Working with Animals in Sydney

At Birdsville / Petsville, we’re more than just a workplace. Birdsville and Petsville operate together under one roof at our Alexandria store, so our team gets hands-on experience across both in-store animal care and online retail. 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 over 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, servicing the Eastern Suburbs and Inner South Sydney. Today, we specialise in birds, reptiles (including turtles, lizards and snakes) 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.

Work Experience With Animals in Sydney

If you’re in high school (Years 9 to 12), the best way to arrange a placement is through your school’s careers adviser. See our School Work Experience page for the full details on how that process works.

To apply for work experience, email us at info@birdsville.net.au with your details and the dates you’re available, or drop into our Alexandria store for a chat with the team.

How Can You Get Work Experience or Start a Career at Birdsville / Petsville?

There are several ways to start your journey with Birdsville / Petsville:

• Work Experience Programs (for students)
• Volunteering Opportunities
• Our “Road to Success” Program, our internal growth and promotions pathway
• 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 We Value

• Bird care, handling and husbandry
• Reptile care and enclosure setup (turtles, lizards and snakes)
• 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.

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

Stories like this are not uncommon. Over the years, Birdsville / Petsville has helped launch careers in animal care, retail management, veterinary services and beyond.

How do I get work experience with animals in Sydney?

Email your details and availability to info@birdsville.net.au, or come in and speak with our team in person at our Alexandria store. We take on work experience students across birds, reptiles and small animals, and many of our current team started out exactly the same way.

What will I actually do during a work experience placement?

Work experience students get genuine, hands-on exposure to daily animal care, including feeding, health checks and enclosure maintenance, alongside time with our retail and customer service team. It’s a real look at what a career in the animal industry actually involves, not just observation from the sidelines.

Where can you get work experience with reptiles?

Birdsville / Petsville offers hands-on work experience placements for students interested in reptiles. As one of Sydney’s most diverse small animal retailers, our team works daily with turtles, lizards and snakes, so a placement here gives you genuine exposure to reptile care, handling and enclosure setup, not just classroom theory.

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 fit for a job here at Birdsville / Petsville, please email us at info@birdsville.net.au or visit us in-store at 684 Botany Road, Alexandria NSW 2015, with your CV and cover letter, and don’t forget to tell us why you want to be part of the Birdsville / Petsville family.

You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram to get a feel for the team and what day-to-day life at Birdsville / Petsville looks like.