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Foster Care
Foster carers provide temporary homes for animals in the care of RSPCA who may need respite from the shelter environment, support to recover from an illness or just extra TLC until they are ready to find their forever home.
How do you become a foster carer?
- Fill in an Application Form so we can get to know you.
- Complete our NEW 1 Hour online training.
- Take part in a quick 20 minute virtual property check.
What type of animals are available to foster?
Please review foster regions below for specific priority needs across the state
- Puppies and kittens that are too young for rehoming.
- Animals recovering from illness or injury before being available for adoption.
- Animals requiring behaviour support work.
- Animals that need a safe haven due to a Domestic Violence.
- Animals that have to be evacuated from an emergency situation e.g. floods, bushfires, cyclone.
- Home Ever After animals that are waiting for their owner to return from hospital or whose owner has passed away and are waiting to be rehomed.
Important things to think about when considering Fostering:
- The RSPCA will work hard to ensure they make the best foster matches for you, based on your current situation and the animals needs. Placing the right animal, with the right carer, in the right situation is our priority.
- Being flexible with what animals you can open your home to, opens you to the most potential for placement.
- The Foster length greatly varies from animal to animal depending on their situation, in general most foster lengths are between 2 weeks and 6 months.
- Foster carers must be over 18 and have access to a reliable vehicle/transport.
- Landlord and Body Corporate approvals are required, which can take time to source.
- Current pets in your home must be up to date with vaccinations.
To begin your application process, review the foster regions below.
Foster Positions Available
Inspectorate & Rescue
Currently recruiting volunteers for Townsville and Toowoomba!
Answer the Call of Compassion: Unleash Your Heroic Spirit with RSPCA QLD's Inspectorate & Rescue Team!
Embark on a heroic journey that will touch your soul! Join our Inspectorate & Rescue team and become a lifeline for animals in need. In 2022 alone, a staggering 28,177 creatures received our life-saving assistance through our dedicated Rescue Units. Among them, an astonishing 77% were the magnificent treasures of Australian wildlife—our native birds, possums, koalas, kangaroos, and wallabies.As a Rescue Unit Driver or Rescue Unit Assistant volunteer, you'll be at the forefront of these daring missions, making a tangible impact on the lives of animals in distress.
If being out on the road and rescuing animals is appealing to you, the Rescue Unit Driver or Rescue Unit Assistant volunteer roles might suit you! These roles are also perfectly suited to people who want to volunteer together, such as teaming up with a friend or partner.
Volunteer Positions Available
Wacol Animal Care Campus
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As an animal welfare organisation, RSPCA Qld have a variety of different volunteer roles involving hands-on animal interaction.
These roles are incredibly rewarding, but be warned - keeping animals happy and healthy requires a lot of cleaning! It can be physically demanding, and we need assistance every day of the year - whether it's sunshine or rain, a public holiday or a weekday. Of course, it's not just cleaning; there's plenty of opportunities for enrichment activities too.
Volunteer roles can involve working with:
- Domestic animals (dogs, cats, pocket pets, or farmyard) at one of our Animal Care Centres
- Domestic animals recovering from illness or medical procedures at the Domestic Hospital or clinic
- Wildlife animals recovering or rehabilitating in preparation for release to the wild, or to a wildlife carer for further rehabilitation
- Gardening & Maintenance
- Administration Support and Department roles
If you're keen to volunteer in an animal care role, please have a look at our current vacancies and submit an application.
Animal Care & Shelter Support
Wildlife
Join us in making a wild difference!
Volunteer at our Wildlife Hospital and unlock a world of opportunity. Discover the beauty of native wildlife, deepen your knowledge of daily care, and experience the rewarding environment of an animal hospital. With flexible shifts and a chance to spend time with an array of wild animals, this is your chance to contribute to their well-being. While it can be challenging, the immense satisfaction of transforming lives, both theirs and yours, makes it all worthwhile.
Wildlife Opportunities
Wildlife Vet Pick-Up Driver | Wacol
What to expect
RSPCA Qld deals with an excess of 22,000 wild animals every year. We operate one of the busiest Wildlife Hospitals in Queensland. The Volunteer Wildlife Vet Pick-Up Driver role primarily involves picking up wildlife animals from vet surgeries and taking them to RSPCA Animal Care Centre, in a dedicated RSPCA Animal Transfer vehicle.
You will be exposed to a wide range of species including birds, mammals and reptiles, and will be responsible for the safe transportation of the animals in your care. You will also be a key representative for RSPCA Qld as you drive an RSPCA branded vehicle and liaise with vet surgeries, therefore safety and representing the RSPCA in a positive manner is essential.
In between driving jobs you may be asked to assist with entering animal details in a database, general upkeep of the hospital including sweeping and mopping floors, removing rubbish, washing animals’ water and food bowls, replacing food and water, laundry duties, collecting groceries or prescriptions. This role would best suit a motivated, outgoing individual who is flexible and can adapt to the unpredictable nature of a triage animal hospital.
What are the benefits?
- Close encounters with wildlife
- The opportunity to improve animal handling skills and gain knowledge of the how the RSPCA operates
- Increased awareness of our native wildlife and the issues they face
- The opportunity to make a difference and know you are keeping our animals comfortable
- Becoming part of a friendly team and community
What are the tasks?
The position involves transporting wildlife patients as required and includes:
- Significant driving around the greater Brisbane area using an RSPCA vehicle
- Collecting and transporting animals from vet clinics back to the Wacol Wildlife
- Hospital, or delivering animals to vet clinics for collection
- Liaising with veterinarians at clinics regarding the animals and delivering animals along with the relevant paperwork and medication
- Generally interacting with the public at the wildlife hospital
- In between driving jobs if required, entering animal information into a database, assist with sweeping and mopping floors, removing rubbish, washing animals’ water and food bowls, replacing food and water.
- Communication with RSPCA Wildlife Hospital staff
What skills and characteristics do I need?
- Have a valid and clean driver's license and the ability to use a GPS to navigate
- Confidence in working with a variety of animals, including reptiles
- Willingness to learn, wildlife knowledge or experience an advantage
- Be physically fit (able to lift 10kg) and comfortable in a wide variety of outdoor situations
- Attention to detail and able to accurately listen and follow instructions
- Enjoy working in a team environment
- Able to be flexible and adaptable
- Excellent communication skills
When can I volunteer?
- Current Vacancies: Monday to Saturday, 8am to 12pm, 12pm - 4pm & 4pm-8pm
- Please be aware that due to the nature of this role we ask you to be flexible to an extent with your shift time – it can be difficult to judge the length of a particular trip due to changeable traffic or weather conditions
- We request a minimum commitment of 1 x shift per fortnight for a minimum of 3 months. Orientation and animal training will be provided.
PLEASE NOTE: It is a requirement that before handling animals at the RSPCA you have an up-to-date Tetanus vaccination.
For further information, please contact our Brisbane Volunteer Coordinator on 3426 9915 or volunteering@rspcaqld.org.au, or fill in the application above.
