Palaeo Workshops

Location: Winton QLD, Australia

Season: March 11, 2027 to October 14, 2027

Session Dates: Limited spots available: 11–16 March 2027 7-12 October 2027 14-19 October 2027

Application Deadline: October 14, 2027

Deadline Type: Rolling

Website: http://www.australianageofdinosaurs.com

Program Type:
Field School

RPA Certified:
No

Affiliation:
Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History

Project Director:
David Elliott OAM

Project Description:

The Palaeo Workshops, run by the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History in Winton, Queensland, offer participants the opportunity to get hands-on experience in fossil preparation, microfossil sorting and collection management, working alongside Museum staff in the Fossil Preparation Laboratory.

The program

Join the Museum team for an immersive, hands-on palaeontology experience. Learn how to prepare fossils for display, sieve for microfossils and catalogue specimens to the Museum’s high standards.

• Day 1 – Thursday Arrive at Winton Airport via Rex Airlines (~1pm). Grocery shop and settle in. Self-drive option is also available. In the evening, enjoy a Deep-Time Astronomy tour at the Gondwana Stars Observatory.

• Day 2 – Friday Begin with an Ultimate Dinosaur tour of the Museum, followed by a Lab and safety orientation introducing you to fossils and Outback geology. Then get hands-on with preparation and stabilisation techniques, building practical skills through guided practice.

• Day 3 – Saturday Spend the day sieving and recovering microfossils, including sieving, sorting, and identifying specimens under the microscope.

• Day 4 – Sunday Enjoy a full day of fossil preparation in the Fossil Preparation Laboratory with Museum staff.

• Day 5 – Monday Spend the day in collection management, getting hands-on with cataloguing, labelling, specimen photography and documentation alongside Museum staff, and learning how specimens are carefully recorded and curated for long-term preservation.

• Day 6 – Tuesday From Lab to Exhibition – enjoy a guided tour of the Exhibition Development Facility (not open to the public), with optional lunch and shopping in Winton before transferring to Winton Airport for departure at approximately 3.45pm.

Period(s) of Occupation: Cretaceous Period

Project Size: 1-24 participants

Minimum Length of Stay for Volunteers: Six days, five nights

Minimum Age: 18

Experience Required: Open to citizen scientists 16 years and older. No prior fossil experience required. Limited to small groups to ensure hands-on training. Accommodation included onsite at the Maloney Lodge Precinct.

Room and Board Arrangements:
WORKSHOP PRICING The experience includes five nights’ accommodation onsite at the Maloney Lodge Precinct. Options include King Single rooms with shared bathrooms or Queen rooms with private ensuites. Shared facilities feature two kitchens, outdoor dining areas and a barbecue. - King single room (shared bathroom): $990ea - Queen room with private ensuite (Min two people): $900ea WHAT'S INCLUDED - Airport shuttle to/from Winton Airport, including first-day grocery run. - All safety gear, tools and materials provided. - Certificate of participation and a copy of the latest AAOD Journal. Not included: airfares, meals and meal preparation – participants will shop for groceries on arrival and prepare their own meals onsite.

Academic Credit:
Not offered