Become a coastal ambassador
Practical training, resources and guidance to learn about our local coast and marine environments
Coastal Ambassadors
Our Coastal Ambassadors Program provides an educational experience to about 50 Adelaidians every year, to encourage conservation and advocacy.
A Coastal Ambassador can be anyone who wants to learn as much as they can about our coast and marine environment, and are driven to spread the word about and help protect it.
The program offers 2 separate courses – one for youth and the other for adults – to community members who are passionate about protecting and conserving Adelaide’s stunning coastlines and marine life.
For adults
Our Coastal Ambassador program for adults offers training, mentoring and interactive field trips to educate and inspire individuals about our coast and marine environments, and what can be done to help conserve them.
The program is open to anyone living in metropolitan Adelaide who is aged 18 years or above, and is free for participants.
Applications for our Coastal Ambassadors program for adults are now closed, as the 2025 program is currently underway.
Stay tuned about future intakes by subscribing to the Green Adelaide newsletter, or following us on Facebook and Instagram.
For youth
The Youth Coastal Ambassador program is for young people in Year 8 or 9 to gain practical training, resources and guidance to learn about our local coast and marine environments.
Applications for our Youth Coastal Ambassadors program are now closed. If you have applied, you will find out if you have made it into this year’s program by 5 pm on Tuesday 4 March.
Find out more about the program below.
About the Youth Coastal Ambassadors program
The 2025 Youth Coastal Ambassadors program will be held in the autumn school holidays.
This free 2-day program gives 30 young people the opportunity to be immersed in, and learn about, Adelaide’s local coastal environments and cultural landscapes.
Run by Green Adelaide and Burka-Senior Man Karl Winda Telfer, Youth Coastal Ambassadors will give participants the knowledge and skills to understand and care for our coast and marine environments.
They will learn about cultural sea knowledge, reefs, estuaries, local plants and marine animals, conservation action, and sustainability – all while exploring Adelaide’s spectacular coastline!
The program also includes field trips such as snorkelling and kayaking, learning about Sea Country and the living cultural landscape, innovative digital technologies, and environmental art workshops.
It is open to any Year 8 or Year 9 students who live in the Green Adelaide region. Participants don't need any prior knowledge to take part.
Topics include:
- marine and coastal ecology – local plants, animals, and habitats
- Tirkandi – Country, Culture and Connection with Burka-Senior Man Karl Winda Telfer
- local environments, such as the Port Noarlunga Reef and Onkaparinga Estuary
- positive projects and getting involved in local marine conservation
- creating and learning with environmental art.
Applications for the 2025 program are now closed. Applicants will find out if they have made it into this year’s program by 5 pm on Tuesday 4 March.
More information
If you have any questions about the program, contact Youth Coastal Ambassador program coordinator Claire Lock.
Partners
The Coastal Ambassador program is offered by Green Adelaide and facilitated by Whale and Dolphin Conservation’s Dr Mike Bossley and Tirkandi – Country, Culture, Connection with Burka-Senior Man Karl Winda Telfer.