Barn Assistant - RSPCA Burwood

About us

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) is a non-government, community-based not-for-profit organisation whose purpose is to exist for animals to live better lives.  We are Victoria’s best-known and most respected animal welfare organisation. 

Our organisation’s vision is to have a world where animals and people live together with dignity, respect and compassion.  RSPCA’s values – show compassion, lead the way, act with courage and seek positive outcomes – set clear expectations for all our employees and volunteers.

Volunteers are an integral part of the RSPCA team. They play an active and vital role in helping to support our work to improve the welfare of animals and protect them from cruelty and neglect. Volunteering involves commitment, dedication and passion.

Role purpose

The Barn is an integral component of our education program, with the animals and their stories being used to educate youth on animal welfare. The Animal Attendants ensure a clean and comfortable environment for the RSPCA Victoria’s permanent residents, a group of farm animals that include goats, sheep, rabbits, cats, guinea pigs and chickens. Volunteers also ensure that animals in the barn program receive a high standard of animal care, including feeding animals and cleaning pens; as well as assist animal attendants with socializing the barn animals as required for the Education program.

Key tasks

The Barn Assistant volunteer will be providing assistance with the following activities:

• Assisting staff in the general cleaning and maintenance of the animal enclosures, yards and paddocks
• Cleaning of barn areas as requested, including quarantine area where poultry are housed
• Feeding small animals and on occasion, large animals
• Occasional grooming of various small and large animals
• Observing animals for any behavioural changes, signs of illness and reporting this promptly to staff
• Assisting with animal socialisation to ensure animals are prepared for the education program
• Handling animals (small and sometimes large) in all areas of the barn/paddocks as instructed by animal attendant.

Please note: This role will include working with animals (small and large) both indoors and outdoors (regardless of weather conditions) and the tasks allocated to a volunteer per shift will vary depending upon the needs of the barn.

Skills, qualifications, or experience required

To be successful in this role, the volunteer will possess the following necessary skills, attributes and/or experience.

Essential:

• Experience handling and/or caring for livestock (including large animals); or previous RSPCA volunteer experience in an Animal Care role, with demonstrated reliability over the past 6 months
• Ability to read animal behaviour and an understanding of manual handling techniques, to ensure the safe handling of animals
• Experience and desire to work with an array of animals, particularly rabbits, guinea pigs and chickens
• High level verbal communication skills - notifying the animal attendant in a timely manner of any animal health or behaviour concerns. The role requires interaction with a variety of staff and to work as part of the wider RSPCA Victoria animal care team at times
• General fitness for moderately active shifts, including regular bending and squatting
• The ability to work independently, including the ability to follow written and verbal instructions provided and to work independently during allocated volunteer shift
• Strong attention to detail, particularly when undertaking cleaning tasks
• An understanding of manual handling techniques, including the ability to lift objects of up to 10 kgs safely.
• Aged 16 years and over

Desirable:

• Relevant qualification in a related animal field (Cert II or above) advantageous
• High level of demonstrated experience working with larger animals advantageous

The following items are required as part of recruitment for this role:

• Medical - proof of tetanus vaccination
• Working with Children Check
• Identity check
• Screen for animal cruelty offenses

Training & support

The following training and support will be provided:

• Animal health and behaviour volunteer orientation training
• On the job training with Animal Attendant staff
• Ongoing opportunity to discuss your role and any concerns with the supervising staff member, Animal Care Team Leader, or Volunteer Program Team.