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Details
Description
Update - January 2023
Unfortunately we have no vacancies for the beginning of the 2023 calendar years.
If you are thinking of visiting from June 2023 - please read on...
If you have the flexibility in your plans and schedule to manage the COVID-19 challenges that we are all facing, please feel free to read on as we would love to consider hosting you - but most importantly - stay safe !
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In 2010 we commenced a project to re-vegetate this former 300 acre farmland property and transform it into a sanctuary for native wildlife to seek refuge and prosper.
Many trees have been planted and self seeded (many have commenced flowering!), but there is still a long way to go with further plantings and care for those in the ground in order for them to grow and thrive and see the dream realised. Your help can make a huge difference and positive impact.
There are many native animals and birds that live on the property. Although it is fenced, the animals are free to come and go as they please, and are truly wild. It is not a caged or zoo set up.
There is no caring for or direct interaction with the animals, ie no 'feeding or cuddling' the koalas - but you will have the chance to see and observe a variety of different animals every day in their natural habitat on the property and elsewhere on the island.
The animal care required is to walk, help train and entertain 4 year old Brandy (35kg). she is a very intelligent, happy, energetic dog who loves people and is always ready to go for long walks, or otherwise steal your shoes, socks, etc..... :-)
We are also hobby beekeepers - still finding our way !
With the help of our Workaway volunteers we have built a safe and secure chicken coup for our chickens ‘chooks’.
As part of our project following the devastating fires of December 2019/January 2020 we have built a soft release enclosure for orphaned, displaced or injured animals.
Little Stantons Sanctuary was spared from direct impact of the fires although they did get relatively close (6km away) and the property was littered with burnt leaves that were carried by the winds on the worst day, Friday 3rd January 2020.
Our continuing and future focus for the Sanctuary is on ensuring that our current wildlife and the revegetation areas continue to survive with lower than average rainfall, and that weeds on the property continue to be managed and removed wherever possible.
Additional watering points for wildlife and water have been established on the property to enable us to water trees and shrubs that need supplementary watering until they are established so they have the best chance of survival. Water was also purchased so that the wildlife will not be forced to travel to look for water and therefore be put at further risk. This has largely been funded by a Go Fund Me project with donations from family, friends, past and future workawayers and their family, friends and contacts.
Thank you all for your support.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Help around the house
General Maintenance
UN sustainablity goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Workawayers will benefit by learning about the unique flora and fauna of Kangaroo Island and the best places to see them ! Kangaroo Island is often referred to as Australia's 'Galapagos' and is a must see for any Workawayer visiting Australia.
Workawayers can also learn about general land care and ways to protect our environment, and if you are lucky - we might even share some of our favourite recipes, if you share yours !
Help
Everyday tasks revolve around assisting with the general maintenance, upkeep, weeding and cleaning of the sanctuary areas, orchard, veggie garden and farmhouse (inside and out) as well as twice daily walks with the dog.
Tasks also include firewood clearing and collection, maintenance of the veggie garden; general gardening, lawn mowing and care, as well as helping to tidy up around the property, house-cleaning, other odd jobs etc.
Fruit picking in the 25+ tree orchard and fruit preserving occurs annually from February - May.
Depending on the season you may be assisting the bushland restoration/sanctuary project directly with seed collection; equipment preparation; seed planting; seedling transplants and propagation; seedling care; planting out of seedlings; installing or removal of tree protection equipment; care and maintenance of the planting sites including weeding; fence erection/removal; repairs and maintenance of fencing; surveys of tree survival rates etc as well as daily surveys of the ever increasing number of native animals and birds sighted around the property.
As mentioned above we are now hobby beekeepers, so care and maintenance of the bees, hives, as well as honey and beeswax processing tasks may be undertaken.
Tasks will be structured for you to take free time in larger blocks (eg full days) to enable you to make the most of your time on the Island.
Unskilled volunteers are welcome.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: FluentThis host offers a language exchange
This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
You can contact them directly for more information.
Accommodation
You will stay in the family house in your own room with separate bathroom.
1 room and couch available for 2-3 workawayers in total.
There is no smoking or vaping inside or within 20m of the house, or whilst undertaking tasks.
Brandy is a very large house dog, living and sleeping inside. If you are uncomfortable with or don’t have experience walking large dogs then this placement is probably not for you.
You will have Internet access via WiFi to access your emails and internet searches, forward bookings etc, however large downloads are not possible.
Note: you will not have mobile coverage at the sanctuary if your phone is with a provider other than Telstra or Optus and your phone works on their respective 3G and 4G bands (not all do).
Vegetarians and vegans welcome.
We do eat meat (but not every day) and are also happy to work around most dietary allergies and intolerances, but we do need notification in advance. The nearest supermarket is a 80km return journey, and shopping is done in bulk and in advance, so please let us know of ANY dietary intolerances. Every effort will be made to accommodate your food preferences, but only if advised at the time of confirmation of your stay.
What else ...
Kangaroo Island is nature's paradise, and visitors travel from all over the world to visit.
We are honoured to already have had a number of workawayers come back for second and third stays !
It is a must see for any visitor to Australia. Explore the island's natural wonders and beauty with your time off, as well as many other attractions including food and wine producers, farm gates, farmers markets and cellar doors.
Kangaroo Island (KI) is located 15km off the coast of South Australia, and approximately 115km south of Adelaide, the state's capital.
Travel to the island is either via ferry (SeaLink, which takes vehicles and passengers without vehicles, or KI Connect, passengers only), there are bus services from Adelaide to the terminal for those without cars); or air - 30 seat plane, with limited luggage space (REX Airlines). Qantas have flights direct from both Adelaide and Melbourne (seasonal) to KI.
The property is located approx 50km out of the main centre (Kingscote) and airport on an unsealed road. It is a similar distance to the ferry terminal located at Penneshaw. It is a rural property surrounded by working farms with livestock. As well as the 'cute' animals there are spiders and snakes here.
NOTE: the Flag on the Workaway map shows the approximate location of the property. There are no cafes, pubs, shops, nightclubs within 50km and driving at night is not recommended ( or allowed by most rental car companies) because of the wildlife. The island has over 1,600 km of roads but over 80% are unsealed (dirt).
There is no public transport to speak of. As such, this opportunity is best suited to volunteers with their own transport, but all enquiries are welcome.
We are sorry but are no longer able to host workawayers without their own transport or willingness to hire a car for a few days or join organised tours for sightseeing - due to our existing commitments.
We are however still able to pick you up/drop you off at the ferry terminal or airport if you don't have your own transport (and plan to later join a tour or hire a car for sightseeing).
Singles, 2 x friends, couples and families are all welcome to enquire.
Important Note: If you have taken the time and effort to read this far, please include the word ‘Brandy’ in the title of your initial email so I know you have gone to the trouble to read all of the profile, otherwise due to the large number of enquiries we get your application will NOT be considered.
Thanks :-) !
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
Internet access is generally good in this remote location, however data is not unlimited, so access might be limited if daily quota is exceeded.
Space for parking camper vans
Property is remote and large so no real issues re size or place to park other than some low hanging trees - please do advance research in cost of getting the caravan/camper to Kangaroo Island.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Maximum 25 hours, over a week - free time offered in larger blocks to allow you more time to see the wonders of Kangaroo Island
Feedback (42)
Some issues and misscommunication arose between all of us, however we… read more
I stayed for only few days due to the virus, but jacq understands the situation and care of my flight schedule transportation even after I left:) thanks so much about that.
Too bad I don't have… read more
Photos
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(4.9)
Cultural exchange:
(4.9)
Communication:
(4.8)
Some issues and misscommunication arose between all of us, however we… read more
I stayed for only few days due to the virus, but jacq understands the situation and care of my flight schedule transportation even after I left:) thanks so much about that.
Too bad I don't have… read more
We even had the chance to see 7 koalas hiding in the trees around the property in one day!
The ambitious and exciting project requires help from… read more
We had such a great time for the 2 weeks we were with Jacq, the food is delicious and she is really friendly
Whilst we were there we mainly helped with maintenance of existing trees she had planted and cleaning of some of the equipment. As we arrived after the fires she was… read more
She offered me to do a lot of sundry tasks
She also trained me on my skills to spot koalas on trees which is tricky
Had the huge opportunity to help a bit as a volunteer some rescued wild animals in a sanctuary
We also had some good fun watching the AO together as two tennis fans.
She… read more
Laura is a great workawayer and any host would be lucky to have her, she is self motivated, enthusiastic and can work without supervision.
Laura’s love of nature, and her contribution, support… read more
Jacq was super nice and accommodating and we had some great conversations together and both shared our love for good food and cooking in the evening while having dinner.
While she was away in Adelaide we stayed in contact and she was always there to help me… read more
Their willingness to… read more
( Raquel ) spent two most memorable weeks with Jacq on Kangaroo Island.
Jacq was always very well organised, fair and honest since the very first day I started contacting her. Jacq made sure that before we went ahead we were aware of the ferry fees and the distance of her place to nearest city. She sent me different… read more
Claire stayed with us for 14 days in April following a call out for workawayers as a result of a last minute opportunity.… read more
Jacq made me feel at home from the very minute she picked me up at the ferry terminal by welcoming me with a… read more
Both were enthusiastic to tackle all tasks thrown at them and Harvey proved to be a great little helper particularly when it was time… read more
Jacq made us feel very welcome straight away, she is very caring, generous and accommodating. She is also… read more
Not having transport or driving was initially a challenge for her to see the sights of beautiful Kangaroo Island but prior to her arrival with some juggling she managed to get on a 2 day backpacker tour of the island with an extended return… read more
While there, Jaqc took the time to teach me how to do some of the tasks related to the general… read more
They stayed with us for 15 nights and I cannot thank them enough for all they managed to achieve in the time they were here. Able to work unsupervised they attacked all tasks with vigour, enthusiasm and patience (thanks Harley for persevering with both… read more
We are so… read more
Although our time together was limited, Alexis was very conscientious and attended to daily tasks without being reminded, which is always welcomed and greatly appreciated. Scarlet also welcomed the… read more
Keen to get stuck in to the physical tasks, Greta made great progress on the 'Chook Hilton', with her digging, shovelling, hay bale tossing and shredding, wire cutting and clipping, fencing work etc ! - it was unfortunate that we were unable to complete the task during Greta's time here,… read more
Hardworking and full of good humour, it was fun to progress the 'Chook Hilton' to the point where it was 'Possum and Raven proof' and the chickens could take up residence,… read more
Despite this he did stay for five days and was of tremendous assistance and was very hardworking during this time. He admits that he did make a mistake in deciding to leave… read more
Enthusiastic and keen, they tackled all tasks with smiles and muscles, helping in particular with a big cleanup job and post flood rehabilitation works that have both directly made a difference and helped progress the sanctuary project.
They were a delight to host… read more
Leonie is a wonderful person with a kind and warm heart as well as having many different life experiences and future positive experiences planned. I wish I could travel with her for some of them and look forward to hearing of her travels in the future. She is a determined person, and would not… read more
Thank you dear Jacq for sharing your home (paradise) !
Koala land almost haha! I learnt the process of planting… read more
Travelling with Mary (who had stayed with us back in September 2017) Grace was a welcome addition to the family and fitted in perfectly.
With a friendly personality and can-do attitude, no task was too great or small for Grace and she tackled them all with gusto and… read more
Jackie's very friendly and very patient. She is also very enthusiastic about anything that involves nature, animals and she loves sharing her knowledge with you, but loves to learn just… read more
With a great positive attitude and willingness to get 'stuck in' Igor was a pleasure to host and we would welcome him back at any time.
Working mostly unsupervised he completed a variety of tasks including a short stint of… read more
Lucas tackled all tasks with enthusiasm and worked mostly… read more
Jacq is a lovely person, excellent cook and she knows the island like no one, so I was able to discover the island perfectly and I did not miss anything. In addition, not speaking English very well, I had no problem to understand and express myself,… read more
Although not having previously experienced the remoteness and isolation such as here on Kangaroo Island, both girls were willing to give the outdoor tasks a good go and both worked well under supervision. Amongst other things, our seedling pots for the coming season have now finally… read more
Jacq also made a great effort to show us the… read more
As mentioned in our profile, we like to do our best to cater for any special dietary requirements and I am delighted to say that 'pizza night' gluten free style went off with a bang… read more
Keen and enthusiastic, they tackled all tasks happily and with gusto, despite the inclement weather which challenged us during their stay. But like all good troopers they took it on the chin - "we're English,… read more
He tackled a number long term tasks on the 'to do' list with enthusiasm and thoroughness. Primarily working outside, he helped with the removal of some old fence posts, garden maintenance, fallen tree clearance, firewood collection, rubbish removal and the tidying up a number… read more
They are hard workers and great people, both with positive ‘can do’, ‘never give up’ attitudes.
They moved along many different and diverse tasks that needed doing around the property, along with helping to keep up the… read more
Jacq was a very warm and lovely host, we couldn't imagine a better one for our first time. She is very knowledgeable, funny, friendly, a… read more
Work commitments were going to keep us occupied for a large period of this stay so we decided to host an additional Workawayer (Fra from Italy) - so that Rozenn would have company while we were away for long hours at a time.
The work focused on a late 'spring clean' and getting the girls to tidy… read more
Jacqui is is a really good host and… read more
Nadine has a positive attitude and happily attended to repetitive tasks… read more
We loved having Eva stay with us at our property on Kangaroo Island in January 2017. She has a positive attitude and learned quickly, not having done anything like this before and also new to Workaway.
She helped with mowing and overgrown tree clearance, as well as seed collection and gardening. Inside tasks included cleaning and vacuuming… read more
She picked me (and my bike) up at the ferry and from the first minute I knew it would be fun!
My trip to Kangaroo Island will be an unforgetable experience. After a few hours of extra working on 1… read more
Bernadette stayed with us for 3 weeks over the Christmas/ New Year Period in 2016/17. What an amazing, organised and well travelled person she is. An experienced workawayer, we were privileged that she chose to spend the festive season with us.
Previous hosts have described Bernadette as a 5 star helper; reliable; meticulous;… read more
The host is welcoming, kind, generous, open-minded. The project of planting trees and making a wildlife sanctuary is very interesting and even when the work is a bit rough, you feel… read more
Jacq is remarkably knowledgeable on everything to see and do in Kangaroo island, and one of the best cooks I've had the pleasure of meeting. (Still missing your banana cake jaq haha)
The farmwork is simple and well explained, and aside from a few days when she had to leave, she worked alongside us… read more
Jack is well organised. She had a to-do-list, so we could help, also when she drove to work (4 of 14 days). Her instructions are very clear, well explained and follow the safety policy. Our tasks in spring time: playing with the dog, giving water to 8 different sprinklers, removing weeds,… read more
We hosted Andrea and Anke for 16 nights in late November - early December 2016. We were especially pleased to be able to celebrate with them Andrea's first ever spring birthday - Once less thing on the bucket list for her !
It is wonderful to be able to host workawayers who are not afraid of not only getting their hands dirty, but their… read more
We hosted Naree for 9 nights in November 2016 and are so thankful for the timing of her visit. Working primarily unsupervised, her laughter and enthusiasm to attend to the most repetitive of tasks which, as she comments, were mostly involved with various forms of mowers and outdoor maintenance!
Unfortunately due to recent flooding we were… read more
I stayed at Jack's place about 9 days and I never felt bored even Jack wasn't around as she needed to be out for working but she had one day to take me off for the sightseeing as I didn't have my own car..it's such a long distance and she'd rather rest at the house but she still drove for me. And that day… read more
Easy going with great senses of humour, they found fun in all the tasks we threw at them ! And they were determined, going above and beyond what we expected in the execution of all the tasks inside,… read more
Jacq was a very nice and cozy host: ready to share her beautiful house (1 room and 1 private bathroom just for me!) and her very great meals (she's an excellent cook!) with me and available to show me her remarkable… read more
We hosted Silvia for 10 nights, and cannot thanks her enough for the variety of tasks that she accomplished and completed during her stay. Working primarily unsupervised, her enthusiasm and attention to detail was greatly appreciated in the numerous [primarily outdoor maintenance] tasks she completed. She was always offering to help out and… read more
Malina stayed with us for 6 nights at the same time as another Taiwanese girl Mei. Sometimes it seems that everything is conspiring against you - work commitments, bad weather and car problems meant we did not spend us much time as we would have liked with our workawayers...
Despite this both girls had a wonderful positive attitude and threw… read more
I learned many new skills and facts about Kangaroo Island and had the opportunity to see a lot of wildlife. Jack really cares about… read more
We hosted Corine in mid April 2016 for 6 nights at the same time as two other Swiss girls, so we had a full house !
The major task planned for the week was to erect a 250m rural superlock wire fence, complete with spacers and additional top electric wire across one paddock and all three girls had no hesitation in saying yes to the… read more
Easy going, responsible and with a sense of humour, he was willing to have a go at anything we asked of him and proved very competent and capable of all allocated tasks.
Importantly, he was able to work unsupervised, which allowed us, at times, to… read more
She is a remarkable person with outstanding knowledge of the islands flora and fauna. She knows what's important to visit and gave me every possible chance to… read more
