Clean Up Australia and Boost Your Career

Each year, Australians gather to clean up our parks, bushland, beaches, waterways and neighbourhoods as part of Clean Up Australia Day—a grassroots movement that began in 1989 and continues to be one of the country’s most impactful community initiatives.

Whether you’re picking up rubbish in your local park or coordinating a community clean-up, taking part in Clean Up Australia Day isn’t just good for the planet—it’s also good for your resume, your career confidence, and your sense of purpose.

When Is Clean Up Australia Day 2025?

This year, Clean Up Australia Day will be held on Sunday, 2 March 2025, with separate dates for schools and businesses earlier in the week. You can register as a volunteer, site organiser, or join an existing team by visiting cleanup.org.au.

Why Volunteering Looks Great on Your Resume

Volunteering for environmental or community-based causes is more than just a feel-good activity. It also:

• Shows you’re socially responsible and community-minded
• Demonstrates initiative and leadership skills
• Highlights your teamwork, organisation, and problem-solving abilities
• Fills career gaps with meaningful activity that recruiters value

Employers increasingly appreciate applicants who bring a well-rounded perspective, especially in industries that prioritise environmental, social, and governance (ESG) awareness.

Volunteering could even help you stand out in competitive fields like environmental science, community services, or public policy and advocacy.

From Rubbish to a Rewarding Career

If you’re passionate about sustainability and environmental justice, volunteering could be your first step into a purpose-driven career. Australia’s growing green economy is creating roles across a wide range of fields including:

• Environmental science and sustainability
• Environmental law and policy
• Environmental and civil engineering
• Environmental education and outreach
• Eco-conscious trades and construction

Whether you want to work in the field, in policy, or in education, there’s an environmental career pathway that aligns with your values and skillset.

The Origins of Clean Up Australia Day

The movement began when Australian yachtsman Ian Kiernan participated in a solo around-the-world yacht race in the 1980s. Shocked by the volume of pollution in our oceans, he returned home determined to make a difference—starting with a clean-up of Sydney Harbour in 1989.

That local action quickly grew into a national event, and eventually into the global Clean Up the World campaign, supported by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

To this day, Clean Up Australia Day continues to raise awareness of waste, pollution and the role we all play in creating a cleaner, safer planet for future generations.

Fast Facts About Clean Up Australia Day

• Over 20 million Australians have participated since the campaign began
• Plastic pollution—including cigarette butts and food wrappers—is consistently the most collected waste
• Volunteers last year removed an estimated 15,000 tonnes of rubbish from urban and regional sites.

Want to get involved? Register at Clean Up Australia, or search local volunteer opportunities via Go Volunteer.

Looking for a Green Career Path?

If your weekend clean-up sparks something deeper, why not explore formal study in environmental and sustainability-related fields? Here are a few study areas to consider:

• Environmental science and management
• Public policy and climate advocacy
• Sustainability and conservation
• Green engineering and infrastructure

With Australia’s focus on achieving net-zero emissions and building a circular economy, now is the perfect time to turn passion into profession.