AusLeisure

With upwards of 400 volunteers of which around 100 remain ongoing, Australia Zoo is marking National Volunteer Week by recognising its volunteers for their enormous contribution to the organisation and their passion and commitment towards helping fulfil Steve and Terri Irwin’s vision to make Australia Zoo the biggest and best wildlife conservation facility in the world.

Australia Zoo has an extensive volunteer program which is widely recognised as one of the best in the country.

As a result of their input a large portion of volunteers successfully gain employment at Australia Zoo or other likeminded organisations as a result of their hard work, passion and commitment to the cause, and also the expert training and experience they acquire from working with some of the best animal keepers in the world.

Established in the 1980s, Australia Zoo’s volunteer program welcomed its very first volunteer in Wes Mannion, who is now making a vital contribution to wildlife conservation as the Director of Australia Zoo and Wildlife Warriors Worldwide.

Mannion explains “our volunteers are such a big part of the Zoo.

“I started volunteering when I was 14 years old because all I wanted to do was get close to the animals.

“I was passionate about wildlife and I just wanted to get involved - I didn’t care what I had to do.

“It’s the same for a lot of our volunteers, they’re very hard working, passionate and dedicated people.”

A large part of volunteering at Australia Zoo involves helping with animal keeping duties such as husbandry, enclosure cleaning, animal observations and diet management across both the Zoo and the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital.

However, with daily enquiries and a steady increase in volunteer numbers, this high demand allows for new volunteering opportunities to arise. These opportunities include photography, customer relations, grounds/maintenance, education and eventually, hospitality - giving volunteers more opportunity to gain valuable experience across a multitude of areas.

Volunteers Coordinator, Mitch New says people come to Australia Zoo from all walks of life and apply to become a volunteer for a number of different reasons.

New states “volunteering at Australia Zoo can be a great companion to studies. It’s a good stepping stone to a career in the industry and it’s also a great opportunity for people to give back. Our volunteer base includes international volunteers, school and university students undertaking work experience placements, individuals looking for a career change and retirees to mention just a few.

“Our volunteers enhance our keepers’ days, they enhance the guest experience and they also enhance the lives of the 1200+ animals that call Australia Zoo home. They’re the oil in our cogs; they work very hard and are very well rewarded and respected for what they do."

Australia Zoo’s volunteers, as well as volunteers from other organisations around the Sunshine Coast and their families will be treated to an action-packed day at Australia Zoo this Sunday 14th May as a big ‘thank you’ for their commitment.

Running from 9th to 15th May, National Volunteer Week is an annual celebration to acknowledge the generous contribution of Australia’s volunteers. 

Images: Volunteers at Australia Zoo mark National Volunteer Week (top) and Mitch New with a group of volunteers (below).

9th May 2016 - PEAK INDUSTRY BODY PAYS TRIBUTE TO VOLUNTEERS IN QUEENSLAND’S TOURISM INDUSTRY

11th February 2016 - AUSTRALIA ZOO TO EXPERIENCE A WINTER ICE AGE

18th November 2015 - VISITOR CENTRES PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE IN INFLUENCING TOURIST BEHAVIOUR

21st July 2015 - AUSTRALIA ZOO AND UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND CONTINUE EXCITING CROCODILE RESEARCH

6th December 2012 - WORK OF QUEENSLAND TOURISM VOLUNTEERS HIGHLIGHTED ON INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEER DAY

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.