AusTurtle Inc. was established in June 2004 to promote sea turtle conservation and research in northern Australia. We are a non‑profit organisation run by scientists, students, and community members, registered in the Northern Territory and operating under the model constitution of the Northern Territory Associations Act 2004.
Sea turtle monitoring at Njulbitjik (Bare Sand Island) has been carried out by Mick since 1986, and the work continued formally under the AusTurtle name from 1996. In 2004, AusTurtle became a registered organisation, allowing the long‑term research program to expand and strengthen.
We work in partnership with the Kenbi people, the Traditional Owners of Njulbitjik (Bare Sand Island), to monitor the two sea turtle species that nest in the Northern Territory: Flatback turtles and Olive Ridleys.
The purpose of AusTurtle is to support sea turtle research and conservation; contribute to the National Sea Turtle Recovery Plan through research, threat abatement and education; and protect sea turtle habitats and their associated biota. We maintain the long‑term research program at Bare Sand Island, participate in sea turtle management and conservation discussions at local, regional, national and international levels, undertake fundraising to support this work, and collaborate with other organisations and institutions to secure funding and advance shared conservation goals.