Intern - Natural Area Management x2

Sunshine Coast Council; Caloundra; Hybrid; AUD 273,000 - 410,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mentorship by professionals

4 days per week schedule

Paid internship

Close to beaches

Job summary

Sunshine Coast Council is offering a 12‑week paid internship to students and recent graduates to gain real-world experience in environmental management. You will assist with conservation projects, ecological research, stakeholder engagement and environmental education.

Participants will be mentored by industry professionals and have opportunities to contribute to koala, macropod and marine turtle programs while building practical GIS and data skills.

Qualifications

• Enrolled in a tertiary course or recently graduated.
• Must be available for the 12‑week program starting November 2026.

Responsibilities

• Assist with wildlife conservation and environmental management projects.
• Support Koala, Macropod and Marine Turtle conservation programs.
• Undertake research, data collection and project support activities.
• Develop community education resources focused on wildlife conservation.

Skills

Wildlife conservation

Data collection

GIS mapping

Stakeholder engagement

Environmental education

Communication skills

Education

Enrolled in tertiary course

Recent graduate within 12 months

TAFE Diploma within 12 months

Tools

ArcGIS

Story Maps

Data analysis

Job description

About My Summer Workplace

Are you currently studying, or have recently graduated and needing to gain experience within the industry? My Summer Workplace is a 12‑week paid internship program with Sunshine Coast Council that will equip you with the skills, opportunities, networks and confidence you need to step into your chosen career.

About My Summer Workplace

Are you currently studying, or have recently graduated and needing to gain experience within the industry? My Summer Workplace is a 12‑week paid internship program with Sunshine Coast Council that will equip you with the skills, opportunities, networks and confidence you need to step into your chosen career. Commencing in November 2026 and concluding February 2027, you will need to be available to work four days per week for this 12-week period. Note - There will be a 2‑week unpaid break over the Christmas period.

Why Intern at Sunshine Coast Council?

With the vision to be Australia’s most sustainable region - Connected. Liveable. Thriving, our region is a model of sustainability, where caring for our environment, creating vibrant communities and growing our local economy is a way of life. Interning with Sunshine Coast Council will provide you with incredible exposure to a medium-large sized organisation which comprises of over 20 functional areas and spans many industries. In addition, you will be mentored by industry professionals, expand your knowledge and skills, and let’s not forget - we’re close to some of the best beaches you can enjoy over summer.

About This Internship

Kick‑start your career in environmental management and gain real‑world experience in conservation projects, ecological research, stakeholder engagement, and environmental education.

• Assisting with wildlife conservation and environmental management projects.
• Supporting Council's Koala, Macropod and Marine Turtle Conservation Programs.
• Contribute to the delivery of Council's Flying Fox Management Program
• Undertaking research, data collection and project support activities.
• Developing community education resources focused on wildlife conservation and human-wildlife interactions.
• Creating communication materials that promote environmental awareness and conservation outcomes.
• Assisting with stakeholder engagement, project documentation and reporting.
• Building practical skills in conservation planning, environmental management and community engagement within a local government setting
• Assist with maintaining and improving flying fox data, mapping, and records.
• Support updates to GIS layers, databases, dashboards, and Story Maps.
• Assist with analysing flying fox population and habitat data.Support the development of mapping and reporting tools.
• Create maps and visual displays to help communicate information.
• Assist with monitoring and comparing flying fox roost activity across the region.

About You

To be eligible for My Summer Workplace, you must:

• Be enrolled in a tertiary course and have completed 16 or more subjects, or;
• Have recently graduated from university (within 12 months of graduation); or
• Have recently completed a TAFE Diploma (within 12 months of graduation);
• Be able to attend the Assessment Centre on 29 October 2026
• Possess Australian working rights:
  • Citizen (AU/NZ)
  • Permanent Resident
  • Current valid visa, with unrestricted working rights for the duration of the program

Further Information

Helpful information to assist you in completing your application is available on the Sunshine Coast Council website. To learn more about Council’s vision and projects, you can view the Corporate Plan 2025-2030. For specific enquiries contact our Recruitment Team at [e-mail]. We're working hard to create an inclusive workplace that reflects the diverse community we serve. If you require adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process, please reach out to the Recruitment Team.

At Sunshine Coast Council, we embrace differences in gender, age, ethnicity, race, cultural background including First Nations, disability, religion and sexual orientation. To deliver the best service to our region we want a workforce that reflects the diverse community that we serve. Sunshine Coast Council strongly encourages all suitable applicants to apply for this role.