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Wacol Animal Care Campus
Volunteer at our Wacol Shelter and Experience the Joy of Making a Pawsitive Difference!
At RSPCA Qld, we offer a range of volunteer roles that put you right at the heart of animal care. From hands-on work with dogs, cats, and farmyard friends to helping behind the scenes, there’s something for everyone.
These roles are rewarding—but they’re not all cuddles! Keeping animals happy and healthy means plenty of cleaning and physical work. Rain or shine, weekday or public holiday, we need dedicated volunteers every single day.
If you're keen to volunteer in an animal care role, please have a look at our current vacancies below and submit an application.
Please note we are unable to provide work experience or offer any student placements (exceptions being placements organised through university or tertiary programs).
Orientations are now being held online at this location.
Once you have been accepted into our program, you will be required to complete a series of online orientation modules. After finishing these modules, you will need to book an onsite Meet & Tour.
The Meet & Tour is approximately 1 hour and is currently held only on the following days:
- Mondays – 9am – 10am (Fortnightly)
Due to current staff shortages, we’re unfortunately unable to provide any other days at this time. Any new days we can provide, we will update this notice.
Animal Care & Shelter Support
Animal Experience Driver | Wacol
Take the Driver's Seat in Animal Care!
Rev up your passion for animals and make a real impact on their care and welfare with this rewarding volunteer role. We're on the lookout for Volunteer Drivers who can hop behind the wheel and take our furry friends on an unforgettable journey. Strap in, because it's time to hit the road!
As a Volunteer Driver, your mission is to transport animals from the RSPCA Campus to other shelters and partnered locations in our trusty RSPCA Animal Transfer vehicle. Safety is your top priority as you chauffeur these precious passengers, representing the RSPCA in style with our branded vehicle. You'll also collaborate with various agencies to find our animals loving homes, making connections along the way.
Here's what's in it for you:
🚗 Gain valuable insights into how the RSPCA operates – knowledge is horsepower!
🤝 Work alongside a friendly team and meet fellow animal enthusiasts – you're in good company!
🐾 Sharpen your animal handling skills – become a pro at caring for our beloved creatures!
🏠 Make a difference and experience the joy of helping animals find their forever homes – your heart will soar!
Your road trip duties will include:
📦 Crate animals properly and load them safely for transportation – we're all about comfort and security!
📞 Coordinate with staff at affiliated organisations and businesses for animal drop-offs and pick-ups – teamwork makes the dream work!
🚦 Ensure the well-being of the animals in your care during the journey – safety first, always!
To succeed on this mission, you'll need:
🚙 A courteous and considerate driving style – road manners are the key to a smooth ride!
🗣️ Good communication skills – you'll be the friendly voice representing the RSPCA!
📜 A clean, valid driver's license
🚦 Strong driving skills and the ability to navigate traffic
💪 Physical fitness and the ability to lift up to 10kg
🐾 Good animal handling skills
When can you hit the road?
🗓️ Shifts are from 9am to 3pm, but be prepared for a bit of flexibility due to unpredictable traffic conditions – it's all part of the adventure! At the moment we are looking for volunteers for Wednesdays and Fridays!
⏰ We request a weekly commitment – Full orientation and training will be provided.
Important Reminders:
Before embarking on your animal-handling adventure, please ensure you have an up-to-date Tetanus vaccination. Safety is our top priority for both you and our furry friends!
To rev up your volunteer journey or for more information, please contact our Volunteering team at volunteering@rspcaqld.org.au.
Don't wait! Start your engines and apply now below – let's drive change for animals in need!
Laundry and Donation Sorting Assistant | Wacol
Spin, Sort, and Support!
Please note, due to high demand for Animal Care, volunteers applying for this role & wishing to transfer to Animal Care are required to complete a minimum three-month commitment in Laundry & Donations before a transfer will be considered.
What to expect
If you are passionate about animals and animal welfare and looking for a unique and worthwhile way to contribute, this rewarding volunteer position could be for you.
As a Volunteer Laundry and Donations Assistant, you are responsible for ensuring all areas of the shelter have clean linen, bedding, towels and anything else required to provide a clean and comfortable environment for our animals. Whether it is an animal that has been subjected to abuse and cruelty, a stray or lost or recently surrendered animal, this role is truly pivotal to the effective operation of the shelter. Whilst this role is not the most exciting in comparison to some of the other roles available, it is essential. In addition, part of this role also includes bringing appropriate items that have been donated from the donations area down to the laundry to be sorted and put neatly away so the stock is constantly replenished as damaged items are discarded.
What are the benefits?
🤝 Working in a friendly team and meeting new people
🏭 Experience working in an industrial laundry
❤️ The opportunity to make a difference and know you are keeping our animals comfortable
What are the tasks?
🗑️ Discarding heavily soiled, damaged or ripped items
👕 Hanging washed items on the lines to dry
🧺 Folding and putting away clean laundry ready for use
🛏️ Washing and drying ‘special’ items such as dog beds, toys, leads and collars
📦 Liaising with Op Shop sorting staff and transporting appropriate donated animal care items from the donations area to the laundry
🧸 Sorting and putting away donated items
What skills & characteristics do I need?
🔥 Committed hard worker
🏋️ Physically fit and able to lift 10kg
🗣️ Good communication skills
When can I volunteer?
🕢 7:00am – 12:00pm or 12:00pm – 4:30pm
Important Reminders:
It is a requirement that before handling animals at the RSPCA you have an up to date Tetanus vaccination.
If you are ready to join the RSPCA Qld team, please click "Fill in an application" above. For further information, please contact us at volunteering@rspcaqld.org.au
Animal Care Assistant | Wacol
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Join the Fun and Make a Pawsitive Difference!
Looking for a rewarding way to spend your time? Love animals and want to make a meaningful impact on their lives? Look no further! We have an exciting volunteer opportunity that's perfect for animal enthusiasts like you. Get ready for an amazing experience that will leave you with a wagging tail!
What to expect
The Animal Care Assistant role would suit applicants that love animals and are committed to improving their welfare; people who wish to experience hands-on work with animals and want to learn about the care and health requirements for future work in the industry; and anyone looking for a worthwhile way to spend their time. It can be physically demanding and a lot of the time dirty, and you’ll be outside in winter and summer weather. You might feel emotional about the animals you’re working with and may find this difficult, but ultimately the reward is that you’re making a huge, positive difference to their lives – and yours!
What are the benefits?
🐶 Animal handling experience with domestic animals including dogs, cats, puppies, kittens, livestock (large and small), pocket pets and domestic birds
🎓 Hands-on training from our shelter team
📚 Opportunity to gain new skills and learn about the animal care industry
👥 Becoming part of a friendly and passionate new community
What are the tasks?
💪 The Animal Care Assistant role is a very physical, hands-on volunteering position, and every task (no matter how big or small) makes a lasting difference to the animals in our care. While there is some time during shifts for supervised interaction with animals, a typical shift includes the following tasks:
🧹 Daily cleaning of animal pens, including removing dirty bedding, hosing or wiping enclosures, sweeping and scooping waste, cleaning litter trays, and providing clean bedding and toys
🧼 Hygiene control, including appropriate sanitisation and hand-washing, preventing cross-contamination, and ensuring animals are stocked with food, water, bedding and toys
🐾 Assisting with animal socialisation, enrichment and exercise (training provided by shelter staff before independent participation)
🧺 Transporting bins of soiled linen, towels and bedding to the laundry and returning clean items to designated areas
🌀 Assisting with general laundry duties such as loading washing machines and dryers, unloading clean items and folding laundry
🧽 Helping to maintain a clean, tidy and presentable Animal Care Campus environment
❤️ Following RSPCA philosophy of positive reinforcement in all animal interactions
What skills and characteristics do I need?
🐕 Confidence working with domestic animals and/or a willingness to learn in a shelter environment
🔊 Ability to cope with increased noise levels and hear signs of animal distress or warning behaviours
✅ Ability to complete all tasks independently
🏋️ Physically fit, able to lift 10kg, and stand for long periods (this is a fast-paced role requiring effective time management)
🖐️ High level of manual dexterity with the ability to multitask
🔍 Strong attention to detail and ability to accurately follow and comprehend instructions independently
🤝 Enjoy working within a team environment
🗣️ Excellent communication skills
🔥 Hard-working and committed to the RSPCA
📄 To help applicants fully understand the role requirements, please read the Essential Capabilities of an Animal Care Volunteer document before applying. Applicants who are unable to meet these essential requirements will unfortunately be unable to progress further.
When can I volunteer?
We are seeking reliable volunteers who will be able to commit to a minimum of 1 x four hour shift per week for a minimum of 3 months to ensure consistency and continuity with the animals. Due to the variety of animals we work with and the level of training involved, your first 3 months will be considered a probationary period. This is so we can ensure the role is a good fit for you and so we can ensure you feel confident with the tasks involved.
🐕 Dog Shifts:
🕢 Monday to Sunday — 7:30am–11:30am or 11:45pm–3:30pm
🐱 Cat Shifts:
🕢 Monday to Sunday — 7:30am–11:30am or 11:45pm–3:30pm
🐰 Pocket Pet & Farmyard Shifts:
🕢 Monday to Sunday — 7:30am–11:30am or 11:45pm–3:30pm
Please note - If you are applying for a role that involves working with Dogs or Cats, you will be required to attend a 'first day' training shift before you commence with your regular weekly shift. We currently run these training sessions every Tuesday and you will be automatically assigned to one of these once you confirm your onsite orientation date.
Important Reminders:
Before handling animals at the RSPCA, please ensure you have an up-to-date Tetanus vaccination. Safety first!
If you are ready to join the RSPCA Qld team, please click "Fill in an application" above. For further information, please contact us at volunteering@rspcaqld.org.au
Gardener & Maintenance | Wacol
Shape Spaces for Paws & People!
What to expect
🛠️ A varied role with tasks ranging from general maintenance around the centre to grounds work such as mowing, whipper snipping and watering to keep the grounds looking their best
What are the benefits?
What skills and characteristics do I need?
✅ Reliable, punctual, organised and professional
🤝 Able to work both independently and as part of a team
🏋️ Physically fit with the ability to lift up to 10kg when required
When can I volunteer?
⏳ A commitment of one shift per week is requested
Important Reminders:
It is a requirement that before handling animals at the RSPCA you have an up-to-date Tetanus vaccination.
If you are ready to join the RSPCA Qld team, please click "Fill in an application" above. For further information, please contact us at volunteering@rspcaqld.org.au
