Work Experience and Duke of Edinburgh
- Sydney School Work Experience Program 2012
- Sydney RSPCA Duke of Edinburgh Award Program 2012
- Other Programs and students
The RSPCA is a great place to undertake work experience for students who are interested in working with animals and want to learn about animal care and welfare. It's hard work and physically demanding as students assist with cleaning, pooper scooping, exercising, grooming and providing the animals with environmental enrichment. The work is physical and sometimes dirty, but for those students who are passionate about animal care and welfare it is very rewarding.
Requirements:
* All students must be over the age of 15 years.
* The School must provide their own insurance to cover the student during their Work Experience week.
*All students accepted must have an up to date tetanus vaccination prior to starting their placement.
Please note that not all locations will be able to accept students and some may already be booked out.
Shelters/locations booked out/ unable to accept work experience students at this time:
- Tuggerah Care Centre
- Rouse Hill Care Centre Sydney
Shelters/locations booked out/unable to accept Duke Of Edinburgh or Students doing community service/volunteering as part of their school program at this time:
- Tuggerah Care Centre
- Rouse Hill Care Centre Sydney
If you wish to enquire about Work Experience, Duke of Edinburgh Award program, or other student placements outside of Sydney, at a location not listed above please contact your local RSPCA Shelter or Volunteer Branch directly by CLICKING HERE.
Sydney School Work Experience Program 2012
The RSPCA Sydney Yagoona Shelter is the only RSPCA location that offers a work Experience Program in Sydney. Please note that the Rouse Hill Care Centre and Yagoona Veterinary Clinic DO NOT have a school Work Experience program for 2012.
Placement availability: March to November 2012.
Applications close: 4pm Friday the 2nd of March 2012.
Requirements:
* Students must be over the age of 15 years.
* The School must provide their own insurance to cover the student during their Work Experience week.
* Students must know which week their school has allocated before applying and may propose two separate dates if their school has given them different weeks.
* The week must be for 5 days from Monday to Friday, and be done in one block.
* All students accepted must have an up to date tetanus vaccination prior to starting their placement.
* All students must visit during opening hours before applying.
Preference will be given to students that have not previously had a placement with the RSPCA. Students assist with providing basic care for the adoption animals in the kennels, cattery, and may assist with the small animals like rabbits and guinea pigs.
Below are some of the tasks that work experience students participate in during the week. Students start at 8am and finish at 4pm (this includes breaks).
Kennel Assistant - Primary Tasks:
* Assist Staff with pooper scooping, cleaning, hosing dog kennels and yards.
* Change bedding, top up water bowls, and kongs.
* Observing the animals for signs of illness.
* Assist with preparing feeds and feeding.
* Undertake tasks to provide environmental enrichment for the dogs.
* Walk dogs and take them to exercise areas.
* Provide individual attention to the dogs, including handling, training, and socialisation.
* Assist with taking dirty blankets to the laundry and rubbish removal.
* Undertake grooming duties as required. This may include bathing and brushing.
Cattery Assistant - Primary Tasks:
* Assist Staff with sweeping and mopping the cattery.
* Change bedding, top up water bowls, wash bowls, wash litter trays and pooper scoop.
* Observe the animals for signs of illness and document or report on this.
* Assist with preparing feeds and feeding.
* Undertake tasks to provide environmental enrichment for the cats.
* Assist with the general maintenance of cattery and surrounding area.
* Move cats to exercise areas and back to cattery.
* Provide individual attention to the cats and kittens, including handling, play and socialisation.
* Assist with taking dirty blankets to the laundry and rubbish removal.
* Undertake grooming duties as required. This may include grooming and brushing.
If you haven't visited the RSPCA Sydney Yagoona Shelter before (or within the last 18th months) - it is required that you visit the shelter before applying. A visit will provide the student an opportunity to reflect on the working environment, emotional, and practical aspects to consider before working in a shelter. Please ensure that you can arrange transportation to and from the Shelter during your work experience. It is also recommended that you learn more about the RSPCA by CLICKING HERE.
The RSPCA Sydney Shelter is located at 201 Rookwood Rd, Yagoona. The Shelter is open for viewing adoption animals 6 days a week (closed Wednesdays and public holidays) from 9:30 am - 3:30 pm.
To apply for Work Experience please ensure you have read the requirements listed on this page, the primary tasks and formally answer the following questions in an email to the Sydney Volunteer Recruitment Coordinator: volunteer@rspcansw.org.au
In your introduction please include your full name and contact details (address and phone number) what year you are in and which school you are attending.
* Why have you selected the RSPCA for your Work Experience?
* Which week are you applying for, including start and finish date?
* What are your career interests?
* What knowledge, skills and benefits do you hope to gain from your work experience at the RSPCA?
* Please give details of your experience with animals and animal care- this can include the animals you have helped take care of at home.
* Please give an account/reflection of your visit to the shelter.
* How will you be travelling to the Shelter?
* Have you applied for other placements? If yes, where?
* Do you have any allergies to animals, or is there anything we would need to know about special requirements for your work experience?
Please note that this program is very popular and each year we have a great number of students apply. It is fantastic that so many young people are interested in learning more about animal care and welfare. Unfortunately, we have a limited number of placements available. If we receive many applications at once it may take some time to get back to all applications but we will contact you as soon as possible - we appreciate your patience. Applications submitted for the first half of the year will be processed first. Students who do not include all the requested information in the email application may not be selected for an interview.
If your application is successful, we will ask you at a later date to send your School Work Experience forms in. Please do not send them with your application.
Sydney RSPCA Duke of Edinburgh Award Program 2012
The RSPCA NSW Yagoona shelter is the only RSPCA location in Sydney that is currently accepting applications from students doing their Silver or Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award, and are over the age of 16 years. All Volunteers must have an up to date tetanus vaccination prior to starting.
Volunteers who are doing their Duke of Edinburgh Award are required to volunteer three hours a week for a minimum of six months, due to the level of training required. The tasks that they will be required to do are the same as the Work Experience Tasks, they and will be volunteering both, as Kennel Assistants, and Cattery assistants. More information on these roles can be viewed by reading the information listed under volunteering at the Yagoona shelter.
Applications close 4:00pm (+AEST) Friday the 9th of March 2012.
To apply please ensure you have read through the requirements and primary tasks, visit the Yagoona Shelter and formally include the information requested below in an email to: the Sydney Volunteer Recruitment Coordinator volunteer@rspcansw.org.au
* Your full name, address, and contact phone number.
* Why have you selected the RSPCA to complete components of your Duke of Edinburgh Award requirements?
* A proposed start date, and which award are you wishing to complete: silver or gold?
* How will you be travelling to the Shelter weekly?
* Please give details of your experience with animals and animal care, this can include those that you have helped take care of at home.
* Please give an account/reflection of your visit to the shelter.
* Do you have any allergies to animals, or is there anything we would need to know about special requirements?
Other programs and students
The RSPCA NSW is supportive of a number of programs, Unfortunately we are not able to support all student programs each year.
For information on the Education Program, school assignments and information about how you can help and how your school can get involved please CLICK HERE.
The Sydney Yagoona shelter and Rouse Hill Care Centre will not be able to accept offers of placement for School Community service/volunteering as part of a school program or TAFE/other studies. Volunteers (outside of the school programs being supported for 2012) are asked to commit over a minimum period of time to assist the animals on a longer term basis. This means that volunteers gain the skills required to meet our high standards of care and also get the most out of becoming a trusted member of our team. It also ensures that the time and effort put in by our staff in training volunteers is fully utilised and of benefit to the animals in our care. Due to the training involved, and the need to be able to roster volunteers evenly across the week, we cannot accept short term offers of assistance. Volunteers participating in our Sydney longer term Volunteer program must be over the age of 18 years.
Students over the age of 18 years:
Students who are studying at TAFE or similar are welcome to apply under the Volunteer program (please note that your offer of assistance will be accepted as a volunteer not as a student, and statements of volunteering will not be issued until a completion of the minimum time commitment has been made) The volunteer roles are based on the needs of the shelter and the animals, and the volunteers time and the effort is greatly appreciated. Volunteers have the opportunity to gain an insight and experience in animal care, and welfare, and have the opportunity to make a difference, however to avoid disappointment for the student we wish to advise that some of a students learning outcomes may not be achieved through volunteering, and if a formal placement is required for your course please make other arrangements.
For information on volunteering in Sydney please
CLICK HERE for information on volunteering at the Yagoona shelter.
CLICK HERE for information on Volunteering at the Tuggerah and Rouse Hill Care Centre's.
University Placements
The Yagoona Shelter (The Tuggerah and Rouse Hill Care Centre's are currently not accepting placements) is now booked out for University Placements for 2012.
For placements outside of Sydney please check with your local shelter. The contact details can be found by CLICKING HERE.
