Possum Finishing School Volunteers

About this opportunity

FAWNA is a volunteer wildlife rehabilitation organisation currently caring for many critically endangered Western Ringtail Possums prior to return to their natural habitat. These possums are dependent on volunteers daily to gather possum food, clean their enclosures, and ensure they remain calm and in good health ready for eventual release.

Daily hands-on involvement with possums, their cages and environment. Sweeping paths, keeping records, moving branches and greenery. Daily tasks opportunity of 2 hrs/day. Weekly tasks opportunity 8 hrs /week (can be done over a couple of days).

Daily:

1. Pick up foliage from designated area (FAWNA shed).
2. Travel to site.
3. Open Gate (pull closed after entry but not necessarily lock). Put key back in lock box.
4. Do boundary fence check around school site.
5. Open gate, shed (if necessary).
6. Sign in visitor book and sign task sheet for day.
7. Unlock all locks from cages and place them on door above slide lock. (This is a reminder check at the end of the visit to ensure all cages have been attended to).
8. Sort foliage/flowers into bunches x possum numbers.
9. Do the following for each cage: a. Sweep scats (place into blue scat container). b. Foliage – either replace back into containers if still fresh enough or replace totally. Old foliage to be placed in designated area for mulching. c. Change water in foliage storage if needed. d. Replace water container and securely cable tie if required. e. Check possum status. f. Check branches are in correct position. g. Lock cage (make sure handle is ‘up’ so that lock ensures secure closure).
10. Check chicken food/water.
11. Check toilets for rubbish etc.
12. Water tree (when appropriate).
13. Check all cages are locked.
14. Sign out book and sign tasks attended to.
15. Lock shed and gates.
16. Lock gate at entrance to facility.

Weekly:

1. Replace flooring.
2. Wash down flooring at wash station.
3. Shred/mulch branches.
4. Empty scat container (wear appropriate PPE if required) into designated area.
5. Clean toilets (replace paper etc).

If you enjoy, being in a rural atmosphere and working with wildlife, then this is a great opportunity to contribute towards saving these precious marsupials from extinction.

Additional requirements

Covid-19 vaccination . Driver's Licence (C) . National Police Certificate ^*.

Volunteers who have not been convicted of an offence that was related to the welfare of animals in any way.

Time Required

To be discussed

Suitable for

• Centrelink Volunteers
• Families with Children

Type of work

• Working with Animals

Training

On the job

Reimbursement

To be discussed