PREP-A-DINO

the REAL dinosaur experience

Here's a genuine opportunity to work with real dinosaurs. All are new to science and each a national treasure!

Seeing a dinosaur emerge from a 100 million year old tomb is a rare treat few will experience.

Join the Australian Age of Dinosaurs team in the biggest fossil preparation laboratory in the Southern Hemisphere. We'll teach you the proper skills using professional tools.

Come for a day or a week — help bring Australia's prehistoric giants back to life!

What's Included

• A personalised tour of the AAOD collection

• Induction and training in fossil preparation

• A copy of our current Journal
  (for new members)
  
  
• Morning and and Afternoon Tea yummies!
  
  
  

What You Need To Bring

• Your own lunch, snacks and drink
  (we provide morning & afternoon tea yummies)
   
  
• Transportation (your own vehicle)
  
  
  

Travel and Accommodation

Please see our Visitor Information page for details

Prices

Positions

Only 10 positions are available at any one time.

Open to everyone over the age of 12.

Information and Application Form

Download an information and application form

What's Included

• A personalised tour of the AAOD collection
• Induction and training in fossil preparation
  
• A copy of our current Journal (for new members)
  
• Furnished room in the new  Maloney Lodge,
  pictured below (includes linen)
• Shared bathroom, kitchen and laundry facilities
  
• BBQ area with gorgeous view from the top of The Jump-Up
• Morning and and Afternoon Tea yummies!
  
  

What You Need To Bring

• Your own lunch, snacks and drink
  (we provide morning & afternoon tea yummies)
• Some personal comforts (favorite pillow, book, etc)
• Transportation (your own vehicle)
  
  

Positions

Only 7 positions are available at any one time.

A 50% non-refundable deposit is required to secure each booking, the balance to be paid on arrival.

Open to everyone over the age of 16

Application Form

Download an information and application form

Hours

• Monday to Saturday (closed Sunday)
• 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM
  

Types of Activity
    Preparing dinosaur fossils requires patience,
    a good eye, and a steady hand. Activities include:

• Mechanical preparation of bones using small pneumatic scribes and/or rotary burrs

• Repair and consolidation of specimens

• Sieving and sorting matrix for microfossils

Volunteer and Public Liability Insurance
As a participant you will be known as a ‘Volunteer Fossil Preparator.’ While in transit to and from Winton and whilst volunteering in the AAOD Prep Lab, you will be covered by our AAOD Volunteer Insurance Policy. Please note, participants over 80 years of age are not covered by this policy. We reccommend you are privately insured before applying.

You must notify the Volunteer Supervisor or a member of AAOD Management immediately if any injury occurs whilst acting as a volunteer for the AAOD Museum. An incident report must be completed as soon as possible after the incident has occurred.

Qualify as an Honorary Technician (optional)
Fossil preparation participants can qualify as an Honorary Technician following the completion of ten days preparation (days do not need to be consecutive). Honoraries are able to participate free of charge after a refresher induction fee of $60 per year.

Only two Honorary Technician positions are guaranteed at any one time during peak tourist season (May 1 to September 30). Positions are allocated on a "first-in" basis. More positions will be available during off-peak times. To qualify, participants are first assessed by an AAOD Senior Technician. Assessment criteria include:

• Standard of work
• Ability to follow instructions
• Ability to work in a team environment
  

Intellectual Property (IP)
Photos, video, audio and digital recordings of volunteers may be used to publicise AAOD programs.

Media representatives may be present at times and if there are any concerns about this please advise the Volunteer Supervisor.

Participants are able to take photos, however these are to be for personal use only. Photo’s cannot be published without the consent of AAOD Management.