Written by the Birdsville team. Last updated October 2026.
Looking to volunteer with animals in Sydney? Birdsville and Petsville, at 684 Botany Road, Alexandria NSW 2015, offer hands-on animal volunteering for hardworking people who want real experience in animal care, and for those hoping to build a long-term career in the animal industry. We’re a specialist bird, reptile, fish and small animal business that combines retail, animal boarding and small animal rehoming, so our volunteers learn across many parts of the animal industry at once.
What Is Animal Volunteering at Birdsville and Petsville?
Our volunteers are a valued part of our team. This isn’t a role where you stand back and watch. You’ll take an active part in the daily care of our animals and in running a specialist store.
Our workplace can be fast-paced, physical and sometimes messy, but it’s also incredibly rewarding for anyone who loves animals and wants to learn. Volunteering with us is ideal if you’re exploring a future in animal care, retail or a related industry and want practical, real-world skills.
On This Page
- Roles and Responsibilities
- Skills We Look For
- Is Volunteering Right for You?
- From Volunteer to a Career With Animals
- What Should I Wear?
- What You’ll Gain
- Pathways and Programs
- How to Apply
- Frequently Asked Questions
Roles and Responsibilities
Volunteers may help across several areas of the business.
Aquarium Care
- Cleaning aquarium glass and keeping tanks looking their best
- Gravel cleaning and general tank maintenance
- Topping up and monitoring water levels
Birds, Small Animals and Invertebrates
- Cleaning and maintaining enclosures
- Helping with feeding and daily care routines
- Providing enrichment to support animal wellbeing
- Making sure enclosures are clean, safe and well presented
Reptile Care
- Cleaning and maintaining reptile enclosures
- Helping feed and monitor turtles, lizards and snakes
- Helping keep temperatures and enclosure conditions correct
- Supervised reptile handling
Retail Support
- General store cleaning and organisation
- Helping with stock presentation
- Supporting the team with day-to-day store tasks
Skills We Look For
To do well as a volunteer, you should:
- Be reliable, punctual and committed
- Work efficiently and keep tasks moving, so every animal is cared for on time
- Work well on your own and as part of a team
- Have a positive, hands-on attitude
- Be willing to learn and take direction
- Show genuine care and respect for animal welfare
Is Volunteering Right for You?
Before applying, it’s important to understand what working in the animal industry really involves.
Requirements
- Minimum age: 16 years and over
- Physical ability: able to lift up to 20kg
- Time commitment: consistent weekly availability over an agreed period, Monday to Friday only. We’re not able to offer weekend volunteering.
- Transport: reliable transport to and from our Alexandria store
Important Things to Consider
- Allergies: you’ll be around seed, dust, fur, feathers and animal waste every day, so this environment may not suit people with allergies.
- Working conditions: tasks include cleaning up animal waste, lifting heavy items and repetitive duties.
- Responsibility: animal welfare is our top priority. You must follow instructions carefully and complete tasks correctly and efficiently every time, so no animal misses out on its care.
If a volunteer can’t follow directions or meet the standards required, the placement may be ended. This reflects the responsibility that comes with caring for live animals.
From Volunteer to a Career With Animals
We’re looking for volunteers who want more than a few hours of experience. If you’re not yet sure where you want to end up, volunteering here is a great way to find your direction.
Volunteering with us can also be the first step to a paid job. When a role opens up, we prefer to hire from within, and our volunteers are the first people we look to. Volunteers who get their jobs done efficiently, show a keen interest, muck in wherever they’re needed and want to grow with the business stand out to us. If the right role is available, they’re the people we’d rather hire than someone from outside.
We have a strong track record of team members moving on to careers in zoos, including Taronga Zoo. 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, and he runs the store with many of the same routines and standards used in zoos. That means the skills you learn here carry straight over to a zoo, wildlife park or vet clinic.
The volunteers who get the most out of their time with us are the ones who turn up on time, work hard, ask questions and take pride in doing every task properly and efficiently, even the messy ones. Time matters here. Every animal in the store relies on its daily care being done on time, so a job that drags on means another animal waits. That combination of care, speed and reliability is exactly what employers in the animal industry look for. Hardworking volunteers who show real commitment stand out, and we’re always happy to talk through career pathways with you.
What Should I Wear?
Wear enclosed, closed-toe shoes at all times, for your safety around our animals and enclosures. High heels, shorts and tracksuit pants aren’t suitable. Smart casual clothing works best, and expect your clothes to get a little dirty, as volunteering involves animal husbandry, cleaning enclosures, merchandising and store cleaning.
What You’ll Gain
Volunteering at Birdsville and Petsville gives you:
- Hands-on experience with a wide variety of animals, from birds and reptiles to fish and small animals
- Practical skills in animal husbandry and daily care
- Experience in retail and customer service
- Real insight into the animal and pet industry
- A clearer idea of whether this career path is right for you
- Experience in a supportive, team-focused workplace
Why Volunteer With Us?
- Learn zoo-standard animal care routines from experienced animal care and retail professionals, in a business with a strong track record of team members going on to zoo careers.
- Receive training and ongoing support throughout your placement.
- Be part of a friendly, passionate and hardworking team.
- Help care for and rehome birds and small animals through our rehoming program (https://birdsville.net.au/re-homing-parrot-adoption/).
- Gain real industry experience before you enter the workforce.
If you’re dedicated, motivated and not afraid to roll up your sleeves, this is a valuable way to start your journey in the animal industry.
Pathways and Programs
We offer a range of structured and flexible volunteer and placement opportunities, including:
- School work experience programs
- TAFE animal studies placements
- Youth volunteer programs
- Disability services and return to work programs
Every placement involves working directly with animals and real workplace responsibilities.
If you’re a high school student, our School Work Experience page [school work experience link] has the details for that program. Looking for paid work instead? Visit our Careers page [careers link].
How Do I Apply to Volunteer at Birdsville and Petsville?
To apply, visit us in-store to express your interest, call us on (02) 9669 1766, or email info@birdsville.net.au. Successful applicants complete and sign a volunteer agreement and waiver before starting.
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 daily life at Birdsville and Petsville.
Animal Volunteering in Sydney: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum age to volunteer with animals at Birdsville?
You need to be at least 16 years old to volunteer with us. You should also be able to lift up to 20kg, commit to consistent weekly availability from Monday to Friday, and have reliable transport to and from our store at 684 Botany Road, Alexandria. High school students can also apply through our school work experience program.
Do I need experience to volunteer with animals?
No previous experience is needed, just a genuine passion for animals and a willingness to learn and take direction. We provide training and ongoing support throughout your placement, so volunteers of every experience level are welcome to apply. Everything you need to know, you’ll learn on the job from our experienced team.
What will I actually do as an animal volunteer?
You’ll do real, hands-on tasks across the business, from cleaning enclosures and feeding birds, reptiles and small animals, to aquarium maintenance and retail support. It’s active participation in daily operations, not watching from the sidelines. Tasks can be physical and messy, but they give you genuine experience in animal husbandry.
Can I volunteer on weekends?
No. Volunteering at Birdsville and Petsville runs Monday to Friday only, and we’re not able to offer weekend placements. We ask volunteers to commit to consistent weekly availability over an agreed period, so we can plan training and make sure our animals get reliable care. We’ll work with you to find days that suit.
How do I apply to volunteer at Birdsville?
Visit us in-store to express your interest, call (02) 9669 1766, or email info@birdsville.net.au. If you’re successful, you’ll complete and sign a volunteer agreement and waiver before starting, and we’ll work with you to arrange a placement that fits your weekly availability. TAFE and school placements are also welcome.
Is volunteering at Birdsville paid?
No. this is an unpaid volunteer opportunity, designed to give you genuine hands-on experience and real insight into the animal industry. It’s a great way to build practical skills and decide whether this career path is right for you. For paid roles, see our Careers page.
Can volunteering lead to a paid job at Birdsville?
It can. When a suitable role becomes available, we prefer to hire from within, and our volunteers are the first people we look to. Volunteers who work hard, get their jobs done efficiently, show a keen interest and want to grow with the business have the best chance of moving into a paid position with us.
Visit Us
At Birdsville and Petsville, volunteering is more than experience. It’s a chance to learn, grow and join a team that genuinely cares about animals and the people who love them. Visit us at 684 Botany Road, Alexandria NSW 2015, on the corner of Gardeners Road, servicing the Eastern Suburbs and Inner South Sydney, or call (02) 9669 1766.
