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High school students
Wildlife work experience
Discover what a future in wildlife care could look like inside our koala hospital
Please answer all questions as fully as you can. This helps us find the right placement for you.
Learn and gain experience in koala conservation
If you’re a high school student with a passion for wildlife, work experience with us could be the start of something special.
Get practical experience caring for our endangered koalas and other native animals and see for yourself what happens in a working wildlife hospital and research centre.
We welcome applications from students with a genuine interest in animal welfare, conservation or veterinary science – and we’ll do our best to give you a placement that’s meaningful and memorable.
Our work experience placements usually run for one week.
We offer a limited number of Duke of Edinburgh placement opportunities for students completing their award at any one time. Get in touch to check availability and find out more.
Before you apply
- Aged 15 or older
- Under 18? Parent or guardian consent is needed
- Early start times – earlier than the school day
- Own transport needed – no public transport to site
Apply for a placement
Please answer all questions as fully as you can. This helps us find the right placement for you.
Schools we’ve supported
- St Phillips Christian Collage
- Tomaree High School
- Newcastle Grammer School
- Merewether High School
- Kotara High School
- Irrawang High school
- Merrickville High School
- Xavier Catholic College
- Catherine McAulley Catholic College
- Callaghan College Wallsend Campus
- Macquarie College
Frequently asked questions (FAQs) – wildlife work experience
Our working hours are Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 3:30pm during daylight saving time, and 8:00am to 4:00pm outside of daylight saving.
You’ll be working outdoors in our koala yards for most of the day, so please dress appropriately for the weather. We recommend wearing a hat, sunscreen, a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, and sturdy enclosed shoes. Long clothing also helps protect against insect bites. Please avoid wearing strong perfumes or fragrances.
Public transport to the hospital is limited and services can be infrequent, so please check the latest timetables before you arrange your placement. Students are expected to have reliable transport to and from the hospital and must be able to arrive before the start of their shift and be collected at the end of the day.
Yes, we do have Wild Light Café onsite, you can check out their menu online. We also have a fridge and microwave in our lunchroom that you are welcome to use if you would prefer to bring your own lunch.
