Become a coastal ambassador

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 two 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 open, see details below.

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.

Stay tuned about future intakes by subscribing to the Green Adelaide newsletter, or following us on Facebook and Instagram.

Applications now open – Coastal Ambassador program for adults

Applications are now open for the 2025 Coastal Ambassadors Program for adults, which will begin on 2 February.

This free 7-week program gives 18 participants the opportunity to learn and be inspired about our local coast and marine environments.

You’ll attend workshops and hear from experts, and be immersed in these precious environments on field trips such as snorkelling and kayaking.

The program is led and coordinated by Dr Mike Bossley who has been engaged in research, conservation and education for the past 50 years.

The program runs over 7 Sundays – participants must be available to attend all sessions. Check out the session dates below.

It’s open to anyone 18+ years old who lives in the Green Adelaide region (check the map to see if you’re eligible). Best of all, you don’t need any prior knowledge or experience to take part.

Topics include:

• temperate marine ecology
• environments and organisms of Gulf St Vincent and the Great Southern Reef
• Tirkandi – Country, Culture, Connection with Burka-Senior Man Karl Winda Telfer
• marine protected areas and sanctuaries
• the ecology of Adelaide’s beaches
• marine litter, shorebirds, mangroves and the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary
• taking part in marine conservation.

Applications are now open and will close on Thursday 21 November at 5 pm.

How to apply

To apply, complete this application form.

Follow the details at the bottom of the form to submit your application. When you’ve submitted the form you will see a ‘success’ screen.

Application forms must be submitted by 5 pm on Thursday 21 November. You will find out if you have made it into this year’s program by Friday 29 November.

Session dates

The Coastal Ambassadors Program for adults runs over 7 weeks on Sundays, beginning on Sunday 2 February.

Participants must be available to attend all sessions of the program, which are held at locations along Adelaide’s coast, ranging from St Kilda to Aldinga.

Please note that running times may vary slightly.

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.