Zoos SA
Zoos SA is a non-government conservation charity, every visit, adoption, donation and ticket helps to save species from extinction.

Lend a paw to conservation, volunteer with Zoos SA!

Zoos SA’s volunteer team is an important part of the wild family and supports a variety of activities across Adelaide Zoo and Monarto Safari Park.

As a conservation charity, our volunteers play a vital role in supporting our work and helping us to achieve our purpose to connect people with nature and save species from extinction.

We are seeking volunteers who are committed, curious, adaptable, positive, cheerful and passionate about our organisation and conservation efforts.

What’s involved?

Our generous volunteers contribute across Zoos SA through a range of public-facing and behind-the-scenes roles. They love the outdoors, animals and interacting with visitors as key connectors to our conservation stories.

As a volunteer you’ll gain knowledge, develop skills and utilise the strengths and experiences you already possess, to contribute positively to our programs.

Please note, roles DO NOT involve working directly with animals.

To volunteer, you’ll need to:

  • Be 18 years or older to apply
  • Have a current National Police Check or WWCC (or be willing to undergo a screening)
  • Be a current financial member of the zoo
  • Commit to regular service of around 180 hours per year (a weekly or at least fortnightly shift is expected so you can remain engaged and up to date)
  • Have your own email address and are comfortable using phones, tablets or PCs to access email, our online roster system, undertake e-learning and communication updates
  • Undertake volunteer and refresher training
  • Agree to act in accordance with our values, policies, procedures and processes

How to apply

You can apply anytime via the online form. Check out the different roles in general interests and select those which you feel you are best suited to.

If your interests match our recruitment needs you will be invited to attend a short matching interview so we can see if you fit our program, values and culture, and that we also match your expectations!

We receive a high number of applications and selection to be a volunteer is a competitive process due to the limited places available. We recruit on an as needs basis with some roles only advertised internally.

Apply now

Volunteer roles

Our largest group of volunteers are key ambassadors in the roles of Welcome & Assist, Walking and Bus Tour Guides, Platform Hosts and Rovers. They provide a friendly welcome and engaging information about our conservation efforts, animals and organisation so visitors can maximise their experience and leave feeling happy, helpful and hopeful about conservation.

From A to Zoo and Zoocation programs for pre-schoolers and primary children to archiving our library materials, volunteers are assisting the learning and engagement of generations of South Australians.

The Indaba Maintenance Team manage the gardens and facilities at our education camp at Monarto Safari Park.

With a commitment to life-long learning, Volunteer Peer Mentors and Training Teams are involved at both Adelaide Zoo and Monarto Safari Park to assist with the development of new recruits while they complete a combination of role specific group training and on the job learning.

BEEZA – Behavioural and Environmental Enrichment for Zoo Animals – are large teams at both sites producing a range of enrichment, food and products for our animals to enhance their mental and emotional wellbeing.

Variety Children’s Zoo is a great pathway program for people wanting hands on experience in order to work within the industry.

Zoo Watch requires comprehensive and long term observation and recording of animal behaviour and provides crucial data so we can ensure the safety and support of animal wellbeing.

Animal Health Care Assistants have specialist skills and provide administration, clinical or veterinary nurse support of our Animal Health Centre.

There are daily Animal Food Prep programs for birds at Adelaide Zoo, as well as Chimpanzees and natives at Monarto Safari Park.

Pot A Zoo volunteers cultivate plants for sale in our Zoo Shop helping to generate revenue and keep our beautiful gardens in good order.

Mallee Minders have planted over one million trees at Monarto Safari Park and attend to ongoing revegetation and land management needs of the park and its remnant Mallee scrub.

Wild Africa volunteers have rabbit proofed 14kms of fences and assist with the construction and maintenance of the new Wild Africa habitats and facilities.

The Monarto Safari Park Native Garden Maintenance team work behind the scenes where school and community groups are taken to learn about our native plants, animals and conservation programs and ways they can implement these at home, schools and local areas.

Light Creatures is one of our biggest events held as part of the Illuminate Festival, along with events such as Boo at the Zoo, Teddy Bears Picnic, Twilight Zoos and Relaxed Mornings at the Zoo designed for inclusivity of people with sensory needs. Volunteers help with all aspects and particularly like to dress up for the occasions.

The Monarto Functions Team raise significant funds through Volunteer run events. Monies raised are directed to projects determined by the Volunteer Representative Group.

The Board of Directors, Secretary and Public Officer and other Admin Support volunteers play a crucial role in the governance, direction and operations of Zoos SA.

A volunteer assisting at Adelaide Zoo’s annual spookfest Boo at the Zoo.

Training information

The type and length of training required for any of our roles depends on the position with a focus on on-the-job learning, being flexible and adaptive to change and continual knowledge seeking.

Training may include group-based sessions, on-the-job learning with mentors as well as online e-learning modules.

We are committed to lifelong learning, providing regular professional development and refresher opportunities with an expectation that all volunteers will actively stay up to date with any information about our organisation.

About Zoos SA

Zoos SA is a not-for-profit conservation charity that exists to connect people with nature and save species from extinction. Zoos SA acknowledges the Country on which we stand always was, and always will be, Aboriginal land and we pay our deepest respect and gratitude to Kaurna (Adelaide Zoo) and Ngarrindjeri (Monarto Safari Park) Elders, past, present and emerging. We undertake critical conservation work throughout Australia and acknowledge the traditional custodians of these lands.

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