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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
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
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 Ward Assistant | Wacol
What to expect
There are a number of vacancies available in our busy Wildlife Hospital with various shifts across week days and weekends. This position would suit applicants that have an interest in our native wildlife and a commitment to learn about the daily care required for them; are dedicated to improving their welfare and would like to gain exposure to a native animal hospital environment. Applicants will be involved with cleaning and the daily care of native wildlife (eg birds, possums, lizards and turtles) that are currently in care. In line with wild animal rehabilitation practices, please note that handling of wildlife will be minimal.
These can be challenging roles as you may be faced with situations where animals are sick, uncomfortable or in pain. 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!
Please note: we are unable to offer placements for Vet nursing students; please contact your course provider.
What are the benefits?
- Close encounters with native Australian wildlife!
- Learning about native wildlife and domestic bird care and husbandry
- Opportunity to gain new skills and learn about the vet care industry
- Becoming part of a friendly new community
What are the tasks?
- Providing enrichment for domestic birds
- The daily cleaning of animal enclosures which involves removing used leaf and food, plus soiled newspaper and towels, and replacing with fresh supplies
- Assist with stock control and re-stocking of supplies where appropriate.
- Sweeping and mopping floors, removing rubbish, washing animals’ water and food bowls, replacing food and water.
- Hygiene control – this is critical as a shelter environment is a high-risk area for diseases, some of which are communicable to humans or your own pets. This means ensuring appropriate sanitisation and hand-washing after handling animals or enclosures, use of appropriate personal protection equipment (PPE) such as gloves, gowns, etc, to prevent disease and avoid cross contamination.
- Assistance with ensuring the hosptial environment and reception area is presentable, and general tidying up.
- Taking bins of soiled towels to the laundry and collecting clean towels etc to take back to your area.
- Undertake general laundry duties as part of each shift, including loading dirty laundry into the machines, loading and/or taking clean washing out of the dryers, and folding all clean items.
- Occasional minimal animal handling involved
What skills and characteristics do I need?
- Confidence in working with animals
- Resilience – you will see and be required to care for animals with various illnesses or injuries and this can be confronting and upsetting
- Be able to work independently
- Be physically fit (able to lift 10kg) and able to stand for long periods
- Attention to detail and able to accurately follow instructions
- Enjoy working in a team environment
- Excellent communication skills
- Hard working and committed to the RSPCA
When can I volunteer?
- We currently have the following vacancies:
- Tuesday - 12pm-4pm
- Friday - 12pm-4pm
- Saturday - 12pm-4pm
- Sunday - 12pm-4pm
- Orientation and animal training will be provided.
If you could please specify in your application which shift you would ideally like to have, that would be much appreciated.
PLEASE NOTE: 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
