Animal Jobs Sydney | Careers Working With Animals

Written by the Birdsville team. Last updated October 2026.

Looking for jobs working with animals in Sydney? Birdsville and Petsville operate together under one roof at 684 Botany Road, Alexandria NSW 2015, so our team gets hands-on experience in both in-store animal care and online retail. We’re a passionate team of animal lovers dedicated to exceptional care, knowledge and service, and if you want to build a career working with animals, this is a place where you can grow, learn and make a real difference.

From humble beginnings over 40 years ago as a small bird specialist, Birdsville has grown into one of Sydney’s most diverse small animal retailers, boarding facilities and adoption centres, servicing the Eastern Suburbs and Inner South Sydney. Today we specialise in birds, reptiles (including turtles, lizards and snakes), fish and small animals, backed by a strong retail and customer service team. Customers travel from near and far for our expertise and genuine care, and it’s our team that makes that possible.

Why Work With Us?

We’re always looking for motivated, reliable, hardworking people who love animals and enjoy working with people. At Birdsville and Petsville, you’ll be part of a supportive, family-like team 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

We prefer to hire from within. When a role opens up, we look first to the volunteers and team members who have already shown us they get the job done, and we promote from within into senior and management roles wherever we can.

A Proven Pathway Into Zoos and the Animal Industry

We have a strong track record of team members going on to careers in zoos, including Taronga Zoo, as well as veterinary clinics and other parts of the animal industry. To our knowledge, every team member who has worked their way up through Birdsville and then set their sights on the zoo industry has made it, and we actively encourage that ambition.

Our owner came to Birdsville from the zoo industry, where he worked as a keeper and in management, after starting out at Birdsville when he was young. He runs the store with many of the same routines and standards used in zoos, so the skills you learn here carry straight over to a zoo, wildlife park or vet clinic.

Jobs Working With Reptiles in Sydney

Jobs working with reptiles are hard to find, because very few workplaces in Sydney keep them. Based in Alexandria, Birdsville is the only reptile dealer servicing the Eastern Suburbs, and reptiles are a big part of what we do. Our team cares for turtles, lizards and snakes every day, from feeding and enclosure setup to handling and helping customers choose the right reptile and setup. If you love reptiles and want to work with them, this is one of the few places where you can do it every day.

How to Get a Job at Birdsville and Petsville

There are several ways into a paid role with us:

Direct applications: send us your CV and cover letter, or bring them in-store.
Our Road to Success program: our internal growth and promotion pathway, for team members who want to take on more responsibility and move into senior and management roles.
Volunteering first: if you’re 16 or over and want to prove yourself before applying, volunteering with us (https://birdsville.net.au/animal-volunteer-sydney/) is a great way in, as we look to our volunteers first when a role opens up.

High school students looking for a placement rather than a job can find everything they need on our School Work Experience page (https://birdsville.net.au/school-work-experience-sydney/).

We value dedication, attitude and a willingness to learn just as much as experience. Many of our own team members started out through volunteering or work experience.

What We Look For

Successful candidates will show:

A strong focus on customer service and creating great experiences for customers
Motivation, initiative and a proactive attitude
High integrity and reliability
The ability to work efficiently and get jobs done, so every animal is cared for on time
Confidence talking with all kinds of people
The ability to stay calm under pressure
Attention to detail and pride in their work
A hands-on attitude, where no task is too big or too small
A genuine passion for animals and their welfare
A willingness to learn about many different kinds of animals
The ability to work well in a team

Experience in retail or animal care is highly regarded but not essential.

Knowledge and Skills We Value

Reptile experience: reptiles are a big part of what we do, so experience keeping, handling or caring for turtles, lizards and snakes is a real advantage when applying
A current NSW reptile keeper licence, which shows hands-on reptile experience and a commitment to doing things properly
Bird care, handling and husbandry
Aquatic care and water testing
Small animal care (rabbits, guinea pigs and rodents)
General pet product knowledge
Retail merchandising and sales

What the Role Involves

Working at Birdsville and Petsville is varied and hands-on. No two days are the same, with tasks ranging from helping customers to animal care and running the store.

Animal Care and Husbandry

Cleaning and maintaining animal enclosures
Feeding and monitoring all animals
Doing daily health checks
Providing enrichment and keeping animal welfare standards high
Maintaining aquariums and aquatic systems

Customer Service and Retail

Helping customers with purchases and questions
Giving expert advice on animal care and products
Operating registers and handling transactions
Resolving customer concerns
Creating eye-catching displays and merchandising

Store Operations

General cleaning and maintenance
Stock control and inventory
Administration and record keeping

Please note, the work can be physically demanding and includes lifting heavy items such as bags of feed and equipment.

Rosters and Hours

Full-Time Roles

Our full-time team usually work a set roster of four weekday shifts and one weekend day, depending on the role.

Casual and Part-Time Roles

Casual team members often start with shorter weekday shifts, such as after school, and may move on to longer weekend shifts as they gain experience.

Flexibility is essential for all roles, including weekend availability.

Starting a Career in the Animal Industry

Getting into the animal industry usually starts with hands-on experience. Volunteering or working in places like vet clinics, pet stores, shelters or zoos is one of the best ways to build your skills and confidence, and it’s exactly what zoos and vet clinics look for when they hire.

Our Story, Your Opportunity

One of our team members started out volunteering with vets, before joining Birdsville when it was still a small, bird-only store. From there, they moved to a role with pet distributor Pet Pacific, gaining broader experience with dogs, cats, fish and aquariums, then completed a Certificate III in Captive Animals. With all that experience behind them, they went on to achieve their dream of becoming a zookeeper.

Stories like this aren’t unusual here. Over the years, Birdsville and Petsville have helped launch careers in animal care, zookeeping, retail management, veterinary services and beyond.

Animal Careers in Sydney: Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a job working with animals in Sydney?

Hands-on experience is the best place to start. Volunteering, school work experience or a casual job in a pet store, vet clinic or shelter builds the skills employers look for. At Birdsville, we prefer to hire from within, so volunteering with us is one of the best ways to put yourself forward for a paid role.

Is Birdsville hiring?

We hire as roles become available, across full-time, part-time and casual positions in animal care, retail and customer service. Even if no role is advertised, we’re always happy to receive a CV and cover letter from hardworking people who love animals. Email info@birdsville.net.au or drop your CV in-store.

Do I need experience to work at Birdsville?

No. Experience in retail or animal care is highly regarded, but it isn’t essential. We value attitude, reliability, hard work and a willingness to learn just as much as experience. Many of our team members started out through volunteering or work experience, and we train you in the animal care and retail skills you need.

Does reptile experience help me get a job at Birdsville?

Yes. Reptiles are a big part of what we do, so experience keeping, handling or caring for turtles, lizards and snakes is a real advantage. Holding a current NSW reptile keeper licence also helps, as it shows hands-on experience and responsible keeping. It isn’t essential, though, as we train new team members in reptile care.

Where can I get a job working with reptiles in Sydney?

Jobs with reptiles are hard to find in Sydney, as few workplaces keep them. Based in Alexandria, Birdsville is the only reptile dealer servicing the Eastern Suburbs, and our team works with turtles, lizards and snakes every day. We hire for full-time, part-time and casual roles as they become available, and reptile experience is a real advantage.

Can working at Birdsville lead to a zoo career?

Yes. We have a strong track record of team members going on to zoo careers, including at Taronga Zoo. To our knowledge, everyone who has worked their way up through Birdsville and wanted to get into zoos has done so. Our owner is a former zoo keeper and manager, and we run the store with zoo-style routines.

What is the Road to Success program?

Road to Success is our internal growth and promotion pathway. Team members who work hard, take initiative and want to grow with the business can build their skills step by step and move into more senior and management roles. It’s part of why we prefer to hire and promote from within whenever we can.

What hours do Birdsville team members work?

Full-time team members usually work four weekday shifts and one weekend day. Casual team members often start with shorter weekday shifts, such as after school, and may move to longer weekend shifts as they gain experience. Flexibility, including weekend availability, is essential for all paid roles at Birdsville and Petsville.

Join Our Team

If you’re passionate about animals, enjoy working with people and are ready to work hard and build a rewarding career, we’d love to hear from you.

Email your CV and cover letter to info@birdsville.net.au, or bring them in-store to 684 Botany Road, Alexandria NSW 2015, on the corner of Gardeners Road. Don’t forget to tell us why you want to be part of the Birdsville and Petsville family. You can also call us on (02) 9669 1766.

Follow us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/BirdsvilleRosebery/), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/petsvillesydney/) and TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@birdsvillepets) to get a feel for the team and day-to-day life at Birdsville and Petsville.