Applications for Taronga's 2026 School Work Experience open on Monday 13th October. The application paperwork will be made available on this webpage. All applications for the Taronga School Work Experience Program must be done by the school careers advisor.
Wondering if work experience at Taronga Zoo is for you?
If you’re interested in a career in animal husbandry, veterinary practices or wildlife conservation, work experience at the Zoo could be the perfect way to test the waters in the animal care industry.
Students completing work experience at the zoo will be given the opportunity to participate in the following:
Observe a variety of work in the fields of zoo keeping or animal care, veterinary hospitals and wildlife conservation
Undertake basic supervised tasks in these fields
Gain skills and knowledge related to working within the zoo industry
Investigate training and employment opportunities with Taronga
What tasks might I be undertaking on work experience?
You will be exposed to a wide range of duties that could include:
Cleaning, cleaning and more cleaning. Anything from windows to animal exhibits, to poo.
Food preparation and distribution for the animals
Raking and other general duties
Assisting with keeper talks
Observation of animal training routines
Supervised animal care with non-hazardous species
Observing and recording animal behaviour information
Interacting with guests
General administration
When does work experience at Taronga occur?
Taronga Zoo offers work experience placements during the NSW Department of Education school term only. Students complete work experience for one full week, Monday to Friday. The placement will start at 8am and conclude by 3pm each day, with two breaks throughout the day for morning tea and lunch.
How can I apply?
Your application must be submitted via email through your careers advisor. To apply, please download and complete the application form found on this webpage (from October 13th). Students will also need to complete the supplementary Microsoft Form together with their careers advisor (or another representative from their school).
Students, if you think this work experience placement is for you, please get in touch with your careers advisor to make an application. We will not accept any applications submitted by students or their parents/caregivers.
With regard to fairness, Taronga is only able to accept one student per school, across both Taronga Zoo and Taronga Western Plains Zoo. Careers advisors must only submit one application. Placements are processed in order of receipt. Placements in Taronga’s work experience program are very competitive, so careers advisors are recommended to get in quick, particularly if you have preferred weeks or animal divisions.
Applications for 2026 will open on Monday 13th October, 2026 and close on Saturday 28th February, 2026, unless placements fill up prior. If placements fill up, there will be an opportunity to apply for the waitlist.
Can I do work experience at Taronga Western Plains Zoo?
Please refer to the webpage below for information about work experience at Taronga Western Plains Zoo. Please note that work experience at TWPZ is organised separately by our Dubbo team. Students are only allowed to complete work experience at one zoo location.
https://taronga.org.au/get-involved/school-work-experience/dubbo
Questions?
Please direct all communication about applying through your careers advisor, including any further questions you might have.
Meet a Keeper
If Work Experience is fully booked, you may wish to attend Meet a Keeper. This is a one-day program for school students aged 14 years and over who have expressed a keen interest in pursuing a career at the Zoo. Meet Keepers, hear about their career pathways and learn about the variety of pathways to working in a zoo. Find out more.