Volunteering with the RSPCA QLD


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Foster Care

Become a Foster Carer with RSPCA Queensland

Foster a Life. Change a Life.

Foster carers play a vital role in the lives of vulnerable animals. By providing a temporary home, you’re giving animals the time, care, and space they need to recover, grow, or simply escape the stress of the shelter environment—until they’re ready for their forever families.

Whether it's a kitten too young for adoption, a dog recovering from surgery, or a pet escaping a crisis, you can be the difference that saves a life.


Why Foster?

  • Make a real difference—help animals get their second chance

  • Short-term commitment with life-changing impact

  • All supplies and support provided by RSPCA

  • Perfect for animal lovers who can’t adopt long-term


How to Become a Foster Carer

Getting started is easy—and you can complete the process from home!

  1. Submit an application form so we can get to know you

  2. Complete our short, online foster training

  3. Send in photos of your property for a virtual safety check

Once approved, you’ll receive weekly foster lists and can let us know when you're available. We’ll then match you with animals who need your help.


Who Needs Foster Care?

Animals come into our care for many reasons. You may be asked to foster:

  • Puppies and kittens too young for rehoming

  • Animals recovering from illness or injury

  • Animals needing behavioural support and socialisation

  • Pets seeking safety due to domestic violence situations

  • Animals displaced by natural disasters like floods or bushfires

  • Home Ever After pets whose owners are in hospital or have passed away

📍 Foster needs vary by location.
Please check the foster regions below for current priority animals near you.


Things to Know Before You Apply

To ensure the safety and wellbeing of our animals, please keep in mind:

  • Foster carers must be 18+ and have access to reliable transport

  • Landlord/body corporate approval is required if you rent

  • Existing pets must be up to date on vaccinations

  • Flexibility with the type of animal you foster increases your chances of being matched

  • Foster placements typically range from 2 weeks to 6 months, depending on the animal’s needs


Ready to Open Your Heart and Home?

Explore your local foster region below to begin your application and join a compassionate community of carers helping animals in need—one foster at a time.

Fostering Regions Available

Fill in an application

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

Fill in an application

Wildlife Responders

Volunteer Positions Available

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