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Wildlife and Horticulture Volunteers

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Love Flora and Fauna?

If getting your hands dirty and making a positive impact is for you, then this is the volunteer program you’ve been waiting for! Our Wildlife & Horticulture Volunteer Program at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is perfect for passionate individuals who care deeply about Australian animals and native plants. You’ll play an active role in conservation – helping care for the fauna and flora that call the Sanctuary home. This role gives you the opportunity to get hands on at a Gold Coast icon, assisting with maintaining animal habitats and gardens, while supporting our not-for-profit mission. This position requires at least one day per week for a minimum six month period. It’s physically demanding but incredibly rewarding, offering new skills, great friendships, and the chance to be part of something truly meaningful.

Volunteer Info

Three zoo volunteers in green shirts with animal prints stand outdoors, smiling at the camera, near a vehicle and a building.

What to Expect

Work alongside our skilled Wildlife Keepers and horticulturalists on daily routines and maintenance
Your proximity to guests will mean you play a key role in making people feel welcome to the Sanctuary
Care for a diverse range of wildlife including Kangaroos, Koalas, Dingoes, Birds, Reptiles and Wombats
Assist with essential tasks like cleaning, feeding, weeding, planting and maintenance

Two people in hats and green uniforms trim plants beside railroad tracks, placing cuttings into a large bag, with trees and a tunnel in the background.

Two people wearing green volunteer shirts work outdoors; one pours liquid into a container with leaves and branches, while the other stands in the foreground facing away.

Tasks May Include

Working outdoors at the Sanctuary planting, mulching, watering, weeding, pruning, maintenance of potted plants, cleaning of signs and fertilizing
Daily cleaning of animal habitats including raking, sweeping, hosing and other duties
Food preparation and making animal enrichment
Observation of the animals and assisting with guest queries

Volunteer Shifts

Shifts are available 7 days per week
Shifts begin at either 6.30am or 7.30am, depending on the role
Minimum 6 month commitment

A person wearing a green shirt and shorts waters a concrete area with a hose in an outdoor setting surrounded by rocks and trees.

A person wearing a dark hat stands next to a red panda on a wooden platform near a green enclosure in a forested area.

Volunteer Benefits

Become part of a friendly new community with over 125 Wildlife & Horticulture Volunteers! Enjoy new social and cultural experiences.
Great opportunity to learn about a variety of plants and animals, large and small.
Opportunity to gain new skills and knowledge and challenge yourself in a supportive environment.
Act on your values, passions and interest.

Note: This program requires a registration fee of $60 which includes your volunteer shirt, name badge, and hat. After 3 months of volunteering, you’ll also receive a NTAQ TEAMS card with benefits including free entry and discounts at the Sanctuary and other Queensland National Trust properties for you and your family.

Interested?

Read Our Volunteer Info Guide

Please note that we open and close access to this program throughout the year, as positions fill and then become vacant. If the program is currently closed, please check back again as it will soon re-open.

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FAQ’s

What are the shift times?

Shift times vary depending on the volunteering role. Some roles are 3-4 hours per week; others require a commitment of 6-8 hours per week for at least 6 months. You can find information on shift types in each role description.

What level of fitness is needed?

This depends on the role you apply for. We encourage you to read the position description carefully to understand what’s involved. Roles like Park and Wildlife Volunteers require a good level of fitness as they involve walking and standing for extended periods of time.

How do I apply?

Once you found the role you would like to volunteer in, you can submit an application form via our website.

What is the application process?

After you apply online, your application will be screened by our volunteer recruitment team. Suitable candidates will be contacted via phone or email to further explain the role, confirm your availability and discuss the selection criteria.

If you're successful after the initial stages, we will ask you to complete three trial shifts to ensure the role is a good fit for both you and our team.

Are there any fees to volunteer?

There is a registration fee for successful volunteers, which will cover everything you'll need to get started, including your volunteer uniform and name badge. After 3 months of volunteering, you’ll also receive a NTAQ TEAMS card with benefits including free entry and discounts at the Sanctuary and other Queensland National Trust properties, providing our valued volunteers with a whole host of benefits and perks.

More FAQ’s

Jingeri – Hello

We respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the greater Yugambeh language region, the Country on which Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and Hospital are situated today. We recognise their continuing connections to the land, sky, waters (waterways), and wildlife. We thank them for caring for this Country and its ecosystems.

We celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, and we pay our respect to Elders past and present.