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On the Front Line with the Reef's vital volunteers
This National Volunteer Week, we’re celebrating the thousands of volunteers giving their time, energy and skills to care for our Great Barrier Reef.
Right now, we’re seeing another widespread bleaching event on the Great Barrier Reef, highlighting that this decade is the pivotal time to shape a better future for the Reef and its communities. Every day, community members and organisations across Queensland are demonstrating their commitment and contributions to this cause, often powered by community volunteers.
This National Volunteer Week, we’re celebrating the thousands of volunteers giving their time, energy and skills to care for our Great Barrier Reef and connected coasts.
These everyday heroes are on the front line, making a difference in their local communities, one volunteer hour at a time.
This year’s National Volunteer Week theme is ‘Something for Everyone’, a fitting reminder of the vast spectrum of possibilities and the transformative impact that emerges when everyone finds their meaningful role in making a difference.
Cairns & Far North Environment Centre volunteers learning about mangrove and saltmarsh monitoring. Credit: Ben and Di
CAFNEC volunteers collecting data on saltmarsh and mangrove health. Credi: Ben and Di
#How are volunteers helping the Reef?
Volunteers help care for the Reef in different ways: they protect wildlife and habitats, connect people to the cause through educational activities and collect important information on everything from mangroves to manta rays. They also help behind the scenes through activities such as data entry, governance, as well as marketing and communications.
This is exactly what The Front Line video series has been celebrating. Whether we’re diving into the world of Reef citizen science, uplifting the next generation of young leaders, spending time with those championing sea turtle conservation, or uncovering the importance of mangrove and saltmarsh monitoring, these videos give us a glimpse into the inspiring work that is happening every day up and down the Great Barrier Reef. They highlight the tireless work that our partner organisations and their invaluable volunteers have been putting in to protect our Reef.
Bev McLachlan of Wreck Rock Turtle Care measuring the carapace length of a nesting loggerhead turtle. Credit: Ben and Di
Wreck Rock Turtle Care volunteers help protect turtle nests. Credit: Ben and Di
#Snapshots from the front line
As part of the Reef Trust Partnerships’ Community Reef Protection program, since 2019 community members have engaged in projects over 50,000 times and have contributed more than 74,000 volunteer hours (an estimated $3.5 million of contributions in time).
Our community partners at CAFNEC and Earthwatch use MangroveWatch methods to collect standardised data on the extent and health of mangroves and tidal wetlands. As Lucy Graham, Director of CAFNEC explains: “There's not enough scientists in the world to be out in every bit of nature collecting data on it, but there are people in all types of environments who really care about what's around them who can do that. Citizen science makes this possible! We need lots of people with lots of different experience getting out in their local area and helping us keep an eye on what's happening and what the impacts are to mangroves, saltmarshes and lots of different types of environments too.”
The Great Barrier Reef has experienced a tough summer. In times like this, when people are seeing places and people they love under pressure, it can feel overwhelming.
Great Barrier Reef Foundation Director of Community Reef Protection Jenn Loder says: “It’s important to recognise the incredible depth and breadth of work that’s happening in local communities every day by people who care. We have some big challenges to face, but sharing stories about people coming together for community-led solutions is one source of hope and inspiration to keep our collective actions going and growing.”
Citizen scientist recording data on coral health. Credit: Ben and Di
Beyond delivering environmental outcomes, volunteering helps connect people together around meaningful causes, building a movement of people who care and support each other. Research indicates it can increase physical and mental health, wellbeing and happiness, skills for employment opportunities, social connections, sense of purpose, and connection to place.
As Reef Check Australia Volunteer Deb Duggan shares: “Being a volunteer fostered my love for the marine environment. Every time you open your eyes you are seeing something new, something valuable, something inspiring.”
Mandy Soymonoff, a CAFNEC volunteer adds: “I find it inspirational to come and spend time with people who have similar interests and also want to do something and get involved.”
Come rain or shine, we are grateful for the time, energy and love volunteers give to shaping a better future for our Great Barrier Reef.
South Cape York Catchment staff teach their Young Reef Leaders about water quality monitoring. Credit: Ben an Di
#Get inspired and get involved
Thinking of getting involved? Check out how you can help on our Volunteer page, and get inspired to join the efforts of the wonderful Reef volunteers on The Front Line.
We’d like to extend our deepest thanks to all our partner organisations and their volunteers for the work they do for the Reef and their communities. A special thanks also to The Front Line series producers Bendi Media. For more information, visit: https://www.barrierreef.org/what-we-do/reef-trust-partnership/community-reef-protection
