Australia Koala Sanctuary

The sanctuary houses a large variety of Australia’s native species, and is divided into different sections: Birds, Mammals, Reptiles, Macropods, Koalas and the hospital. Each day you are at the sanctuary you will be assigned to one of the keepers and will assist them with the daily care and maintenance of the animals in their section. This allows you to experience working in different areas of the sanctuary and get to know all of the different species. Each morning you will be given a work plan so that you know what your responsibilities are for the day.

The work is extremely hands on and physical, with the majority of your time spent assisting keepers with the feeding of the animals and cleaning duties, however there is a whole range of activities for you to get involved in.

The tasks that you will be taking part in include:

• Preparing and collecting food for the animals
• Assisting with the cleaning and maintenance of animal enclosures
• Taking part in behavioural enrichment programmes
• Providing other general assistance to the keepers. 

You will also be helping with a variety of other tasks around the sanctuary, which may include:

• Assisting the animal farm staff with cleaning, monitoring visitors and handing out food
• Interacting with the sanctuary’s visitors and assisting them with any questions they might have
• Spending time in the kangaroo reserve monitoring visitors and kangaroo behaviour, cleaning and helping with visitor enquiries
• Assisting the garden and maintenance staff with various tasks around the sanctuary e.g. planting, weeding and cleaning

There are some animals at the sanctuary that you won’t have any contact with as they are considered dangerous animals. These animals include Tasmanian Devil, Southern Cassowary, Flying Foxes, Wombats and Venomous reptiles. Although you will not be working with these animals at the sanctuary you will be able to visit them in your free time as often as you wish.

Volunteers stay in Brisbane, which is about a 30 minute bus ride from the sanctuary.

The working day starts at 8.30, when you’ll be assigned your ‘keeper’ for the day. You then work with them for the rest of the day on various projects around the sanctuary.

In practice, helping out endangered animals in Australia means feeding the animals and cleaning their homes take place every day. But you could also find yourself monitoring kangaroo behavior, preparing food for the animals and helping with the sanctuary’s visitors.

You get a 20 min morning tea break and an hour for lunch. And the day finishes at 3pm, when you’re free to explore the sanctuary and chill out with the other volunteers, or head back home to hang out in buzzing Brisbane. 

You can choose what days you want to work, which can include weekends (please note the availability of days when you can volunteer is dependent on how many volunteers the sanctuary have). Prior to your arrival we will find out from you what days you would like to work. However, these days can be changed and your volunteer schedule will be arranged for you during your orientation at the sanctuary.

Please note: Itineraries and activities are subject to change.