of Environmental Science (Honours) at Deakin University in 2019. For her Honours project, she explored the breeding biology of two seabird species in northern Bass Strait. This included collecting, organising and analysing weight and morphometric data for Fairy prion (Pachyptila turtur) and Common diving petrel (Pelecanoides urinatrix) chicks. She found that throughout the three years of breeding, survival rates among common diving petrel chicks were declining due to poor food availability. Understanding that the health of our oceans, native grasslands and forests is essential for the survival of threatened species, Yoni sought to educate schools, community members and international tourists about the importance of looking after these complex ecosystems.
In order to gain knowledge and skills in science communication, Yoni has volunteered with CSIRO, Parks Victoria and Zoos Victoria and various animal rescue shelters around Victoria. She has developed field and research skills from volunteering with Australian Wildlife Conservancy, and from working as a Field Ecologist for Deakin University. Yoni is keen to learn with the experienced team at the Conservation Ecology Centre. She aims to develop more skills in threatened species management, fire ecology and understanding the interactions of flora and fauna species in the Otway region.

2020 Intern
Sam is interning at the Conservation Ecology Centre to gain practical applied conservation research experience. She is keen to pursue a career in threatened species management, particularly within programs that utilise scientific research, traditional knowledge and community engagement. She has a background in science communication as the Social Media Coordinator at Remember The Wild, a nature connection charity.
Sam recently completed a Master of Science (Ecology and Evolution) at the University of Melbourne, researching the potential interactions between reef building coral microbes. She gained a range of volunteer experience throughout her studies, including interning at the Dolphin Research Institute and deploying camera traps, monitoring smoky mice in the Victorian Alps with Museums Victoria. Sam is enjoying the diversity of projects she has worked on so far, from koala population monitoring to animal husbandry and is looking forward to learning more about the unique ecosystems of the Otways.