Burwood: Barn Assistant

Barn Assistant

 

Education Centre

 

Supervisor

 Barn Animal Care Team Leader and Barn Animal Attendant

Location

 Burwood

Time Commitment

 Fortnightly 3.5 hr morning shift (8.30am – 12pm) or 3 hr afternoon shift (1pm – 4pm) for a minimum 6 months. Shifts available Monday to Sunday.

Please note – as the availability of weekend shifts is limited, we are particularly keen to seek volunteers who are available on weekdays.

Date Revised

 November 2024

Approved by

 Volunteer Program Team

 

About us

 

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Victoria) is a non-government, community-based charity that works to prevent cruelty to animals by actively promoting their care and protection.
RSPCA Victoria was established in Melbourne in 1871. Since this time, the RSPCA has become Australia’s leading animal welfare charity.

 

Volunteers are an integral part of the RSPCA team. They play an active and vital role in helping to support our work to improve the welfare of animals and protect them from cruelty and neglect. Volunteering involves commitment, dedication and passion.

 

 

 

Role Purpose

 

Education plays a pivotal role in achieving the RSPCA Victoria’s vision of “ending cruelty to all animals”. The Barn is an integral component of our education program, with the animals and their stories being used to educate youth on animal welfare. The Animal Attendants ensure a clean and comfortable environment for the RSPCA Victoria’s permanent residents, a group of farm animals that include ponies, goats, sheep, rabbits, cats, guinea pigs and chickens. Volunteers also ensure that animals in the barn program receive a high standard of animal care, including feeding animals and cleaning pens; as well as assist animal attendants with socializing the barn animals as required for the Education program.

 

 

Key Responsibilities

 

The Barn Assistant Volunteer will be responsible for the following activities:

  • Assisting staff in the general cleaning and maintenance of the animal enclosures, yards and paddocks
  • Cleaning of barn areas as requested, including quarantine area where poultry are housed
  • Feeding small animals and on occasion, large animals
  • Occasional grooming of various small and large animals
  • Observing animals for any behavioural changes, signs of illness and reporting this promptly to staff
  • Assisting with animal socialisation to ensure animals are prepared for the education program
  • Handling animals (small and sometimes large) in all areas of the barn/paddocks as instructed by animal attendant.

 

Please note:

 

This role will include working with animals (small and large) both indoors and outdoors (regardless of weather conditions) and the tasks allocated to a volunteer per shift will vary depending upon the needs of the barn.

 

 

 

 

OLUNTEER ROLE PROF

 

Requirements

 

To be successful in this role, the volunteer will possess the following necessary skills and attributes:

 

Essential:

  • Experience handling and/or caring for livestock (including large animals) or previous RSPCA Volunteer Kennels experience for the past 6 months
  • Ability to read animal behaviour and an understanding of manual handling techniques, to ensure the safe handling of animals
  • Experience and desire to work with an array of animals, particularly rabbits, guinea pigs and chickens
  • High level verbal communication skills - notifying the animal attendant in a timely manner of any animal health or behaviour concerns. The role requires interaction with a variety of staff and to work as part of the wider RSPCA Victoria animal care team at times
  • General fitness for moderately active shifts, including regular bending and squatting
  • The ability to work independently, including the ability to follow written and verbal instructions provided and to work independently during allocated volunteer shift
  • Strong attention to detail, particularly when undertaking cleaning tasks
  • An understanding of manual handling techniques, including the ability to lift objects of up to 10 kgs safely.

 

 

Desirable:

  • Relevant qualification in a related animal field (Cert II or above) advantageous
  • High level of demonstrated experience working with larger animals advantageous

 

 

Training & Support Requirements

 

The following training and support will be provided:

  • Online induction modules including animal handling
  • On the job training with Animal Attendant staff
  • Ongoing opportunity to discuss your role and any concerns with the supervising staff member, Animal Care Team Leader or the Volunteer Program Team

 

 

 

Other Requirements


RSPCA Victoria is serious about providing a safe and healthy environment for volunteers, employees and the animals in our care. If you are interested in this role, we will need to collect the following information prior to you commencing in the role (see checked items below). By signing this Role Profile, you give consent to RSPCA to conduct any checks as necessary.

National Police Check

Screen for animal cruelty offenses

Drivers Licence

Working with Children Check

Medical - proof of tetanus vaccination

CV / Resume

Identity check

Other as noted:

 

 

 

 

 

               RSPCA Victoria volunteers contribute vital support to ending cruelty for all animals.