Animal Support Volunteer
We have received many applications for the Volunteer Animal Support Role.
We appreciate everyone's interest in this popular role, however we are now training the new volunteers, and will not be accepting new applications at this time.
We have left the role descriptions up so interested people can see what’s involved with volunteering, and the different roles offered.
When we are needing to recruit for this role again, this notice will be removed and replaced with instructions on how to apply. Thank you for your interest.
The RSPCA Sydney Yagoona Shelter is looking for confident, reliable and committed individuals to assist in providing support to the animals in care. Animal Support Volunteers will play an important part in assisting the staff to provide a pick-up and delivery service for the RSPCA NSW.
The Volunteers assisting in this role will be based in the Yagoona shelter and go out on road with the Ambulance Drivers, when required to pick up injured, and sick animals to ensure that their suffering is minimised and that they are delivered efficiently to the Veterinary Hospital. Other animals and supplies may also need to be transported as part of other programs, and services.
The number of calls can vary, and if the ambulance is not required out on the road, on these occasions volunteers will be required to assist with caring for the animals, cleaning, administration and providing customer support.
Applicants for this role must be over the age of 18 years.
Knowledge and Skills Required
- Confidence, ability and a high level of experience with handling animals, including dogs and cats. (this can include animals that you have helped take care of at home)
- Ability to work as part of a team
- Good communication skills, including verbal and written, and an ability to communicate to staff volunteers, and members of the public from a variety of different backgrounds and in a variety of situations.
- Ability to follow instructions and work independently
- Demonstrated Customer Service skills, and experience.
- Basic computer skills
- Basic administration skills
- Understanding and compliance of RTA laws.
-Good navigation skills.
Essential Criteria
- Able to get to the shelter by own transport or public transport
- Be physically fit, and willing to engage in tasks to help keep the ambulance, and cages clean.
- Able to commit to a set rostered shift. The shift will be the same day, and time each week.
- Current full unrestricted license
- Willingness to learn about first aid, animal welfare, and RSPCA NSW policies and procedures relating
to the role/tasks.
Volunteer Characteristics
- A demonstrated affinity with animals, interest in animal care and welfare, and being actively involved –
you want to make a difference
- Enjoy physical work
- Enjoy working hard and able to adjust to different working paces.
- Happy to get your ‘hands dirty’
- Show empathy and respect towards all creatures great and small.
- Like interacting with people, and can show empathy, respect and non judgment when interacting with
people.
Benefits to be Gained
- Knowing that you have made a difference in the life of a disadvantaged injured or animals needing care
- Experience being part of a team.
Primary Responsibilities
Due to Workplace Health and safety guidelines within this role volunteers will receive on the job training. However, due to the requirement of this role and involvement with transporting animals who may be injured, a high level of confidence, and skill, and experience will be required for the prevention of injury to yourself, team mates, and the animals.
The requirement to for fill all of the primary tasks will depend on the Knowledge, skills, and level of experience of the individual volunteer. Applicants need to be aware that they may not be required to for fill all of the tasks, but with sufficient training, and experience must be prepared to for fill all tasks.
Primary Tasks
- Assist with the collection of animals for a range of different programs, including sick, and
injured animals.
- Collect and deliver animals to other animal facilities.
- Assist with loading the animals into and out of the Ambulance.
- Assist with taking calls, and recording accurate information.
- Maintain all equipment used to ensure their correct and continued functioning.`
- Assist Staff with pooper scooping, cleaning out the ambulance, and animal holding facilities.
- Assist with setting up cages for animal transportation and for those animals staying overnight.
- Observing the animals for signs of illness and documenting this, and communicating to co-workers
- Assist with preparing feeds and feeding animals
- Assist with taking dirty blankets to the laundry and rubbish removal
- Undertake grooming duties as required. This may include bathing and brushing
- Undertake administration tasks as required.
- Drive ambulance when required- longer term volunteers (subject to experience of volunteer, and need)
Two applicants will be selected for each shift, one will be attending calls with the Ambulance Driver, and the other will be providing support in the shelter. On road participation will depend on experience, and will be rotated between the volunteers as much as possible.
Please take careful consideration regarding if this is the right role for you. Volunteers in this role will be witnessing animals in distress due to being scared or injured. An ability to deal constructively, remain calm, follow directions, and be able communicate effectively is of extreme importance. Please consider you ability to commit to a role that may be confronting at times. We understand that this is not a role that will suit all applicants, due to the nature of the tasks, and working with injured and sick animals.
There are many different ways to get involved, and others may be interested in assisting with the animals in a Kennel Assistant or Cattery Assistant role when available.
To learn more about other Yagoona Shelter Volunteer Roles please click here.
For more information on other ways to get involved please click here.
Selected applicants will undergo an interview for the role. The successful applicants will be required to attend an orientation/induction, as well as a briefing on animal handling prior to commencing their role. If you have not visited the Shelter recently, please visit the shelter during opening hours before applying as it will give you an opportunity to familiarise yourself with the environment and give you an opportunity to determine if you will be able to travel weekly for a minimum of six months (particularly if you are coming via public transport, as there are limit public transport options).
A minimum of 4 hours per week (on a set weekly roster) for a minimum of six months will be required. Shifts are available 7 days a week subject to availability.
Shift times:
4:00pm - 8:00pm 7 days a week.(please note that when you apply some shifts may have already been filled.
It is essential that applicants can start at 4pm to enable the ambulance to leave on time.
Fortnightly roles may be available after the six months completion, for longer term volunteers. Please consider carefully about the six month commitment involved, before you apply.
All volunteers who have direct animal contact roles are required to have an up to date tetanus vaccination. Successful applicants who do not have one will need to be prepared to get one prior to starting their first shift.
We have received many applications for the Volunteer Animal Support Role.
We appreciate everyone's interest in this popular role, however we are now training
the new volunteers, and will not be accepting new applications at this time.
We have left the role descriptions up so interested people can see what’s involved with volunteering, and the different roles offered.
When we are needing to recruit for this role again, this notice will be removed and replaced
with instructions on how to apply. Thank you for your interest.
