Become a Volunteer
Help us make a difference!
Koala Conservation Australia is a volunteer organisation with a range of different roles available. Read about our volunteer positions, and submit an application if you'd like to get involved!
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Apply to be a local Volunteer
Working with our organisation in Port Macquarie is very rewarding as no matter what role you undertake, you are contributing to the rehabilitation and conservation of wild Koalas.
Koala Conservation Australia is a wonderful organisation and provides several work places to meet new people and learn new skills.
We have several locations:
- Koala Conservation Hospital Port Macquarie- Lord Street Port Macquarie
- Koala Conservation Wild Breeding Guulabaa- Cowarra State Forest
- Koala food tree plantation- Maria River Road
- Koala food tree plantation- Moripo
Some work may also be performed from your home.
Volunteer placement is subject to available vacancies and takes into consideration your area of interest, skills, experience and availability.
Volunteer shifts work on a rostered basis, with shifts up to 6 hours so it is essential volunteers live locally and have availability. Volunteers must also be between the ages of 18 - 90.
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You will be contacted to advise whether we have opportunities available in your area of interest and available times and from there an informal interview will be held to talk about the roles and requirements and assess your suitability.
To volunteer with Koala Conservation Australia you will also need to become a member of our organisation.
If we don’t have a vacancy in your preferred area of work on the day(s) when you are available, we can keep your name on our waiting list in readiness for the next opportunity.
Every volunteer will need to provide evidence that they have a current tetanus vaccination and evidence of Covid-19 vaccinations.
All Volunteers will receive training appropriate to their role.
Keen to get on board with our volunteer program?
Check out our current vacancies and complete our online application below. If we have a position available for you, we will be in touch!
Learn more about the different roles within our volunteer program below
Koala Care
A very rewarding experience providing direct care to our Koala patients. Volunteers should be aware that they are not allowed to touch or handle koalas except where it is necessary for their care.
We have two daily shifts – 8:00am to 11:00am and 2:15pm to 4:30pm. The duties include preparing fresh leaf for feeding Koalas, cleaning the Koala enclosures; feeding formula to Koalas when required; washing materials used in Koala care and thoroughly cleaning all areas of the Koala Hospital. This is a very physical role and requires a good level of mobility and fitness.
Retail Shop
As a self-funding organisation, the souvenir retail shop at the Koala Hospital is important in raising funds to help us care for Koalas.
We have two daily shifts – 8:00am to 12:30pm and 12:15pm to 4:15pm.
Our shop volunteers welcome and engage with visitors to the Hospital, encourage sales, answer questions, provide customer service, keep the shop area clean and stocked and manage the takings of the shop.
Visitor Guides/ Education
An important function of the Koala Conservation Australia is to educate the public about Koalas.
Our education volunteers greet visitors at the Koala Hospital and act as wandering guides to inform visitors as well as provide tours or presentations to booked groups.
The Koala Hospital is open to the public from 8:30am to 4:00pm every day except 25 December and shifts are 8:30am to 12:15pm, and 12:15pm to 4pm.
Maintenance
Our maintenance team provides repairs and maintenance in and around Koala Conservation Australia properties and buildings.
Team members also build and maintain the koala enclosures, including the koala climbing structures and keep the grounds clean and well presented. They may also provide general repairs at our other sites including our plantations.
The work is generally carried out Monday to Fridays.
If you have carpentry, electrical or other trade or general maintenance skills we’d like to hear from you.
Plantation Volunteers
Koala Conservation Australia has two Koala food tree plantations. One is at Moripo, west of Wauchope and the larger one is on Maria River Road just north of Port Macquarie.
Volunteers with good physical fitness and some relevant experience are required for these roles.
The work includes watering, mowing, pruning and tending to eucalypt trees.
At appropriate times of the year volunteers will also be involved in planting Koala food trees - an absolute necessity to keep hungry koalas fed.
It is best if you have your own transportation to reach the plantations.
Business Support
We also need volunteers to help with administration work.
This role includes data entry, telephone-based customer service, general administrative tasks or assisting with updating the wild koala adoptions database and preparing packages to meet orders.
We also from time to time are looking for skilled volunteers to work on specific projects, assist with fundraising, marketing or policy development.
If you have skills and experience that can assist Koala Conservation Australia promote and carry out it's work, we would love to hear from you.
Keen to get on board with our volunteer program?
Check out our current vacancies and complete our online application below. If we have a position available for you, we will be in touch!
Below is a list of the current available roles we need to fill so we can keep doing great things!
Koala Conservation Wild Koala Breeding, Guulabaa
Cowarra State Forest
Koala Care
Koala Conservation Australia is seeking expressions of interest for volunteers to help carry out daily yard work for koala enclosures as part of the wild koala breeding program.
The role involves servicing and maintaining koala enclosures in a bushland environment. This bushland environment consists of uneven surfaces, steep slopes, insects, reptiles and wildlife. The work will be exposed to all weather conditions and will involve a lot of walking, standing and lifting, thus a medium level of physical capability is required. The role also involves adhering to strict animal welfare and biosecurity procedures, work and health and safety procedures and 100% respect of a wild animal. This means there is no touching, no handling, no feeding, no talking, no photos etc.
The morning volunteer shift operates between 8:30am – 10am whilst the afternoon shift operates between 2pm – 3pm. We have a few gaps and are seeking volunteers specifically for the following shifts.
• Ongoing & reliable volunteers for Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday afternoon
• Back up volunteers for all shifts but in particular Saturday & Sunday morning and afternoon
Maintenance
We are seeking a maintenance person with prior experience. You will need to be fit and capable of working in the challenging environment at Guulabaa.
This bushland environment consists of uneven surfaces, steep slopes, insects, reptiles and wildlife. The work will be exposed to all weather conditions and will involve a lot of walking, standing and lifting, thus a medium level of physical capability is required. The role also involves adhering to strict animal welfare and biosecurity procedures, work and health and safety procedures and 100% respect of a wild animal. This means there is no touching, no handling, no feeding, no talking, no photos etc.
If you are a jack of all trades and pick up on things quickly, we would love to hear from you.
Gardener
KCA is seeking expressions of interest for a keen native plant gardener or experienced bush regenerator. The role involves knowledge and implementation of bush regeneration skills, weeding and the promotion and maintenance of natural regeneration and native revegetation.
The role involves working in a bushland environment consisting of uneven surfaces, steep slopes, insects, reptiles and wildlife. The work will be exposed to all weather conditions and will involve a lot of physical work; thus, a medium level of physical capability is required. The role also involves adhering to strict animal welfare and biosecurity procedures, work and health and safety procedures and 100% respect of a wild animal. This means there is no touching, no handling, no feeding, no talking, no photos etc.
The days and hours in which the role is needed is yet to be confirmed, however the hours would be over the set days of Tuesday, Wednesday and/or Thursday.
Must have a strong knowledge and ID skills of Australian Native plants. This role would include maintenance of all established gardens but also free space around and in enclosures so must be very fit and capable of working in the challenging environment at Guulabaa.
Koala Conservation Hospital Port Macquarie
HR and Membership Coordinator
Are you a HR superstar looking for a new challenge in a volunteer role?
We are seeking someone with excellent communication skills who is comfortable with using Microsoft IT packages.
In this role you play a big part in the recruitment and onboarding of new volunteers, so we are seeking someone with a friendly and positive attitude.
If you love engaging with people, have a solid understanding of Human Resources and want to make a positive impact in the organisation this is a great role for you.
WHS Officer
Do you get excited about WHS and want to make a positive difference to Koala Conservation Australia and our team?
We are seeking a WHS officer with a sound understanding of current WHS processes and systems who is comfortable using Microsoft IT packages.
Great communication skills and the ability to problem solve will also be an asset in this role.
Learning and Development Coordinator
We are looking for and Learning and Development Superstar who wants to make a positive impact on KCA and the team.
This role requires someone with a sound understanding of contemporary L&D processes and methodology, great communication skills and facilitation experience.
We are looking for someone who is comfortable with using Microsoft IT packages and has a friendly and positive attitude.
Fundraising and Communications Support
We are looking for someone with excellent communication skills who is comfortable with using Microsoft IT packages.
If you love engaging with people, creating customer delight and thrive on making a difference this could be the role for you.
We are looking for someone who can assist with implementation of KCA fundraising initiatives and has strong service skills and friendly phone manner.
Retail Coordinator
We are seeking someone who is excited about customer service and retail.
This role will involve the ordering of stock, merchandising, pricing and volunteer coordination.
Our retail offering is supported by an amazing team of volunteers and is an important part of the organsation so if you love a challenge and want to make a difference this is the role for you.
Retail Sales Assistant
We are looking for friendly, enthusiastic volunteers to help us in our retail Kiosk.
This role involves customer service, merchandising and sales.
If you are well presented, love people, are a good communicator and want to help us make a difference this is the role for you.
Business Support
We are looking for friendly, enthusiastic volunteers to help us in Business Support.
This role involves answering phones, completing orders, computer work and general admin tasks.
This role requires you to be comfortable using a computer and have good written and verbal communication skills.
If you are well presented, love people, are a good communicator and want to help us make a difference this is the role for you.