Interact with native animals in a natural habitat, whilst learning all
about Australian wildlife within a professional tourism work experience.
A wildlife tourism project in Australia.
Koalas, Kangaroos, Wombats, Dingoes, Wallabies and Possums - just to
name a few! Get closer than ever to these amazing animals… and soak up
the real Aussie experience!
Situated one hour from Perth, with 2000 animals, birds and
reptiles living in walk through enclosures, The Wildlife Park is proud
to offer the best possible opportunities for interactive
people-and-animal contact. Assisted by wildlife professionals, this
family run (non Government funded) business is extremely proud to offer
you a very up-close and personal relationship with over 200 species of
indigenous and worldwide animals.
You will be trained as a wildlife park assistant, helping and
educating the daily visitors and working as part of a dynamic team at
the forefront of wildlife tourism.
On this
page:
If you do any
placement in Perth, an Indigenous Heritage tour
in Kings Park, Perth's No. 1 tourist
attraction, is included
in your itinerary, free of charge!
ABOUT THE WILDLIFE
PARK:
“I am on a
high every time I go home and can’t wait for next week!” Mandy
The park has a truly wonderful atmosphere and the
family and staff are extremely friendly, welcoming and passionate about what
they do! It is a great place to spend some time and enjoy such enthusiasm
for wildlife.
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information on this project
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The Wildlife Park is a privately owned, family run animal viewing centre.
Starting in 1988 on 2 acres, it housed just a small collection of animals
and birds. Today it spans 4300 hectares and, set amidst authentic Aussie
parkland and bush land, it is based in a Government operated Conservation
and Recreation Reserve featuring around 200 species. The 2000 animals, birds
and reptiles live happily in a walk-through or walk-in environment, bringing
people and animals closer than usual. The park is now the premiere
development of its kind in WA, attracting coach loads of visitors from all
over the world!
The Wildlife Park regularly exchanges animals and birds with other parks and
zoos to add to it's population and for breeding purposes. The park has
successfully bred its own Tasmanian Devils, Wombats, Grass Owls, Koalas and
Cassowaries.
“I’ve done things at the park that I
never had dreamed I could have done or achieved, and I’m determined to
continue facing new challenges thanks to your support” Sue
Visitors to the park are assisted by wildlife professionals dedicated to
exceptional service ensuring that visitors receive the best opportunities
for animal contact, photographs and information. The park is very well
known for its interaction opportunities, including a variety of shows, talks
and rides.
Housing the largest private collection of native animals in Western
Australia, the park is proud to display the following animals: Koalas,
Kangaroos, Wombats, Dingoes, Emus, Cassowary’s, Tasmanian Devils, Echidnas,
Quokkas, Sugar Gliders, Wallabies, Possums, Quoll, Bettongs, Potoroos, Owls,
Kookaburras, Swans and many more native species. The park displays many
different species of birds and several species of reptiles. Introduced
animals also call Caversham home, such as Monkeys, Llamas, Ostrich, Deer and
Buffalo. And don’t forget the interactive farmyard, Molly’s Farm! Here
visitors can meet sheep, goats, cows, ponies, donkeys, pigs, rabbits, guinea
pigs and poultry.
The park is divided into 6 sections. Four of these sections are areas of
Australia; the wildlife and vegetation in that section are from that area of
Australia – North East, South East, South West and North. Running through
the middle of the park is the Walk-Through Kangaroo section.
Approximately 40% of the park’s visitors come to the park on a coach tour.
The Wildlife Park works closely with several tour companies, accommodating
any size group and any length of time tours. The park also welcomes a
variety of community organisations and of course local Perth residents. The
average amount of time taken to walk through the park is about 3 hours, but
many groups stay all day, bonding with the animals!
As a private, family run business, no assistance is received from the
Government, and so the is thankful to the visitors for their assistance in
caring for Australia’s unique wildlife. With continued visitor support, the
Wildlife Park endeavors to provide a world-class facility for all to enjoy,
now and in the future.
YOUR
WORK AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
This is a primarily a tourism project. It is not an
animal care or research project, but a wonderful opportunity to learn about
Australian wildlife from the expert staff at Caversham. Your work will be
based outside in the park interacting with people, surrounded by the
animals.
Your role as a volunteer will focus on looking after the visitor at the
centre, talking to them about the animals, helping them with various tasks
from taking photos to exploring the park. You will also assist in the up
keep of the park. Looking after the animals is done by full time staff at
the park and so animal contact may be minimal for you at first, however with
time and commitment the activities you will get involved in will expand.
“I feel privileged to be a valued part of an
amazing park. I’m very proud to be a small part of its daily success!”
Jools
What will you do?
Look after the park
visitors and make sure they have a great day at the park
Provide information and
answer questions
Display animals at
interactive shows
Present and/or help out at
animal talks
Help with directions and
map reading
Assist with photo
opportunities
Supervise groups of
visitors
Take guided tours around the park
What you will get out of the project?
Incredible training in wildlife and tourism
Feel like you’re making a difference
Build self confidence
Meet new people who have similar interests
An opportunity to educate yourself and others
Learn and develop new & exciting skills
Build a network of employment contacts & workplace
skills
Be actively involved in a
dynamic, hard working team
Work with Australia’s fantastic wildlife!
"I love meeting so many different people and going home at the end of the
day with a smile on my face"
Marianne
Your Training:
On your arrival you will undergo a thorough 4 day training program where you
will learn about the different areas of the park, including the Kangaroo and
Koala sections. You will train alongside other volunteers and staff as part
of a team in small group workshops. The training is intensive and you will
learn a lot about these animals and about wildlife tourism in operation.
Emphasis is also placed on building genuine friendships within the team.
You will cover the following:
Australian (and other) wildlife
Health and Safety
Public Relations
Working with Tourists
Effective Communication
Supervision
Presentation Skills
You will also become familiar with the park, get taken on a guided
tour, get to know the team and meet all of the animals
It’s great fun! All training documentation is provided.
For longer term volunteers (12 weeks+) there is further ongoing training
available for those who want to expand their knowledge, skills &
responsibility during their placement.
"It’s an honour to be able to volunteer at such a
great place. My time is precious; but I am always more than happy to give it
to the team at Caversham"
John
What animals
might you spend your time with?
Koalas, Kangaroos, Wombats, Tasmanian Devils, Echidnas, Dingoes, Emus,
Wallabies, Cassowaries, Crocodiles, Possums, Bettongs, Pottoroos, Flying
Foxes, Turtles, Sugar Gliders, Owls, Camels, Swans, Birds of Prey, Llamas,
Buffalo, Cattle, Deer, Donkeys & Ponies, Pythons & Lizards, Cockatoos &
Parrots, Sheep & Goats, Rabbits & Guinea Pigs, Chooks & Ducks, and many
more…
Working hours:
Flexible days: 4-7 days a week (at your desire)!
Flexible hours: between 8.30am - 5.30pm
The park is open every day of the year.
Volunteer Requirements:
A
people-person who is able to commit
Over 18
Fluent in
English
No previous
experience necessary
Dates and
Duration:
Volunteers should, ideally, be able to commit to at least 12 weeks (although
a minimum of 8 weeks will be considered, depending on the situation).
This project is ongoing throughout the year.
ACCOMMODATION AND LOCATION:
The Wildlife Park is located approx 17 km from the centre
of Perth; just a half an hour drive from the town. It is situated at the
entrance of the Swan Valley, WA’s original grape/wine growing area; a
premier tourist destination. The Park covers an area of more than 4200
hectares (over 10,000 acres) with nearly half this classified as high value
conservation bushland or wetland
ACCOMMODATION:
You'll be accommodated in a centrally located lodge that is friendly and
relaxing, making it ideal for long term stays. Your accommodation is located
in the CBD (Central Business District) of Perth, Western Australia.
Therefore you are very central, close to the main train station and shopping
district. You'll have your own room, but will share a bathroom with others
on your floor.
There is an excellent kitchen and storage area for cooking meals and plenty
of space to relax. Entertainment at your accommodation includes a pool
table, cheap internet access, arcade machines and cable TV (Foxtel), to name
a few. But with all the sunshine Perth has – you’ll be out and about
enjoying the many outdoor activities! You are literally a stroll from the
Swan River and free CBD transport.
Perth was built on the banks of the magnificent Swan River over 150 years
ago and is now a city rich in culture and filled with theatres, art
galleries and museums. The city is modern and vibrant - a fun, friendly and
'laid back' place, with clear skies and a sunny climate. Some of its more
famous attractions include Kings Park, Scarborough Beach, Fremantle and the
Swan River. Fremantle (or as the local’s call it, ‘Freo’) is the city’s port
and is rich in history.
At weekends you will find markets, entertainment and plenty of alfresco
style cafes to laze in. Perth has restaurants to suit all tastes - the most
popular cuisine is of course the great Australian BBQ. Barbeque facilities
are abundant in local parks - take your own food and cook up a feast,
Australian style!
ARRIVAL: YOUR INDUCTION INTO THE COUNTRY
When you arrive you will be welcomed at the airport by our Australian
Organiser, who will take you to your accommodation. During your first few
days you will be given an induction so that you can learn about Perth and
its culture, as well as useful information like how to use the transport
system etc.
During the first few days of your stay you will also receive an induction at
the Caversham. This will include an overview of the centre’s aims, and a
chance to familiarise yourself with the centre and types of animals you will
be working with.
TRAVEL:
You have the option to arrange your
own flights or we can assist you with your flight arrangements. If you would
like us to do this for you, we will liaise with you regarding available flights
and dates to suit you. All arrangements for your flight bookings/payments will
be fulfilled by Murray Rogers Travel Ltd., ATOL No. 6856. (Read more about Murray Rogers Travel Ltd.)
Where possible, we arrange for two or more people to travel on the
same flight and we will let you have the names and telephone numbers of other
volunteers on your flight, so that you can chat to each other or even meet up
before leaving for your placement.
We can also arrange your flight
dates
to give you additional time at the end of your project for travelling around and
sightseeing - this is a fascinating country!
You will fly into Perth where
you'll be met by Jenny,
our local organiser. From the airport you'll be taken to your accommodation.
Several days later, once you have settled in and recovered from the flight, you
will be introduced to your staff on your project.
VISAS:
We will liaise with you about
specific requirements, if any, and make the Visa process very easy.
Where possible, all flights we arrange for you have changeable return tickets because many of our
volunteers choose to extend their stay once they are in their destination
country.
Changeable return tickets enable you to do so, within the limits of your visa
and the level of your air ticket,
of course. If you choose to book your own flights, you should endeavour to get
a changeable ticket.
To read aboutSupport
& Backup we provide,
please click here.
PRICES:
To see the Prices of this project and all
our other projects in Australia, please
click here
Prices
include
Food & accommodation while on your project,
2 T-shirts, if required
for your project
All support and backup
during your programme
Meeting you at the
nearest airport, where appropriate, but exclude international travel.
.
+44 01903 502595
