No experience is necessary! We provide full training for all roles, including animal care and handling.
Join a community dedicated to caring for Australia’s native wildlife.
Volunteers are the heartbeat of Kanyana Wildlife. Whether you're interested in hands-on animal care, helping behind the scenes, educating the community, or supporting fundraising events, there’s a place for you here.
How to Get Started
We’ve made it easier than ever to join our volunteer team:
- Read through the information on this page to learn about the roles, expectations, and requirements.
- Tick the box at the bottom of the page to confirm you’ve read and understood what volunteering at Kanyana involves.
- Book into a New Volunteer Orientation session, where you’ll meet the team and learn everything you need to get started.
🦘 Rehabilitation Team
As a wildlife rehabilitator, you will play a hands-on role in caring for sick, injured, orphaned or displaced animals. This rewarding role allows you to work closely with a variety of native species, gaining valuable skills in animal care while experiencing the joy of helping wildlife return to their natural habitats. Initially you will work with our healthiest patients in pre-release, completing husbandry which includes preparing feeds, feeding, cleaning enclosures and monitoring animals. You will then move to the breezeway where you will learn how to catch and handle our bird patients, before moving into our intensive care areas. Along the way there is lots of laundry and cleaning; animals are messy patients. There is a lot of training involved in wildlife rehabilitation as this is specialised work. You have the opportunity to further your skills including learning how to tube feed, supervise a shift, administer medications and assess new patients. The longer you can commit to volunteering in our rehabilitation area, the more we can teach you.
This hands-on role is both challenging and rewarding; whether you’re assisting with feeding, monitoring health, or preparing animals for release, every task contributes to giving them a second chance at life. Ultimate goal is the release of the animal back to the wild.
Great for: Reliable, observant people who enjoy hands-on work and want to work with wildlife, or those thinking about becoming a veterinary nurse or veterinarian.
Time Commitment: Preferably One 4.5 hour shift weekly. Our rehabilitation section has three four and a half hour shifts a day; but sometimes we need to work longer depending on the workload. We have an AM shift starting at 8am, MD from 12pm and the PM shift starts at 4pm.
🦉 Resident Team
Kanyana is home to many resident animals; including our education animals (such as echidna and cockatoos) and animals that are a part of endangered or threatened species breeding programs (including bilbies). Our resident team focuses on the well-being of our resident animals, creating stimulating environments that mimic their natural habitats and promote natural behaviours. Kanyana is accredited by ZAA and we work using the five domains when caring for our residents. Our resident volunteers initially learn the basic husbandry skills needed for captive animal care; including preparing food, feeding, cleaning enclosures, providing browse and monitoring animals. Once these basic skills are achieved you have the opportunity to learn animal handling skills, develop and provide enrichment, learn more about animal behaviour and our breeding programs or become an animal trainer. Our resident teams work in all weather and this is a physically demanding role. If you are a hard worker and enjoy being outdoors then this may be the role for you.
Great for: Physically fit animal lovers who want to build relationships with our permanent residents, or those wishing to pursue a career as an animal attendant or zookeeper.
Time Commitment: Preferably One 4.5 hour shift weekly (AM, MD and PM shifts available).
📚 Education Team
Inspire the next generation of wildlife champions! Education volunteers engage with the public, teaching people of all ages about wildlife conservation and the importance of protecting our native species. Through school visits, guided tours, school holiday programs and community events, they inspire a new generation of wildlife enthusiasts and advocates. No teaching experience needed — just enthusiasm and confidence.
Great for: Clear communicators with a passion for conservation and community outreach.
Time Commitment: Two tours/bookings each month.
🏥 Hospital Reception
Hospital receptionists are a valuable team member and often the person on the front line when it comes to admissions and animals in need. Our hospital is open for admissions from 8am to 6pm daily and we receive over 3500 patients yearly. Our reception shifts are the same as the rehabilitation team; working on an AM, MD or PM shift. Receptionist’s tasks include answering telephone calls and returning messages, assisting the public with enquiries and advice, admitting wildlife patients into our hospital, helping to organise patient releases, vet visits and transfers, assist with admin tasks and more.
Great for: Organized, computer-savvy volunteers who prefer an indoor role. Good phone manner is essential.
Time Commitment: Preferably One shift per week, start times can be flexible; AM shift (8am-12.30pm), MD (12pm-4.30pm) PM (4pm-6pm).
🗂️ Administration
Kanyana is a large, growing business and we have many administration roles available, which help with essential behind-the-scenes tasks to keep Kanyana running smoothly. Volunteers interested in administration roles must be able to work independently. Some of the roles include finance and bookkeeping, processing memberships, general administration tasks, phone and email support, filing, preparing education packs, education bookings, data entry, purchasing supplies, grant writing and selling merchandise.
Great for: Organized, computer-savvy volunteers who prefer an indoor role.
Time Commitment: Flexible timings.
🌿 Gardening Team
Maintain our bushland surrounds, gardens, and public spaces. Tasks include weeding, planting, mulching, watering, and trail maintenance. This is outside work and can be done at any time of the day. Knowledge of native plants useful but not required; as our team can teach you.
Great for: People who enjoy the outdoors, don’t mind getting dirty, and want to make a physical difference.
Time Commitment: Flexible timings.
🔧 Maintenance Team
Maintenance volunteers keep our facilities in top shape, ensuring that our enclosures, equipment, and grounds are safe and well-maintained. Their work is vital for the safety and comfort of both our animals and our human team. Some of the tasks can include making possum boxes, repair enclosures, painting, build structures, install signage, plumbing, appliance repair, carpentry and general handyman tasks. You don’t need trade qualifications — just a practical mindset and a willingness to pitch in.
Great for: Hands-on helpers and DIY enthusiasts.
Time Commitment: Flexible timings.
📢 Marketing & Media
Kanyana is a not for profit organisation so we rely on marketing and media to raise money and awareness on what we do. You can also support our communications team with social media, photography, videography, newsletter writing, website updates, and promotional materials. While no previous experience is required, it is desired.
Great for: Creative thinkers and digital content creators.
Time Commitment: Flexible timings.
🚗 Animal Transport Volunteers
Help animals get to where they need to be! That can include picking up and dropping off injured or rehabilitated wildlife from vet clinics, the public, or other wildlife centres; collecting wildlife from the airport after their flight or the best job in the world – releasing rehabilitated wildlife! Training is provided for safe animal handling.
Requirements: Current driver’s licence and a reliable vehicle.
Time Commitment: Flexible timings.
🛍️ Community Events & Fundraising
We need volunteers with a passion for fundraising, who may have ideas on how we can raise money, and who will also be involved in events and fundraisers. Some of our current events and fundraisers include community markets, quiz nights, sausage sizzles, open days, raffles, and our volunteer-run donation shop.
Great for: Friendly, energetic volunteers who like public engagement and teamwork.
Time Commitment: Flexible timings.
Volunteer Requirements
To volunteer with us, you must:
- Be at least 16 years old, or apply as a Junior Volunteer if under 16.
- Be reliable and committed – we rely on volunteers to keep Kanyana running.
- Be willing to work as part of a team and follow our policies and procedures.
- Be respectful of wildlife, staff, and fellow volunteers.
- Be prepared to get your hands dirty and sometimes work in all weather conditions.
- Attend a New Volunteer Orientation session before beginning any role.
What We Offer
- Full training and support in your chosen role.
- A chance to make a real difference for native animals.
- A welcoming, passionate, and dedicated team.
- Opportunities to build skills and experience in wildlife care, education, and conservation.
- Flexible shifts to suit your availability – mornings, afternoons, or weekends.
📝 Membership & Uniform
The annual membership fee is $35, which helps cover volunteer insurances.
- Training Fee $10 paid to confirm and book onto New Volunteer Orientation, this is non refundable if you do not show up or cancel within 48hrs. Please remember we have trainers on site expecting you!
- Volunteers are also required to wear a Kanyana uniform polo shirt while on shift or representing Kanyana in any official capacity. Shirts are available for $30.
The uniform ensures we operate safely, professionally, and with a sense of shared identity.
🧒 Kanyana Welcomes Junior Volunteers!
At Kanyana, we’re excited to see young people getting involved in wildlife care and conservation. To ensure a safe, positive, and supportive environment, we have a Junior Volunteer Policy in place.
Key Requirements:
- Minimum age for Junior Volunteers is 10 years old
- Volunteers aged 10 to 13 must start as General Volunteers so we can assess their suitability before assigning them to a specific team or area.
- Only one Junior Volunteer per parent or guardian.
- A parent or guardian must:
- Attend orientation with the Junior Volunteer
- Participate in a short interview to determine suitability
- Be a registered Kanyana member and active volunteer
- Accompany the Junior Volunteer on every shift
- A brief Junior Volunteer Agreement must be completed to outline roles, expectations, and responsibilities.
We love seeing families and friends volunteer together and believe young people are the next generation of wildlife champions. Thank you for helping nurture the future of conservation!
Volunteer FAQs
Still have Questions?
Learn More About Volunteering
Be a Wildlife Hero
Make a difference today by supporting Kanyana Wildlife.
Join us in safeguarding Australia's precious wildlife through rescue, rehabilitation, and habitat protection.
Your support powers our mission and your generosity directly impacts the lives of injured, orphaned, and displaced animals in need. Together, we can make a lasting impact on wildlife conservation right here in Western Australia.
Whether you donate, volunteer, or adopt, you're making a difference.
