Volunteering

Do you work full-time or part-time? You can help.

We are looking for people who are interested in transporting & rescuing wildlife.

Transporter

Description of Role

  1. Receive calls from a shelter or Wildlife Victoria notifying you that there is wildlife at a vet or sometimes from members of the public that requires transportation to a shelter. Your role is to advise the vet/public a time you will be picking up the animal and then co-ordinate with the shelter about transporting the animal to them.
  2. This role requires minimal hands on work with the animals as they will already be contained.
  3. Wildlife can be picked up after work. Becoming a transporter is a great way to assist both wildlife and your local shelters.

Requirements

  • Phone, car, melways, pleasant manner, passion for wildlife/animals
  • Costs you would incur include phone calls & car expenses

Rescuer

We provide training for this role which gives advice on the types of equipment you need to purchase, how to safely transport wildlife, containing wildlife, handling wildlife, OHS and other helpful information.

Description of Role

  1. You will receive a call from a shelter, rescuer or Wildlife Victoria notifying you that there is a rescue.
  2. You list the hours you are available. So if you work 9-5 Monday to Friday you may like to assist with rescues from 6pm to 10pm or you may like to help from 6pm to 6am or on the weekends. We call you in the times you are available.
  3. You also decide how far you are prepared to travel. So if you live in Whittlesea, you may like to cover the Whittlesea shire or you may like to assist with all shires in the northern suburbs. You decide.
  4. If a rescue is complicated and you need the assistance of other rescuers, we have a fantastic network so that help is always only a phone call away, even if it is just for reassurance.
  5. You will be required to work with the public, shelters, vets, police and other members within the community, so patience and good manners are a must. You will also be required to work on your own and as part of a team and be capable of listening to instructions and at times also conveying messages and instructions.

Requirements

  • Phone, car, melways, pleasant manner, passion for wildlife/animals, various equipment & transporting containers
  • Costs you would incur include phone calls, car expenses and various equipment & transporting containers

Foster Carer

We are looking for people who are interested in rehabilitating wildlife. A wildlife foster carer permit can be obtained through the Department of Sustainability & Environment. No previous experience necessary but a passion for wildlife and a willingness to learn is a must.

You will need to attend the required training days and expect out of pocket expenses. Becoming a carer requires a long term commitment, this can mean no holidays or weekends away. Cages, avairies, heat pads and other various supplies are needed to rehabilitate wildlife.

Description of Role

You will liaise with your licensed shelter. Research your shelter to ensure you are under a licensed shelter and that they respond to wildlife calls, works well with vets and that they are available to assist you when required. The shelter must know the code of practice and be able to assist you with these laws. Accurate records must be kept of all wildlife that comes into your care.

Both you and your shelter need to have a clear understanding of the requirements and you will need to establish a good working relationship.

Much of the wildlife that comes into care are birds and possums. In suburbia, it is easy to have facilities to successfully rehabilitate these wildlife.

Kangaroos, wombats and koalas are not suited to being rehabilitated in suburbian shelters and nor should they. If you see a suburban shelter doing this, then you can already start to question how good is this shelter, are their interests for the wildlife or for themselves.

Remember there are good and bad carers.

You will have to work with the public, shelters, vets, police and other members within the community, so patience and good manners are a must.

Requirements

  • Phone
  • Pleasant manner
  • Passion for wildlife/animals
  • Preferably a car
  • Cages & aviaries
  • Suitable food supplies
  • Reference material
  • Time to attend ongoing training

Costs you would incur (these are just some examples as there are many more items that will be required):

  • Phone, petrol, cages & avairies, heats pads & heat lamps, formula, seeds, other foods for nutritional diets, quarantine cages, blankets & towels.

possum in pouch