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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?
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Make a real difference—help animals get their second chance
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Short-term commitment with life-changing impact
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All supplies and support provided by RSPCA
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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!
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Submit an application form so we can get to know you
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Complete our short, online foster training
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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:
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Puppies and kittens too young for rehoming
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Animals recovering from illness or injury
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Animals needing behavioural support and socialisation
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Pets seeking safety due to domestic violence situations
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Animals displaced by natural disasters like floods or bushfires
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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:
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Foster carers must be 18+ and have access to reliable transport
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Landlord/body corporate approval is required if you rent
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Existing pets must be up to date on vaccinations
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Flexibility with the type of animal you foster increases your chances of being matched
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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
Op Shops & Retail
Ignite Change, Shop with Purpose, and Be a Hero!
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Looking for a fulfilling way to make a difference in the lives of animals? Our Op Shops and World For Pets stores are calling for passionate individuals like you to join our cause! By shopping, volunteering, or donating, you can become a hero for the animals we care for and support their well-being.
🐾 Volunteer Opportunities: Are you an animal enthusiast with a flair for retail, customer service, or simply want to be part of a fantastic team?
Join our Op Shop family as an Op Shop Assistant or Op Shop Driver Assistant. Make a tangible impact while gaining valuable experience and creating unforgettable moments. All of our current volunteer vacancies are linked below, please have a look through and apply today!
🐾 Shop with Purpose: Discover amazing bargains and unique treasures while helping us raise crucial funds for over 50,000 animals we care for each year. Our Op Shops offer a wide range of clothing, homewares, accessories, and furniture. Your purchases directly support our mission of compassion.
Join the RSPCA movement today and be a catalyst for change! Click below to explore our Op Shop locations, discover volunteer opportunities, and make a meaningful impact on the lives of animals. Together, let's create a brighter future filled with love, compassion, and wagging tails.
Volunteer Positions Available
Rockhampton
Volunteer at our Rockhampton 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.
It’s not just cleaning, though. You’ll also help with enrichment activities that make a big difference to the animals in our care.
Volunteer opportunities include:
- Working with domestic animals at one of our Animal Care Centres
- Gardening and maintenance
- Administration and department support
If you’re ready to roll up your sleeves and make an impact, check out our current vacancies and apply today!
RSPCA ROCKHAMPTON ARE SEEKING VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE OPEN TO DRIVING TO OUR GRACEMERE LOCATION.
At present, we are unable to accommodate volunteers who require the support of a support worker due to current program capacity.
Animal Care & Animal Support roles
Animal Care Assistant | Rockhampton
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
This rewarding volunteer 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 sometimes smelly, 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 tasks?
The position is hands-on and includes:
- The daily cleaning of the animals' pens which involves removing dirty bedding, hosing or wiping out enclosures, sweeping and scooping up of poop, cleaning litter trays, and providing clean bedding and toys
- Hygiene control – ensuring appropriate sanitisation and hand-washing, and avoiding cross contamination – and ensuring that the animals remain stocked up with food, water, bedding and toys.
- Assistance with ensuring the Adoption Centre environment is presentable, and general tidying up.
- Providing enrichment to the animals under your care by walking them around the campus
- Playing and spending time with all animals and providing them opportunities to interact with other animals, toys and people where appropriate.
- 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.
- Following RSPCA philosophy of positive reinforcement with all animal interactions.
What skills and characteristics do I need?
- Confidence in working with domestic animals and/or willingness to learn more about how to work with animals in a shelter situation
- Able to cope with increased noise levels
- 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?
- Monday to Saturday 8:00am – 12pm or 12pm – 4pm
- Sundays 10am - 2pm
- We request a minimum commitment of 1 x four hour shift per week for a minimum of 3 months to ensure consistency and continuity with the animals.
- Orientation and training in relation to animal interaction, training and husbandry will be provided.
CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE OPEN TO DRIVING TO OUR GRACEMERE LOCATION
If you have your driver's licence and are open to traveling to our Gracemere location to our dogs there, please note this on your application!
Important Reminders:
It is a requirement that before handling animals at the RSPCA you have an up to date Tetanus vaccination.
For further information, please contact the Rockhampton Shelter/Op Shop on 07 3637 0040 or volunteering@rspcaqld.org.au, or apply via the link above.
Wildlife Responders
Love Wildlife? Here's Your Chance to Make a Real Impact!
As a Wildlife Responder, you’ll be part of a passionate network helping injured, sick, or orphaned native animals get the care they need.
This flexible volunteer role lets you assist in your local area anytime, anywhere by transporting animals to safety and supporting simple rescues. It’s a hands-on way to protect Queensland’s wildlife and connect with your community while learning valuable skills.
Ready to help us protect and care for Queensland’s wildlife? Apply today and be part of something truly wild!
At present, we are unable to accommodate volunteers who require the support of a support worker due to current program capacity.
Volunteer Positions Available
Wildlife Responder
Answer the Call of the Wild!
What to expect
This rewarding volunteer role would suit applicants who are passionate about Australia’s native wildlife and are committed to improving their welfare. This is a great opportunity for people who want to help their local Wildlife. This program is available across Queensland and is flexible, allowing participants to help anywhere, anytime.
What are the benefits?
- Increased awareness of our native wildlife and the issues they face.
- Native animal handling and identification skills.
- Get to know your local wildlife and community.
- Be part of the RSPCA QLD Wildlife Rescue network.
What are the tasks?
The position involves very basic rescuing and transporting injured, sick, or orphaned wildlife as required and includes:
- Rescue and Transport: Attending wildlife transport and rescue requests in your local area and deliver animals to a nearby vet clinic or local Wildlife carer.
- Wildlife Reunites: Attempt to reunite juvenile birds and other animals with their parents.
- In this role you will only deal with common and non-dangerous species (Smal-Med Birds, Lizards, Turtles & Possums) and you will not be dealing with high-risk animals (Roo’s, Koalas, Bats, Goanna’s, Birds of Prey, snakes) and no rescue situations that involve high risk (on ladders, in a water body, at heights, in a confined space)
- Community Engagement: Engage with members of the public in a positive way and represent RSPCA QLD when responding to rescue and transportation requests and provide advice or education when appropriate.
What skills and characteristics do I need?
- Confidence when interacting with a variety of wildlife species.
- Must be over 18 years of age, hold a valid Queensland driver's licence, and access to a suitable roadworthy and insured vehicle, you will be using your own vehicle and equipment.
- Willingness to learn about wildlife and rescue techniques.
- Adherence to RSPCA Queensland WH&S guidelines and code of conduct.
- Able to be flexible and adaptable but work in a safe manner and not put yourself or others at risk or harm.
- Excellent communication skills and able to stay calm and objective.
- Genuine interest in animal welfare and the objectives of RSPCA Qld.
When can I volunteer?
You can nominate the times and locations you want to carry out transports and rescues that suits you, this is a flexible volunteer role you can do to fit into your lifestyle.
Important Information:
- As an RSPCA Volunteer you can only attend to animals that have been tasked to you by RSPCA Staff and once you accept a job you will be required to regularly check in with RSPCA staff when out doing a job for your safety and to be covered by our insurances.
- It is a requirement that before handling animals at the RSPCA you have an up-to-date Tetanus vaccination, and this will be your responsibility to obtain and keep up to date.
- If you do wildlife rescues already, please email us on the below email and we can add you to our rescue list so we can refer rescues to you or your organisation.
For further information, please contact our Wildlife Responder Coordinator via email on 1300animal@rspcaqld.org.au or fill in an application above.
