This 3.5-week, 6-credit experiential program uses the theme of sustainable development to explore the relationship between people and their natural environment. North Queensland boasts some of the most diverse and remarkable natural resources in the southern hemisphere. Known as the Sunshine State, Queensland is home to lush green rainforests, the remote Outback, and the spectacular marine diversity of the Great Barrier Reef.

Our experiential education focuses on learning through guided action. Students spend about 70% of their time travelling the stunning national parks, forests, wildlife reserves, coastlines, and islands of North Queensland under the guidance of knowledgeable field professionals. We spend the first week on Magnetic Island, just offshore from the city of Townsville, taking classes with experts from prestigious institutions such as the University of Queensland, James Cook University, and the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service. This is followed a 2.5-week field study of North Queensland. A typical itinerary includes snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef, hiking and wildlife viewing in the Daintree rainforest, and experiencing Aboriginal culture and wildlife of the Outback.

During your visit to Australia, you will generally stay in comfortable hotel and/or hostel-style accommodation with the rest of the students in the group. At several of the more remote locations, we stay in safari-style tents. You will get the chance to make life-long friends with others in the group, and our accommodation adds to this experience. If you are travelling with someone, you may request to room with that person for the duration of the trip. Accommodation varies, but typically rooms are shared by 2-4 students. AUIP will provide some group meals (~40%), and for the remaining meals you have the flexibility to choose amongst the many cafes and restaurants, or cook for yourself in the hostel facilities. AUIP also provides all in-country transportation in a comfortable, luxury coach. Students should be prepared to move and travel frequently while in the field, although students say that the bus trips are always enjoyable with such fantastic scenery out your window!

Program Objectives

By the end of the program students will:

• Understand the natural history, biogeography, ecological diversity, and related social and cultural contexts of Australia through an exploration of Queensland's network of national parks and protected areas, which encompass the Outback, rainforests, coastlines, marine reserves, and offshore islands;
• Understand the impacts of human actions on the natural systems, and human responses to those changes, using the case of Queensland, Australia;
• Develop an understanding of ecological education practices, integrated natural resource management, and conservation actions throughout Queensland, Australia;
• Be able to address relationships between human societies and their natural environments from multiple disciplinary perspectives and to develop a complex, multi-faceted and holistic view of human - environment connections that cross traditional disciplinary boundaries.

Syllabus and Sample Itinerary

Click here to download an introductory letter from the AUIP team about this program.

Read the program syllabus and sample itinerary for the Australia program.