Australia
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*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️ Kangaroo Island is a popular place for Workawayers to visit and we are often booked out many months in advance but we do take bookings up to 10 months ahead. Please check our calendar for availability and/or last minute opportunities then read on..... *️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
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 the now 40kg 4 year old Scarlet and Brandy (30kg) who is 15 months old, and came to her new forever home with us in August 2019. Both are very intelligent, happy, energetic dogs who loves people and are 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’.
Soon we hope to be releasing orphaned, displaced or animals injured in the fires (when they are fit and healthy) in our soft-release enclosure prior to their release back to the wild. This part of our project has now been fast tracked following the devastating fires of December 2019/January 2020.
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.
Our current and immediate 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.
Temporary watering points for wildlife and water have been brought into the property to enable us to water last seasons planted trees that need supplementary watering until they are established so they have the best chance of survival. Water has been purchased (all our dams are now empty) 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.
Gardening
DIY and building projects
General Maintenance
Farmstay help
Help with Eco Projects
Help around the house
Animal Care
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 !
Immediate focus is on drought/bushfire recovery as identified above...
And then......
Everyday tasks revolve around assisting with the general maintenance, upkeep and cleaning of the property, orchard, veggie garden and farmhouse (inside and out) as well as twice daily walks with the dogs.
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 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.
English: Fluent
You will stay in the family house in your own room with separate bathroom.
2 rooms available for 2-3 workawayers in total.
There is no smoking or vaping inside or within 20m of the house, or whilst undertaking tasks.
The dogs are boisterous very large house dogs, 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.
Generally only one booking is taken at a time, but on request, following discussion between the parties, we may take 2 x workawayers at the same time, or an single addition to a couple - this has worked well in the past with new friendships formed.
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 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.
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 work commitments and limited time at home.
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.
Ideally a 10 - 14 day stay is preferred, however shorter stays are welcome, and we are also happy to negotiate longer stays following a trial period.
Important Note: If you have taken the time and effort to read this far, please include the word ‘Brandy’ in the title of your email so I know you have gone to the trouble to read all of the profile, otherwise due to the large number of enquiries your application will NOT be considered.
Thanks :-) !
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
More than two
Maximum 25 hours, over a week - free time offered in larger blocks to allow you more time to see the wonders of Kangaroo Island
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