Volunteers

Find your calling

With more than 600 volunteers across 45 unique roles across our Zoos, Taronga's Volunteer Programs enable people from all backgrounds, experience levels and expertise to experience the magic of Taronga by contributing to our mission of securing a shared future for wildlife and people.

Find your calling

Who can become a volunteer?

To join the Taronga volunteer program, you will:

Have a passion for wildlife conservation and strong work ethic
Be 18 years old or over
Have or be able to get a valid NSW Working With Children Check and sign a Working with Animals Declaration
Be able to commit to the requirements of the role (usually 12 months at one day per week or 1 day per fortnight)
Complete eLearning units, induction and pay your one-off Volunteer program joining fee

Taronga’s volunteer programs are not suitable for people requiring work placement to complete courses or degrees.

Where can you volunteer across the Zoo?

Guest Experience Volunteers

Guest Experience Volunteers are the face of Taronga, welcoming visitors, supporting keeper talks, sharing maps, and answering questions at information points and activations.

Creating memorable experiences and inspiring guests to care for wildlife and conservation, these roles are perfect for people who love engaging with others, sharing knowledge, and making every visitor feel valued.

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Nutrition Volunteers

Step behind the scenes in our Animal Nutrition Centre and learn what our animals eat, how we prepare it, and the creative ways we make mealtimes enriching.

From preparing Red Panda bars to chopping fruit and vegetables for hundreds of animals, our Nutrition volunteers perform a variety of hands-on tasks that provide insight into the daily care of diverse species.

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Taronga keeper and volunteer in the kitchen working on preparing food

Animal Behaviour Observation Volunteers

Assist with observing animal behaviour across a variety of species to help maintain Taronga’s world-class welfare standards. Our volunteers receive training in observation techniques, research methods, and data collection.

These roles suit detail-oriented people who love learning and want to contribute to cutting-edge animal welfare practices.

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Behavioural Watch Volunteer outside enclosure

Administration Volunteers

Make an impact behind the scene and support Taronga's mission by assisting teams across People Culture & Safety, Education, Sustainability, Marketing, Foundation, Procurement and more.

From preparing materials and data entry to helping deliver programs, these roles suit a wide range of skills and experience levels. If you enjoy organisation, teamwork and supporting projects that make a difference, this is a great fit.

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Laboratory and Research Volunteers

Support our Wildlife Hospital, Pathology and Registry of Wildlife Health teams in roles that make a real difference. You might assist with sample processing, data entry or research tasks, perfect for those with a science background or keen to gain hands-on experience.

These roles offer a unique opportunity to contribute to conservation science and wildlife health that saves species

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Bushcare and Horticulture Volunteers

Help care for Taronga’s stunning gardens, natural landscapes at Dubbo, and the harbour foreshore at Sydney. Collect browse for animals, and maintain the beautiful green spaces that make our Zoos so special. You’ll work outdoors, learn horticultural skills, and contribute to creating habitats for wildlife and spaces for visitors to enjoy. Ideal for those who love nature and want to make a visible impact.

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Zookeeper Volunteers

Our Zookeeper Volunteer roles are highly sought after and involve physically demanding, hands-on work to support Taronga’s world-class animal welfare. Volunteers assist with daily husbandry tasks such as preparing food, cleaning habitats, and creating enrichment activities.

As the only volunteer positions with direct animal contact, these roles offer a rare opportunity to learn from experienced keepers and gain insight into animal behaviour and care.

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