Careers at Birdsville / Petsville
Working with Animals in Sydney
At Birdsville Petsville, we’re more than just a workplace, we’re a passionate team of animal lovers dedicated to providing exceptional care, knowledge, and service to our community. If you’re looking to build a career working with animals in Sydney, this is a place where you can grow, learn, and truly make a difference.
From humble beginnings nearly 40 years ago as a small bird specialist, Birdsville has evolved into one of Sydney’s most diverse small animal retailers, boarding facilities, and adoption centres. Today, we specialise in birds, reptiles, and small animals, supported by a strong retail and customer service foundation.
Our customers travel from near and far for our expertise, hands-on experience, and genuine care, and it’s our team that makes that possible.
Why Work With Us?
We’re always looking for motivated, reliable, and passionate individuals who not only love animals, but also enjoy working with people. At Birdsville / Petsville, you’ll be part of a supportive, family-like environment where hard work is valued and growth is encouraged.
We offer career pathways in:
- Animal care and husbandry
- Animal welfare
- Retail and sales
- Customer service
- Boarding and animal handling
Many of our team members have gone on to successful careers in zoos, veterinary clinics, and other animal industries, while others have grown within our business into senior and management roles.
Pathways Into Our Team
There are several ways to start your journey with Birdsville Petsville:
- Work Experience Programs (for students)
- Volunteering Opportunities
- Our “Road to Success” Program – internal growth and promotions
- Direct Applications – via CV and cover letter
We value dedication, attitude, and willingness to learn just as much as experience.
What We Look For
Successful candidates will demonstrate:
- A strong focus on customer service and the ability to create positive experiences
- Motivation, initiative, and a proactive attitude
- High integrity and reliability
- Confidence communicating with a wide range of people
- The ability to stay calm under pressure
- Attention to detail and pride in their work
- A hands-on mindset — no task is too big or too small
- A genuine passion for animals and their welfare
- Willingness to learn and expand knowledge across multiple animal types
- The ability to work well within a team
Experience in retail or animal care is highly regarded but not essential.
Knowledge & Skills (Highly Valued)
- Bird care, handling, and husbandry
- Reptile care and enclosure setup
- Aquatic care and water testing
- Small animal care (rabbits, guinea pigs, rodents)
- General pet product knowledge
- Retail merchandising and sales
What the Role Involves
Working at Birdsville Petsville is diverse and hands-on. No two days are the same, and tasks range from customer interaction to animal care and store operations.
Animal Care & Husbandry
- Cleaning and maintaining animal enclosures
- Feeding and monitoring all animals
- Conducting daily health checks
- Providing enrichment and ensuring animal welfare standards
- Maintaining aquariums and aquatic systems
Customer Service & Retail
- Assisting customers with purchases and enquiries
- Providing expert advice on animal care and products
- Operating registers and handling transactions
- Managing customer questions and resolving concerns
- Creating engaging displays and merchandising
Store Operations
- General cleaning and maintenance
- Stock control and inventory management
- Administrative tasks and record keeping
Please note: This role can be physically demanding and may involve lifting heavy items such as bags of feed or equipment.
Working With Us
Full-Time Roles
Our full-time team typically work a structured roster of four weekday shifts and one weekend day, depending on role requirements.
Casual & Part-Time Roles
Casual team members often begin with shorter weekday shifts (such as after school hours) and may progress to longer weekend shifts as they gain experience.
Flexibility is essential, including availability on weekends.
Starting a Career in the Animal Industry
Getting started in the animal industry often begins with hands-on experience. Volunteering or working in environments such as veterinary clinics, pet stores, shelters, or zoos is one of the best ways to build your skills and confidence.
Many of our own team members began their journey through volunteering or work experience.
Our Story, Your Opportunity
One of the best ways to get into the animal industry is to work or volunteer in the animal industry. This can be with vets, zoos pet shops, anywhere business that has animals. You will learn a lot just working with animals and will grow your experience. I got into the animal industry by volunteering with vets followed by pet shops, which was Birdsville. After volunteering for some time, I was then employed by Birdsville under Lez Lenton. These days the shop was a lot smaller and only had birds. After a few years of employment I then got a job working for pet pacific, a pet distributor which gave me a broad range of experience with dog, cat, and fish and aquariums. During my employment I did a certificate 3 captive animal, with this experience under my belt and some years in the animal industry, I then applied to zoos as this was my dream job. I landed a role as a zoo keeper, we have had many staff come through our company and successfully grow their career in the company becoming managers at the company or going on to other industries such as zoos or vets. Some of our managers over 40 years have left and managed other companies that are not animal based.
One of our team members began by volunteering with veterinarians and later joined Birdsville when it was a small bird-only store. After gaining experience and completing a Certificate III in Captive Animals, they pursued their dream of becoming a zookeeper — a goal they successfully achieved.
Stories like this are not uncommon. Over the years, Birdsville Petsville has helped launch careers in animal care, retail management, veterinary services, and beyond.
Join Our Team
If you’re passionate about animals, enjoy working with people, and are ready to build a rewarding career, we’d love to hear from you.
If you think you may be the perfect fir for a job here at Birdsville/Petsville, please email us at info@birdsville.net.au or visit us in-store 684 Botany Road Alexandria, with your CV and cover letter — and don’t forget to tell us why you want to be part of the Birdsville/Petsville family.
