Sustainable Tourism
We are a tour operator with the desire to make Cairns better because
we exist. We believe that fostering a positive attitude and appreciation
of sustainable environmental practice is vital to the development of
our student customers, will contribute towards the health of our
community, and reduce our impact on the Earth. Each one of our
tours includes the perspectives of Australia’s Traditional Owners,
an option for one or more community service projects, and
one-of-a-kind activities focused on sustainability and conservation
that exist nowhere else.
We have:
- Supported the education of nearly 10,000 children, the majority
of whom are girls - Planted thousands of native trees in our region
- Donated 5% of our nett profits to local charities – including over
$70,000 to the Fitzroy Island Turtle Rehab Centre alone - Cleaned up hundreds of kilos of waste in our waterways and on
our beaches - Employed dozens of local people and offered flexible hours,
employee volunteer and mental wellness incentives - Offset our carbon emissions since 2008 including all coach travel

“This tour increased my awareness of my personal responsibility. I learned in ways both big and small [Small World Journeys is] doing what they can to help communities, the environment, and sustainability. I will step up in ways that are available to me and speak up for equality for peoples and the saving of the environment.”
– Craig Lore, student, San Jose State University, USA (Jan 2022)
Awards and Certificates
Small World has always seen sustainability as both a necessity and a differentiator.
We are committed to continuously improving our systems to reduce our impact, which entails
reviewing our operations, benchmarking and setting goals. We strive to be a leader in best practices.
Recognition for our efforts have has included awards at the local and state level such as
The Cairns Chamber of Commerce 2021 Business Excellence Award for Sustainability,
Tourism Tropical North Queensland’s 2023 Sustainability Award, and the bronze and silver-level award
for the Steve Irwin Sustainable Tourism Award at the 2024 and 2021 Queensland Tourism Industry Council Awards, respectively.
“SWJ has demonstrated genuine sustainability across all four pillars of sustainability and not just on a superficial level.
It’s really impressive to see how strongly committed they are. ”
–Jessica McNulty, teacher, Arthur Phillip High School, Sydney NSW (’23, ’24, ’25)
Our Sustainability Programs and Initiatives
Awards & Certifications
Small World has always seen sustainability as both a necessity and a differentiator.
We are thrilled to be recognised for our efforts in sustainable tourism,
which has included awards at the local and state level such as
The Cairns Chamber of Commerce 2021 Business Excellence Award for Sustainability,
Tourism Tropical North Queensland’s 2023 Sustainability Award, and the silver award
for the Sustainable Tourism Award at the 2021 Queensland Tourism Industry Council Awards.
and potential barriers for people with disabilities. For example, we detail information about accessible toilets whenever possible, and the availability of quiet space for our customers who are neurodivergent. In addition, we have added an accessibility menu to our website, so that people with disabilities such as vision impairment can more easily navigate our website. Supporting The UN Sustainable Development Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities (Reduce inequality within and among countries)
individually wrapped. Second, we give all of our customers reusable branded aluminium water bottles and branded calico bags with the request that they refrain from using single use plastics on their trip. Customers are also advised of our policy on the trip website we create for them. Third, we put pressure on our suppliers to be as plastic free as possible – from our caterers to our accommodation providers. Supporting The UN Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production (Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns)
discover the meaning of totems. All students are introduced to concepts of sustainability by Traditional Owners through a video we created on their trip’s website called Aboriginal Sustainability. To date this video has had over 15,000 views. Supporting The UN Sustainable Development Goal 16: Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions (Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development)
(MHFA) with 3 staff members so far earning the certificate. At each of our weekly meetings, we begin with a “mental health check in”. Office staff are invited to share their state of mind, express fragility or lowness, and request support from the team. This is to reduce any stigma in the office around poor mental health. Psychologist support is also offered to all employees after a workplace stressful event or emergency. Supporting The UN Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health & Well-Being (Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages)
you can be sure that we offer quality interpretation; we’re making real contributions to conservation; we are protecting our unique wildlife and endangered species; we are supporting and engaging our local community; and we are helping to preserve Australian Indigenous cultures.
created over 1,000 packs with both donated items and items Small World Journeys purchased, including bamboo toothbrushes and wheatgrass shaving razors. On student’s trip packing list, each group is asked if they have hygiene items around their home (shampoo, toothpaste, etc.) that could be donated for our Hygiene Helper Packs. These packs are donated to Rosie’s Friends on the Street, Hambledon House Community Centre, Cairns Flood Relief (in December 2023) and Gindaja in Yarrabah, an Indigenous community just south of Cairns. Supporting The UN Sustainable Development Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities (Reduce inequality within and among countries)
or whole day to the charity of their choice. They can do this during regular work hours, or if done on the weekends, earn time-in-lieu. We have found this incentive promotes our team’s appreciation of and contribution to our community; both people and planet benefit. Additionally, the Small World Journeys team occasionally participates in community service projects as a group. Already in this 23-24 financial year, staff have volunteered over 40 hours in the Cairns community. Supporting The UN Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health & Well-Being (Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages)
activities, and at the same time working to combat islamophobia. We also create and give comfort packs to people escaping the cycle of alcohol and drug abuse through Gindaja, an Indigenous community-controlled organisation dedicated to improving the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Supporting The UN Sustainable Development Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth (Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all) Goal 5: Gender Equality (Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls)
tents and sleeping pads after camping trips (something that is challenging for us due to lack of dry open space at our depot). This work gives opportunities to people with disabilities that they might not otherwise have. In 2023, nearly $4,000 went to The Endeavour Foundation. Additionally, we have engaged with Tourism Taster Cairns for recruiting, which finds employment for people with disabilities. Supporting The UN Sustainable Development Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth (Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all)
World Journeys’ commitment to proactive sustainability in the region. We are proud to take part in the internationally recognised EarthCheck Evaluate program. Developed by EarthCheck—a Brisbane-based consultancy and global leader in sustainability—the program uses internationally accepted standards to deliver a comprehensive review of business operations, including waste management and energy use. Its ultimate goal is to help organisations reduce resource consumption and lower operating costs. Participating organisations are awarded an EarthCheck Earth Rating out of 5 to recognise their achievement level. We are proud that in the first year of application with EarthCheck, we’ve been awarded 4 out of 5 “earths”!
We donate $26 for every group visiting the rainforest to fund tree planting and maintenance, and also use Reforest for their annual carbon offsetting based on emissions data calculated via EarthCheck. Through a dashboard and shareable links, students and teachers can view the tangible impact of their contributions, supporting environmental education and engagement. In 2023, we also donated a little over $800 to Rainforest Rescue. Rainforest Rescue works to re-establish degraded rainforest tracts in areas of the Daintree through seed-collection and propagation, planting, maintenance, and on-the-ground restoration programs. Thanks in part to our donations, 11 properties have been connected in the Forest Creek Wildlife Corridor, providing protected habitat for the rare and threatened creatures that rely on the Daintree for their survival such as Southern Cassowaries, Spotted-Tail Quolls and Bennett’s Tree Kangaroos. Supporting The UN Sustainable Development Goal 13: Climate Action(Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts) and Goal 15: Life on Land (Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss)
In our orientation, we also encourage our guests to only take what they can eat to prevent food waste. Fruit, snacks, and camping food gets donated to Anglicare, Rosies Friends on the Street, Oz Harvest or Street Level Youth Care. Leftover food from student meals and snacks that cannot be saved go directly into our compost bins and into our worm farm. Supporting The UN Sustainable Development Goal 1: No Poverty (End poverty in all its forms everywhere), Goal 2: Zero Hunger (End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture) and Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production (Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns)
plastic and turns it into pellets that can be moulded and extruded to produce new products. According to ABC News, it’s estimated Australia uses more than 70 billion pieces of soft plastic a year. Most of it still ends up in landfill or blows into streets and waterways, polluting our rivers and oceans. Supporting The UN Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production (Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns)
to reef conservation began with sponsoring a “coral tree” when RRF was first established. RRF cultivates coral fragments in ocean-based nurseries to support the reef’s natural recovery following increasingly frequent and severe climate-related disturbances. Through this work, RRF continues to develop innovative methods to help the reef adapt to warming ocean conditions. Supporting The UN Sustainable Development Goal 11: Life Below Water (Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development)
In the 24-25 financial year so far, we have cleaned 30 kgs of landfill and 4 kgs of recyclables from the mangroves. Supporting The UN Sustainable Development Goal 11: Life Below Water (Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development)
are not a travel agency and our programs do not include flights, all of our customers travel by plane to participate in our programs. We are asking our customers on our Booking Form to list their flight path so we can calculate the carbon footprint of their flights. We then will submit this data to EarthCheck and pay to offset it. Supporting The UN Sustainable Development Goal 13: Climate Action (Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts)
be offset through GreenPower. Our company car – an electric Nissan Leaf- is powered by this solar energy after we installed an EV charging station at our premises. Supporting The UN Sustainable Development Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy (Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all).
School (a low socio-economic area of Cairns) Year 6 top students in science. Small World Journeys also donated $250 this year to help Edge Hill State Primary School (Cairns) get a cold water bubbler in 2024. Supporting The UN Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education (Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all)
is based in the Cairns region. Past recipients have included the Tolga Bat Hospital, the Endeavour Foundation, YAPS Animal Care, Mayi Market (Cape York Partnership), Kuranda Envirocare, and Daintree Life. Small World Journeys provides vital reliable funds that help continue to strengthen the Cairns region’s capacity for conservation and ensure the voices of our community and environment are strong and independent. Supporting The UN Sustainable Development Goal 11: Life Below Water (Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development) and Goal 15: Life on Land (Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss)
non-government environmental organisation for Far North Queensland. The centre works to protect the environment by enhancing the capacity of local groups and community members to act for conservation, strengthening networks within Far North Queensland, facilitating region-wide cooperation to identify and coordinate action on issues of regional significance, and when necessary, engaging in campaigns that are strategically important for the region. Supporting The UN Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land (Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss) and Goal 13: Climate Action (Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts).
one of our groups visit the reef. In 2024 alone, our customers surveyed over 2,000 corals through primary data collection at the reef. This data has then been put into CoralWatch’s global database which monitors reefs all around the world. This is just one way we are seeking to raise awareness about the climate crisis and its effect on this World Heritage site. Supporting The UN Sustainable Development Goal 11: Life Below Water (Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development)
Myola frog is endangered. Our customers have planted thousands of trees here – over 350 in 2023 alone. This has helped regenerate an area that was degraded and served as a vital riparian zone to countless rainforest species. Our donations (nearly $8,000 in 2023-24) go to maintenance of the trees long after our customers have gone, and we are proud to say that a large tract of land is now self-sustaining and no longer requires staff to nurture the trees. Supporting The UN Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land (Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss) and Goal 13: Climate Action (Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts)
and learn about the environmental and social benefits of reusable sanitary products. The pads are then donated to the Indigenous Health Unit of Queensland Health or to Gindaja in the community of Yarrabah to provide girls and women with free, reusable pads. In 2024, students painstakingly assembled and sewed 46 of these pads. (“Moon Sick” is a term from Papua New Guinea to refer to a woman’s time of the month… The moon sick care bag initiative was founded by Gay Muller originally to give girls and women in Papua New Guinea access to basic feminine hygiene products). Supporting The UN Sustainable Development Goal 5: Gender Equality (Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls)
in action: it saves water, it overcomes the challenges of soil, it allows growing in places where things otherwise would not grow, it has a natural and constant fertiliser, no waste is produced, and it reduces “food miles” (the distance food has to travel to get to your plate). Students learn to construct their own “mini-system” and which are donated to people in the Cairns community who need them or use them as teaching tools. In addition, we have two larger systems at our office. The herbs and vegetables are harvested and eaten by our staff and wildflowers attract native bees and butterflies. Supporting The UN Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger (End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture)
Warm Hearts Merry Souls celebration in Cairns. This grand lunch is free for people in the community who are alone or lonely, and we travel around town each year to bring people to this special gathering.
bottles and tents for those whose homes were destroyed in the flooding. Additionally, Small World Journeys made a donation to Mayi Market (a not-for-profit Indigenous enterprise delivering fresh food to remote Cape York communities) in order to get fresh food to the flooded community of Wujal Wujal. Supporting The UN Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger (End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture) and Goal 3: Good Health & Well-Being (Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages)
our
Vision
Vision
To be Australia’s premier provider of education for youth outside the classroom.
How We Have Committed to People, Profitability & Planet
Through financial and in-kind support, we have revitalised areas like the mangroves systems and riparian zones that host some of our region’s unique biodiversity. Our tours have also benefitted some of its most vulnerable people: Indigenous women, a Palestinian refugee, young people with disabilities and people living on the street.
Our tours encourage young people to deeply appreciate and support the community they are travelling in. Customers learn how to have fewer negative impacts and how to enjoy the beauty of this region without wrecking it. By travelling with us, young people transform from “regular” tourists to travellers who contribute and work towards a better world.
Through our tours and operations we are working to promote these UN Sustainable Development Goals:
Who we sponsor and support (and sometimes kiss)
Our goal is to leave our community better because we exist, not despite it. We want to ensure the sustainability of the communities in which our guests travel. This is why Small World Journeys has committed at least 5% of net profits each year to support non-profit community and environmental organisations. We also give kisses for free.
Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners
We humbly acknowledge Aboriginal People and Torres Strait Islander People as the first inhabitants of Australia and acknowledge Traditional Owners of the lands where we work and our groups travel, which include the Yirrganydji, Yidinji, Kuku Yalanji, Gimuy Walubara Yidinji and Djabugay people.
We were inspired by the beautiful artwork of local indigenous artist Colin Higgins – painter and musician from Yarrabah. We commissioned Colin for the use of his painting (symbolising the world in the dry season) and are grateful for his contribution to Small World Journeys















