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University students
Wildlife hospital placements
Turn your studies into real-world experience alongside a team caring for koalas.
Complete our application form and our team will review your expression of interest.
Learn alongside our wildlife care team
Step into a working wildlife hospital where your studies come to life through the care of koalas and other native animals.
We support students completing placements as part of their Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Animal and Veterinary Bioscience (AVBS) degrees, typically over one or two weeks. A placement with us gives you the chance to apply your learning in a real hospital environment.
Working alongside our experienced veterinarians, nurses, carers and support teams, you’ll gain valuable insight into the rescue, treatment and rehabilitation of sick and injured koalas and other native wildlife.
Placements are considered on a case-by-case basis and should be arranged through your university or placement coordinator before applying.
TAFE placements
We are pleased to offer a limited number of placement opportunities for students completing a Certificate II or Certificate III in Animal Care. If you’re passionate about wildlife and would like to gain valuable hands-on experience with our team, please complete the application form and we’ll be in touch if we can accommodate your placement.
Important information
- Koala care shifts generally run from 7.30 am – 3.30 pm in summer and 8 am – 3.30 pm in winter.
- Due to our location, access to a reliable form of transport is recommended.
- We encourage you to provide as much information as possible in your application so we can assess the suitability of a placement.
Apply for a placement
Please answer all questions as fully as you can. This helps us find the right placement for you.
What students are saying…
“My placement at Port Stephens Koala Hospital was an excellent and highly valuable learning experience. I was exposed to a wide range of wildlife husbandry and clinical work, including surgery, diagnostics, necropsies and rehabilitation. The team created a very supportive environment and was generous with their time and teaching.
I particularly appreciated being treated as part of the veterinary team, which allowed me to learn and engage at a higher level. Overall, this placement significantly strengthened my understanding of wildlife medicine and was one of my most rewarding clinical experiences to date.”
Bailee | Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (2nd Year Student) | University of Sydney
