Volunteer at Little Oak farm animal sanctuary
Are you passionate about animals and the environment? Interested in learning about the care of farm animals? Enjoy spending time with like-minded, compassionate people? If so, you might be interested in volunteering with us at Little Oak Sanctuary! Our Sanctuary Hand volunteers assist us most weekends; tasks include cleaning yards, refreshing bedding, undertaking routine animal health tasks, putting out feed, helping construct fences, shelters etc.
If volunteering at Little Oak Farm Animal Sanctuary sounds like something you'd enjoy, please complete the form below. Each month we send an email to our list of volunteers outlining the upcoming dates for volunteering, and our volunteers simply sign up for any times they're available via a google sheet. Typically a volunteering day will run from 10 am-2 pm with vegan lunch brought and shared by volunteers.
Our sanctuary is a safe place for all - it is a place of compassion and respect. We do not tolerate racism, sexism, misogyny, transphobia or body shaming. Please read our code of conduct before applying, if you are not happy complying with the code, volunteering with us is not for you.
If you are interested in joining our volunteer team, please complete the application form below.
Sanctuary Hand
Weekend volunteering
Our Sanctuary Hand volunteers assist us most weekends; tasks include cleaning yards, refreshing bedding, undertaking routine animal health tasks, putting out feed, helping construct fences, shelters etc.
If volunteering at Little Oak Farm Animal Sanctuary sounds like something you'd enjoy, please complete the form below. Each month we send an email to our list of volunteers outlining the upcoming dates for volunteering, and our volunteers simply sign up for any times they're available via a google sheet. Typically a volunteering day will run from 10 am-2 pm with vegan lunch brought and shared by volunteers.
Our sanctuary is a safe place for all - it is a place of compassion and respect. We do not tolerate racism, sexism, misogyny, transphobia or body shaming. Please read our code of conduct before applying, if you are not happy complying with the code, volunteering with us is not for you.
If you are interested in joining our volunteer team, please complete the application form below.
Veterinarian
1 day per fortnight paid position
As the number of animals in care increases, we are seeking a qualified veterinarian with large animal experience to provide ongoing care, support and advice regarding the care of our animal residents. Working up to 8 hours per fortnight, the role will include research, development of best care practice guides, training for our volunteers, providing simple on-site vet care to farmed animals and liaising with local vets for more complex issues.
You will work alongside our volunteer staff, providing guidance on animal maintenance tasks such as worming, hoof maintenance, grooming, vaccinations, and health checks on each of the 325+ residents in our care. This position will help to identify health issues that require escalation for veterinary treatment and to undertake further research and document chronic conditions or conditions that affect elderly farmed animals, for which limited treatment plans exist.
You must be available one day per fortnight (flexible to a day that suits you), although there may be the requirement to be present for specific animal care processes such as shearing, this will be arranged with plenty of advance warning.
Essential:
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experience with farmed/large animals
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formal veterinarian qualifications
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Understanding of our mission
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A high level of compassion for animals, and
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A calm and gentle nature
Please submit your resume and application via email through the button below.
On-site position 1-3 months term
Free Accommodation provided
Live-In Sanctuary-hand
Duties include:
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undertaking the twice daily feed runs (morning and afternoon),
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daily cleaning of stable, poultry coops and yards,
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undertaking health checks,
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some maintenance work,
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monitoring flock movements and
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assisting with the care of ill, elderly and baby animals.
Additional tasks may be required when new rescues or vulnerable animals arrive at the sanctuary.
This is a position of responsibility. You will be provided with specific requirements and care standards and your work will be monitored regularly. Heavy lifting (up to 25kg) will be required.
Morning feeds are typically delivered between 7am-9am and afternoon feeds 4pm-6pm depending on the time of year. Generally, 25-30 hours of work spread over 6 days per week is required.
The days worked can be negotiated.
Conditions of the role: The sanctuary is vegan. Animal products are not permitted to be brought into, or stored in, the volunteer accommodation. We are both a flood and bushfire-impacted area and care for animals impacted by the 2019/2020 bushfires. We can host travellers on 417 Working Holiday Visas (88 day stays in Australia).
This position might not be for you if you are not comfortable around large animals, don't want to clean up animal poop, don't have the confidence to manage the farm for a period on your own, or are uncomfortable working in hot, dry or cold climates. Working around farm animals is heavy, dirty, tiring, and requires strength and stamina. Working with large animals is not without danger, but the sanctuary has policies to ensure you are insured against workplace accidents. Your safety is primarily your responsibility, you must follow our safety procedures or else you are placing yourself at risk.
About you: Only those with a deep desire to care for animals should apply. We ask that you commit to a minimum term of one month, and we have a maximum term of three months that can only be extended via negotiation with the sanctuary managers.
Couples/pairs of friends etc are welcomed as we prefer tasks to be undertaken in pairs.
Experience working with farmed animals is preferred but not essential as full training will be provided. Working with farmed animals requires the ability to maintain attention to tasks at hand and to be aware of your surroundings.
If you have particular skills, please let us know, as we are happy to adjust the role so that both you and the sanctuary make the most out of your stay.
About the Accommodation: Our newly completed Carer’s Cottage features two bedrooms sleeping a maximum of four people (plus two extra roll-out single beds in the lounge room), a living space with dining table, couch and television, a bathroom with shower and a kitchenette with fridge, convection microwave, toaster, kettle and sink.
The cottage is powered by off-grid solar electricity and all water used for drinking, showering, toilets etc is rainwater collected in tanks. Volunteers have access to a second living space and a larger kitchen with dishwasher in our Visitors centre.
Bedroom one features a triple bunk bed (double on the bottom single bed on top) and bedroom two features a single bed. An Apple TV device is provided enabling you to connect your Netflix, stan or other subscriptions. Free WIFI is provided and we have a creek with a great swimming spot for when it is hot.
If accepted for this role, we have a one week trial period at the start of your stay where we can assess your suitability and you can ensure you're happy with the tasks before committing to the full period we have discussed.
Sanctuary
tradesperson
on-site volunteer position - max 16 hrs week
Little Oak has over 300 residents and is located on over 270 acres. That's a lot of fences, shelters and enclosures to maintain!
If you have handy-person skills in the following trades and would like to help us create and maintain the best possible environment for rescued farmed animals, please send us a message.
Tasks may include:
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Establishing/maintaining plumbing to water troughs and water tanks etc
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The construction of shelters (with assistance)
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Helping to maintain existing and erect new fences
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carpentry, tiling, painting, landscaping etc
We are grateful for any time you can contribute to this position, with no commitment required but up to 16 hours of volunteer work a week available. If you'd like to get involved please reach out.
