Volunteer at Little Oak farm animal sanctuary
Are you passionate about animals and the environment?
Do you enjoy practical, hands-on work and being part of a caring, committed team?
Volunteering at Little Oak Sanctuary is a meaningful way to support rescued farmed animals and help keep the sanctuary running day to day.
As we head into our 13th year, we are reshaping how our volunteer program works to create more consistency for the animals and a better experience for everyone involved.
What volunteering looks like now
We are seeking local volunteers who can commit to a minimum of one shift per fortnight. Available volunteer shifts take place on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, or Saturdays. Other days may be possible by arrangement.
Summer volunteer shifts are four hours long, and run between 9:30am to 1:30pm.
New volunteers must attend and complete our training day which will be held on the first Saturday of each month.
Once you have completed our volunteer training, you will work alongside and be guided by our live-in volunteers. Tasks typically include:
-
Cleaning stables and yards
-
Removing manure and refreshing bedding
-
Replenishing water
-
Cleaning poultry areas
-
Mixing and preparing feeds
-
General tidying and maintenance of yards and structures
This role is active and outdoors, and involves working in both hot and cold conditions.
Training and onboarding
All new volunteers are required to attend a scheduled volunteer training day before joining regular shifts. Training days will be advertised in advance and spaces may be limited.
We are currently transitioning to a new system to manage volunteer scheduling and communication. While we fine-tune this process, things may feel a little clunky at first, and we appreciate your patience as we get it right.
Our values
Little Oak Sanctuary is a safe and inclusive place.
Little Oak Sanctuary is a safe and inclusive place. We are grounded in compassion, respect, and care for all beings.
We do not tolerate racism, sexism, misogyny, transphobia, body shaming, or discrimination of any kind.
Please read our Code of Conduct before applying. If you are not comfortable agreeing to it, volunteering with us will not be the right fit.
If volunteering at Little Oak Sanctuary sounds like something you’d like to commit to, please complete the application form below.
Sanctuary Hand
Summer-Autumn volunteering
Our Sanctuary Hand volunteers play an important role in the daily running of Little Oak. This is a practical, hands-on role that supports animal care and keeps the sanctuary clean, safe, and welcoming.
Once trained, volunteers assist with:
-
Cleaning yards and stables
-
Removing manure and refreshing bedding
-
Replenishing water
-
Cleaning poultry areas
-
Mixing and preparing feeds
-
General tidying and maintenance of yards and structures
Volunteers work under the guidance of our live-in volunteer team and are not responsible for medical care or decision-making.
Volunteering now runs on a regular commitment basis, with volunteers signing up to a minimum of one shift per fortnight, usually on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, or Saturdays. Summer volunteer shifts run from 9:30am to 1:30pm. Other days may be available by arrangement.
All new volunteers are required to attend a scheduled training day before joining regular shifts. Training dates are advertised in advance. We are currently transitioning to a new system for managing volunteer scheduling, so we appreciate your patience as we refine this process.
Our sanctuary is a safe and inclusive place, grounded in compassion and respect. We do not tolerate racism, sexism, misogyny, transphobia, body shaming, or discrimination of any kind. Please read our Code of Conduct before applying. If you are not comfortable complying with it, volunteering with us will not be the right fit.
If you are interested in joining our volunteer team and can commit to regular shifts, 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:
-
experience with farmed/large animals
-
formal veterinarian qualifications
-
Understanding of our mission
-
A high level of compassion for animals, and
-
A calm and gentle nature
Please submit your resume and application via email through the button below.
On-site position 2-3 months term
Free Accommodation provided
Live-In Sanctuary-hand
Duties include:
-
undertaking the twice daily feed runs (morning and afternoon),
-
daily cleaning of stable, poultry coops and yards,
-
undertaking health checks,
-
some maintenance work,
-
monitoring flock movements and
-
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) is required.
Morning feeds are typically delivered between 7am-8:30am and afternoon feeds 4pm-5pm, with additional tasks like cleaning stable and yards, and helping around the sanctuary between 9am-1pm. Currently, 25-30 hours of work spread over 5 days per week is required, however there will be some periods where we have busier days, and some will be be quieter.
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 anyone, including travellers on 417 Working Holiday Visas (88 day stays in Australia) and second year Working Holiday visas.
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 sanctuary for a period on your own, or are uncomfortable working in hot, dry, wet 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 six weeks, 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, but you must have the ability to work independently from each other.
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 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:
-
Establishing/maintaining plumbing to water troughs and water tanks etc
-
The construction of shelters (with assistance)
-
Helping to maintain existing and erect new fences
-
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.
