Sign up today to volunteer at our Mackay shelter!
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, 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 ready to roll up your sleeves and make an impact, check out our current vacancies and apply today!
RSPCA MACKAY ARE URGENTLY SEEKING VOLUNTEERS FOR ADMINISTRATION OR GARDENING & MAINTENANCE.
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:
Get ready for an adventure that combines your passion for animals with hands-on experience and learning. Although it can get a little messy and smelly at times, the joy you'll feel is immeasurable. From cuddling cute kittens to playing fetch with playful pups, you'll be immersed in a world of furry friends. Whether it's rain or shine, summer or winter, you'll be out there making tails wag and hearts happy.
What are the Benefits?
🐾 Plenty of quality time with lots of animals
🩺 An amazing opportunity to learn about the care and health requirements of our furry companions
🎾 Unleash your inner child and enjoy playtime and interaction with the animals in our care
📚 Develop valuable skills and gain insight into the animal care industry
🤍 Become part of our warm and friendly community, where every wag and purr counts
As a volunteer, you'll be an essential part of our team, with hands-on responsibilities that include:
🧹 Giving animal pens a fresh start each day by cleaning, replacing bedding and ensuring enclosures are clean and comfortable
🧼 Maintaining a hygienic environment—because healthy animals mean happy volunteers
🏡 Helping keep the Animal Care Campus clean, tidy and welcoming for our furry residents
🚶 Taking our four‑legged friends for walks around the campus to provide enrichment and exercise
🎉 Embracing your playful side by spending time with animals and facilitating positive social interactions with toys, other animals and people
🧺 Assisting with laundry duties to ensure animals always have clean and cosy bedding
Skills and Characteristics We're Looking For:
🐶 Confidence working with domestic animals, or a willingness to learn in a shelter environment
🔊 Ability to cope with increased noise levels
✅ Ability to work independently, take initiative and manage tasks autonomously
🏋️ Physically fit, with the ability to lift up to 10kg and stand for extended periods
🔍 Strong attention to detail and ability to follow instructions accurately
🤝 Enjoy working as part of a supportive team
🗣️ Excellent communication skills with both people and animals
🔥 A dedicated, hard‑working attitude and passion for supporting the RSPCA
To help potential volunteers to fully understand the role requirements, we have created the Essential Capabilities of an Animal Care Volunteer document. Please read this before you apply to ensure you understand what we look for when reviewing applications.
When Can You Join the Fun?
🐱🐶 We offer morning or afternoon shifts, Monday to Sunday, working with our purr‑fect Cats or paw‑some Dogs
📆 To support consistency and make a lasting impact, we kindly ask for a minimum commitment of one four‑hour shift per week
🎓 New to volunteering? No problem! Full orientation and training will be provided, including animal interaction, training and husbandry
Important Reminders:
Before handling animals at the RSPCA, please ensure you have an up-to-date Tetanus vaccination. Safety first!
If you're fulfilling mutual obligation requirements with Centrelink, let us know, and we'll work together to find the best opportunity for you.
Need More Info?
Hit the Road and Be a Hero for Animals!
If you have a passion for animal welfare and a love for the open road, we have an exciting volunteer opportunity just for you! Join our team at RSPCA Qld as a driver and embark on a journey of compassion and impact. Get ready to transport adorable furry friends, both domestic and wild, and lend a helping hand in collecting donations. It's time to put the pedal to the metal and make a difference!
What to Expect:
As a vital part of our large organisation, you'll play a crucial role in ensuring the well-being of over 50,000 animals each year. Your mission will involve safely transporting animals locally and regionally, as well as collecting donated food. Whether you're shuttling animals between campuses, rehoming centres, vet surgeries, or caring for wildlife, every trip will be an adventure filled with furry passengers. Don't worry, we'll provide you with all the necessary equipment, including an RSPCA vehicle, during your shift. Please note that drivers must have an open licence.
Benefits of Being on the Road:
📖 Gain a deeper understanding of RSPCA operations and our mission to protect and care for animals.
🤝 Join our friendly team and make a significant contribution to raising much-needed funds for animal welfare.
As an RSPCA driver, you'll hit the road and tackle a variety of tasks, including:
🚐 Cruising around the greater Mackay area in an RSPCA vehicle, transporting our precious animal passengers.
🐕 Safely moving animals between our animal care centres, ensuring they reach their destinations with comfort and care.
🏥 Collecting and transporting animals from veterinary clinics back to our animal care centres, because their well-being is our top priority.
Skills and Characteristics We're Looking For:
😊 Courteous and considerate driving style to ensure smooth, low‑stress journeys for animals
🚚 Confidence driving a large van and/or towing a trailer
🗣️ Strong communication skills to coordinate effectively with RSPCA staff and volunteers
🪪 A clean, manual open driver’s licence
🏎️ Excellent driving skills and confidence navigating a range of traffic conditions
🏋️ Physically fit and able to lift up to 10kg
🐾 Confidence or willingness to assist with basic animal handling to ensure stress‑free transport
When Can You Volunteer?
📆 We’re seeking drivers who can commit to regular shifts, as well as volunteers available for on‑call driving
⏱️ Flexibility is essential, as trip lengths may vary due to traffic or weather conditions
✅ A minimum commitment of one shift per week is required
🎓 No experience? No problem—comprehensive orientation and animal handling training will be provided
Important Reminders:
Before handling animals at the RSPCA, please ensure you have an up-to-date Tetanus vaccination. Safety first!
Join our team of compassionate drivers and become a superhero for animals on wheels. Apply today and let's drive change together!
This rewarding volunteer role would suit applicants that wish to spend their spare time giving back to the local community and who enjoy being outdoors.
The role can vary in the type of work required. Jobs can include anything from general maintenance around the centre to working in the grounds doing mowing, whipper snipping, watering to keep our grounds looking good.
🌞 A rewarding volunteer role suited to people who enjoy giving back to their local community and spending time outdoors
🛠️ 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
❤️ Gain an understanding of a well‑respected charity and be able to share this knowledge with others to help animals, educate the community and change lives
🌱 Gardening, handyperson or maintenance experience (please indicate which aspects of the role interest you when applying)
✅ 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
📆 This is a flexible role, ideally Mondays from 7am - 11am.
⏳ 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
If you are a friendly, welcoming, outgoing person who is passionate about supporting the RSPCA in finding animals their ‘forever’ homes, this rewarding volunteer position could be for you. As a Volunteer Administration Assistant, you are the ‘face’ of RSPCA, the first person people see when they visit the shelter. In this role, you are responsible for coordinating our very busy reception desk at the shelter; tasks include meeting and greeting customers, assisting with data entry, answering enquiries in person and by phone or email, typing in correspondence and other general office administration tasks.
🧑💼 Opportunity to further develop skills and experience in administration and customer service
🏢 Experience hands‑on involvement in the day‑to‑day operations of a busy animal shelter
🤝 Being part of a team of enthusiastic, hardworking individuals who make a difference in the lives of animals every day
👋 Greeting members of the public as they enter the shelter
📞 Answering phone calls and responding to customer enquiries
🐾 Assisting staff with adoptions, surrenders and boarding bookings
⌨️ Completing a variety of data entry tasks
🧹 Ensuring the reception waiting area is clean, tidy and welcoming at all times
📝 Undertaking other office duties as required
🗣️ Excellent communication and customer service skills
😊 A confident, friendly and positive manner when meeting new people and making them feel welcome
🤍 Preparedness to be involved in delicate and occasionally challenging situations
✅ Reliable, with the ability to work independently, take initiative and multitask
💻 Computer literacy, including a good working knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel
🐕 Willingness to learn animal handling techniques and housing requirements for incoming animals
📅 Availability any days from Wednesday - Sunday between 10am - 2pm (flexible).
🕙 We request a minimum commitment of 1hr x shift per week for a minimum of 3 months to ensure consistency and continuity with the animals.
⏳ Full orientation and training is provided.
Important Reminders:
It is also 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
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 also read the important information box below before you apply.
Volunteer Applications – Important Information - Read before applying
At present, we are unable to accommodate volunteers who require the support of a support worker due to current program capacity.
To ensure a safe and supported experience for all, applicants must be able to perform their volunteer role independently. Applications that do not meet this requirement, or fail to disclose the need for support, will not be accepted at this time.
Please note we are unable to provide work experience or offer any student placements (exceptions being placements organised through university or tertiary programs).
