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Be ready to help when native wildlife needs you the most.

Taronga's Veterinary Professional Training in Wildlife Treatment and Care offers flexible online learning and a practical workshop to best equip equip veterinary professionals with the skills in wildlife first aid, treatment and emergency care.

Things to know

  • Duration
     

    20 hours of online learning over three months, with an optional one‑day practical workshop. 
     
    Start study anytime when it suits you.
  • Locations

    Online, with optional practical workshops offered at:
    Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary (QLD) and Taronga Zoo Sydney (NSW)
  • Course fees

    $200 - online course
    $495 - practical workshop
    $695 - full course (course + workshop)

About this course

Taronga’s Veterinary Professional Training in Wildlife Treatment and Care supports veterinarians and veterinary nurses in building the skills and confidence needed for the triage, first aid, treatment and care of Australian wildlife.


Accredited by the AVA and VNCA, the course includes 20 hours of self‑paced online learning (20 CPD points), available over three months, with downloadable resources and supporting materials.


Participants can also choose to attend an optional one‑day practical workshop (12 CPD points) in NSW and QLD, featuring hands‑on mock demonstrations in wildlife treatment and care. Workshop places are limited and open only to veterinary professionals working in an Australian clinic or hospital. Completion of the online component is required before attending.

What you'll learn

The online component of the course is made up of five competency‑based modules, designed to be completed at your own pace over a three month period. Most participants find the content takes around 20 hours to work through. 
 

All modules have been created by wildlife veterinarians from the Taronga Wildlife Hospitals, with support from our program partners. Each module covers a specific species including Amphibians and Reptiles, Birds, Mammals and Koalas (developed by the Koala Health Hub). 

How to enrol

You can enrol for this course at any time and start studying when it suits you.

To enrol, upload a short letter from your employer or manager confirming you meet the eligibility criteria. The letter should be personalised to you and include:

  • Your full name
  • Your job title/role
  • Your employment status (full‑time, part‑time, casual or locum)
    The name of your organisation

Our team will review your documents to confirm your eligibility.

Submit your application, based on your location, via the below links.

"As a current practicing wildlife vet nurse, I cannot recommend this course highly enough. There is a wealth of information for professionals at every level, especially those in GP wanting to ensure they can offer the best care to wild patients." - Tahnee

"This is a fantastic course for anyone working in the animal industry. I feel much more confident about the standard of care I can provide for wildlife, and more knowledge about all the common species we may encounter." - Anonymous

Program partners

Taronga’s Veterinary Professional Development in Wildlife Treatment and Care course is expanding first across koala states and territories, with an aim to continue to expand nationally. Program partners are identified interstate experts in Australian wildlife treatment and care, committed to ensuring state specific legislation, policies and guidelines of the course remain current.

Contact us