• A volunteer wearing a bottle green polo shirt smiling as they attach flowers to the inside of a bird enclosure

Our Volunteer Program

Volunteers are at the heart of Moonlit Sanctuary.

By supporting our operations, they play a vital role in maintaining the Sanctuary and supporting our broader conservation mission.

Volunteers play an important role in the day-to-day life of Moonlit Sanctuary and have done so since the park first opened in 2001.

Our new Volunteer Program includes three separate Volunteer Roles:

  • Visitor Experience Volunteers

  • Keeper Assistant Volunteers

  • Horticultural Volunteers

All Volunteer roles are currently CLOSED for new applications. We are currently processing the applications already received and thank you for your patience – all applicants will receive a response.

Our next Volunteer recruitment round will occur in NOVEMBER 2026, so please check back for more information then!

Please scroll down for more information on the roles.

Who can apply to be a volunteer?

  • No specific qualifications or experience is required
  • We are looking for motivated, enthusiastic, confident people with a strong work ethic and a genuine desire to care for our animals and visitors

All volunteers are required to meet the following criteria:

  • Be 18 years of age or older to apply
  • Have access to a vehicle or transport to and from Moonlit Sanctuary in Pearcedale, Victoria
  • Have availability to commit to weekly or fortnightly volunteer shifts for a minimum of 6 months, including availability over holiday periods
  • Be comfortable working in all weather conditions in an outdoors bush environment
  • Have or are willing to attain a Working with Children Check and Police Check
  • Have your own email address and be comfortable using phones, tablets or PCs to access our online systems, or be willing to learn!

Volunteering FAQs

Moonlit Sanctuary provides volunteer opportunities throughout the year, and any current vacancies will be listed on this page for recruitment when they are available. Please select the Volunteer Role that interests below to learn more and find out about current vacancies for that role.

Please note that we only accept applications for roles that are being actively listed for recruitment – applications submitted via email or otherwise will not be considered. Due to the high number of enquiries we receive, we regret that we are unable to take expressions of interest outside of the recruitment period or keep applications on file. If there are no current vacancies, please check back again soon or on the pre-advertised dates, or keep an eye on our social media for updates.

Please note that we only accept applications for roles that are being actively listed for recruitment – applications submitted via email or otherwise will not be considered.

Due to the high number of enquiries we receive, we regret that we are unable to take expressions of interest outside of the recruitment period or keep applications on file. If there are no current vacancies, please check back again soon or on the pre-advertised dates, or keep an eye on our social media for updates.

Unfortunately, due to the popularity of our Volunteer Program we are unable to notify people when opportunities become available.

Please note that we only accept applications for roles that are being actively listed for recruitment – applications submitted via email or otherwise will not be considered. Due to the high number of enquiries we receive, we regret that we are unable to take expressions of interest outside of the recruitment period or keep applications on file. If there are no current vacancies, please check back on the pre-listed recruitment dates, or keep an eye on our social media for updates.

Due to our limited staff capacity, we only take on work placements by application from current staff and volunteers who are past their probation period. We recommend applying for our volunteer program 3-6 months prior if you are hoping to complete your work placement with us in the future.

We also only accept work placements for the Certificate III in Wildlife and Exhibited Animal Care. We are unfortunately unable to accommodate work placements for other courses of study as we find we do not meet the course placement requirements, including for all veterinary related courses.

Unfortunately our volunteers are required to be 18 years of age or older and required to commit to a regular day per week for a minimum of 6 months, which does not meet the requirements of the VCE Work Experience programs. We are sorry for the disappointment, as we know our local school-age people are also enthusiastic about wildlife conservation!

We do however offer VCE excursions – we offer programs for VCE Biology, VCE Environmental Science and VCE Geography. We can also run less formal custom programs for other subject areas as required.  Please contact our education team to discuss your needs and we will try our best to accommodate you.

Unfortunately our volunteers are required to be 18 years of age or older. There are many other ways you can be involved with Moonlit Sanctuary until then, including our  School Holiday Programs.

Our volunteer program is not designed to prepare people to enter the Sanctuary as employees, but rather an opportunity to gain a better understanding of what the industry is like. Volunteering offers valuable experience and insights into the day-to-day life of a Wildlife Sanctuary. By partaking in the volunteer program there is no guarantee of employment at Moonlit Sanctuary, or elsewhere.

Our volunteer roles have no guaranteed involvement with the animals apart from our free-roaming wallabies and kangaroos.

We care deeply for our creatures, so their welfare comes first and foremost which often requires minimising animal handling. Our Keepers are specially trained to handle our animals if and when required. Even our encounter animals get to choose if they are up for it each session, which is why our encounters are occasionally cancelled!

Unfortunately we are not able to take short term volunteers due to the level of training required, the nature of the roles, and the benefits we provide to our visitors and volunteers. The requested minimum 6 month commitment allows us to offer our volunteers the training, knowledge and skill building to ensure a more engaging volunteer experience.

We welcome your support in other ways – you can come visit Moonlit Sanctuary to experience the animals up close and see some of the wonderful conservation work our team is doing in action. You can also help wildlife from home through backyard conservation and gardens for wildlife, or by adopting an animal.

We are unfortunately not classed as a regional area and so are unsuitable for meeting the Working Holiday Maker 88-day regional work program visa requirements.

We do accept volunteers on International Visas, however you must be able to commit to a regular day per week for a minimum of 6 months and pass all other requirements of the application process.

We can occasionally cater to corporate or educational groups who are willing to assist with tasks such as raking, weeding and mulching. These must be organised well in advance as we are only able to offer a few opportunities per year. To make an enquiry, please contact us.

Our Volunteer Roles

Keeper Assistant VolunteersVisitor Experience VolunteersHorticultural Volunteers
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Keeper Assistant Volunteers

Keeper Assistant Volunteer roles are currently closed for new applications. We are processing the applications already received and thank you for your patience – all applicants will receive a response.

Our next Volunteer recruitment round will occur in November 2026, so please check back for more information then!

Do you love to work outdoors, are you comfortable with physical work, and are you passionate about wildlife conservation? Our Keeper Assistant Volunteers support our hard-working Keeper team to care for the animals with basic animal husbandry tasks, while expanding their knowledge and gaining an understanding of the day-to-day workings of a wildlife sanctuary.

A smiling Moonlit Sanctuary volunteer worker cleans the glass front of an animal exhibit using a squeegie

PLEASE NOTE:

  • This role has no guaranteed involvement with the animals apart from our free-roaming wallabies and kangaroos.
  • Due to the H5N1 strain of HPAI (Avian Influenza) having recently being detected in Australia, all Keeper Assistant Volunteers will be required to provide their own pair of closed work boots that will be worn exclusively during your shifts at Moonlit Sanctuary. This is a new, mandatory protocol that is not just to keep our animals safe, but also to minimise risk of wild bird contamination of clothing, including boots, to your home where you may have pets or more vulnerable family members. More information about this protocol will be shared as a part of the induction.
  • Moonlit Sanctuary are fortunate to have more people interested in volunteering than roles available, so we thank everyone for their interest but are unfortunately unable to accept every volunteer application that we receive. Thank you for your understanding.

Understanding the Role: What do Keeper Assistant Volunteers do?

  • Keeper Assistant Volunteers support our Keeper team in caring for the animals with basic husbandry tasks, which often involve physically demanding tasks such as habitat cleaning and maintenance, food and dietary preparation and making enrichment items for our animals.
  • They also host our Touch Table, deliver our invertebrate talk, and assist visitors when needed, so interpersonal skills are also important.
  • Each volunteer shift you will work through a daily checklist of tasks alongside other volunteers which you will have received training to complete. These tasks are completed under the instruction and supervision of our trained Keepers.
  • These tasks will often involve hard physical work including bending and lifting, cleaning up animal waste, and pushing and pulling heavy loads.
  • It can be dirty and smelly work! Animals eat a lot, and poo a lot, and both our Keepers and our Keeper Assistant Volunteers clean up animal waste as a part of their roles. If you feel that you cannot handle these aspects of the role, then the Visitor Experience Volunteer roles is potentially better suited to you.
  • Cleaning and maintaining enclosures is also a large portion of working with animals, even as a Keeper, so be prepared to scrub, rake, weed and squeegee.
  • As with employees at Moonlit Sanctuary, all volunteers are also responsible for animal observation, keeping the grounds tidy, safety monitoring (such as wild snake spotting) and reporting issues.
  • They perform other duties as reasonably required.

Volunteer Benefits

  • Become a part of a dynamic team of friendly people who have similar interests.
  • Gain new skills and knowledge about wildlife and conservation.
  • Challenge yourself in a supportive environment.
  • Act on your values, passions and interests.
  • Contribute meaningfully to wildlife conservation while inspiring others.
  • You will also receive volunteer benefits including free entry and discounts at the sanctuary for you and your family.
  • It’s rewarding work! If hard work doesn’t scare you, this role is valuable experience and gives you a wonderful insight into how the industry works.

Volunteer Shifts

  • Volunteering requires commitment and our Keeper Assistant Volunteer positions are popular and limited, so please consider your own availabilities when applying. Our staff and volunteers turn up in the rain, the cold, and the scorching summer heat! They even turn up when their friends are enjoying a public holiday. Why? Because they love what they do and are passionate about working with animals. And our animals still need feeding and clean enclosures, even on Christmas Day! So we ask that you must be able to commit to your weekly shifts on a regular day of the week, including regular availability during public holidays and school holiday periods, for a minimum of 6 months. But you are of course welcome to enjoy a holiday now and then, or take time off when you are unwell. We only expect that you will communicate these absences via the requested channels.
  • Volunteer shifts run from 7:54am– 4:00pm (7.5 hours with a break) at maximum length, across all 7 days of the week, with occasional training opportunities held outside of these hours.
  • All volunteer shifts are held onsite at Moonlit Sanctuary.

Volunteer Training

  • Training begins with an online induction that can be completed from home.
  • Once that is complete, you will be invited to attend an in-person induction training session which will include a tour, meeting some of the team, training for the tasks of the role and plenty of opportunities for questions.
  • Weekend Volunteers must be available to be trained by staff on weekdays before being rostered onto their regular weekend shifts.
  • Ongoing training opportunities will occur throughout the duration of the role.

What will I wear?

  • A Moonlit Sanctuary polo shirt, fleece top, hat, beanie and name badge are provided.
  • For your other clothing, we recommend you wear comfortable pants or shorts suitable for working outdoors in the weather, without any visible imagery or slogans that could be considered offensive, as well as other weather-appropriate clothing, including a rain jacket and thermal layers in winter. You would be working outdoors in most weather conditions, and down here on the Mornington Peninsula, those conditions can change quickly.
  • SHOES: Due to the H5N1 strain of HPAI (Avian Influenza) having recently being detected in Australia, all Keeper Assistant Volunteers (alongside Keepers) will be required to provide their own pair of closed work boots that will be worn exclusively during your shifts at Moonlit Sanctuary. This is a new and mandatory protocol that is not just to keep our animals safe, but also to minimise risk of wild bird contamination of clothing, including boots, to your home where you may have pets or more vulnerable family members. More information about this protocol will be shared as a part of the induction.
  • All clothing must be freshly laundered prior to each shift to also maintain animal safety as Keeper Assistant Volunteers regularly enter enclosures of vulnerable species as a part of their roles.

Do I have what it takes to be a Keeper Assistant Volunteer?

  • You are a reliable person with a passion for wildlife who enjoys working independently and as a part of a team.
  • You have the physical capability to undertake tasks unaided without compromising your physical safety. This includes bending, lifting, and the ability to be on your feet for the better part of a 7.5 hour day.
  • You won’t be put off by a set routine, as there are regularly scheduled tasks that you will complete every shift, or by sudden changes to the routine.
  • You are willing to follow the established protocols, procedures and instructions of our Keeper team with a proactive and a common-sense approach.
  • You are willing to purchase (or isolate) a pair of work boots for yourself that are worn exclusively onsite at Moonlit Sanctuary as a part of our HPAI (Avian Influenza) protocols, and you are willing to adhere to any updated requirements as the situation evolves.
  • You are willing to work in all weather conditions, and prepared to get wet, muddy, dirty, sweaty, and exposed to animals and their messes.
  • This role involves working independently in the outdoors and responding to animal, visitor and safety needs without one-to-one supervision. Applicants must be able to perform the genuine requirements of the role safely and effectively. We welcome applications from people with disability and encourage you to let us know if you require reasonable adjustments during recruitment, induction or volunteering. We will consider adjustment requests on a case-by-case basis in light of the role’s requirements and our operational capacity.
  • Volunteering is a commitment and we ask volunteers to honour that commitment with a weekly shift for a minimum of 6 months. Due to safety, volunteers who miss shifts are expected to check in on digital communications to keep up with changing policies.
  • You must be 18 years of age or older, and be willing to obtain a Working with Children Check and Police Check as a part of the onboarding process.
  • Almost anyone can get involved without having prior qualifications, skills or experience – you are primarily looking for enthusiasm, motivation, and a genuine love of working with animals and people!

How do I become a volunteer?

  • Check back in on this webpage in November 2026 – that is when our next recruitment round for volunteering will begin.
  • Once recruitment begins, the process begins with an online application. If this is successful, you are then invited to an in-person interview for the role. If you are offered a position as a volunteer, this is followed by an onboarding process, both online and in person.

Visitor Experience Volunteers

Visitor Experience Volunteer roles are currently closed for new applications. We are processing the applications already received and thank you for your patience – all applicants will receive a response in time.

Our next Volunteer recruitment round will occur in November 2026, so please check back for more information then!

Do you love to work outdoors, are you confident chatting with people, and are you passionate about native wildlife? Our Visitor Experience Volunteers engage with visitors of all ages, from all over the world, and share information about Moonlit Sanctuary and our animals to enrich their experience and inspire them with a deeper appreciation for the conservation of Australian wildlife.

PLEASE NOTE:

  • This role has no direct involvement with the animals apart from our free-roaming wallabies and kangaroos.
  • Moonlit Sanctuary are fortunate to have more people interested in volunteering than roles available, so we thank everyone for their interest but are unfortunately unable to accept every volunteer application that we receive. Thank you for your understanding.

Understanding the Role: What do Visitor Experience Volunteers do?

  • Visitor Experience Volunteers are stationed throughout our beautiful sanctuary and welcome visitors, answer their questions, and provide directions and information to enrich their experience.
  • They provide information and education about our animals, shows, keeper talks, facilities, and our conservation projects.
  • They protect our animals by supervising visitor interactions, particularly around our free roaming wallabies and kangaroos. We take a preventative approach to supervision, so volunteers are required to be observant, assertive and proactive.
  • As with employees at Moonlit Sanctuary, volunteers are also responsible for animal observation, keeping the grounds tidy, safety monitoring (such as wild snake spotting) and reporting issues.
  • They perform other duties as reasonably required.

Volunteer Benefits

  • Be actively involved within a dynamic team of people who have similar interests.
  • Gain new knowledge about Australia’s unique wildlife and conservation.
  • Develop professional and personal skills.
  • Enjoy new social experiences and keep active.
  • Challenge yourself in a supportive environment.
  • Build self-confidence by interacting with all ages and cultural backgrounds.
  • Act on your values, passions and interests.
  • Contribute meaningfully to wildlife conservation while inspiring others.
  • You will also receive volunteer benefits including free entry and discounts at the sanctuary for you and your family.

Volunteer Shifts

  • We are open every day of the year, from 9:30am to 4:00pm.
  • We request a commitment of either 1 day per week, or 1 half-day per week (on a regular day) for a minimum of 6 months.
  • The busier we are, the more we need the help of volunteers so we hope that our volunteers will make themselves available to assist more during holiday periods.
  • Full day shifts will run from 9:15am – 4:15pm (6.5 hours with a break) or shorter, depending on the time of year.
  • Half-day shifts are available for this role.
  • Please consider carefully what your availability is like at various time of the year; volunteering is an ongoing commitment. But you are of course welcome to enjoy a holiday now and then, or take time off when you are unwell! We expect that you will communicate these absences via the requested channels.

Volunteer Training

  • Training begins with an online induction that can be completed from home. Training documentation is provided.
  • Once that is complete, you will be invited to attend an in-person induction which will include a tour, meeting some of the team, and plenty of opportunities for questions.
  • Volunteers are provided with information about our species, our conservation projects, and our animals’ names, ages and backgrounds.

What will I wear?

  • A Moonlit Sanctuary polo shirt, fleece top, hat, beanie and name badge are provided.
  • For your other clothing, please wear comfortable clothing suitable for working outdoors in the weather, without any visible imagery or slogans that could be considered offensive.
  • You are expected to provide your own closed-in, comfortable footwear, and other weather-appropriate clothing, including a rain jacket and thermal layers in winter.
  • Please keep in mind that you are working outdoors in most weather conditions, and down here on the Mornington Peninsula, that may change quickly.

Do I have what it takes to be a Visitor Experience Volunteer?

  • Visitor Experience Volunteers are chosen for their people and communication skills, enthusiasm, and reliability.
  • You are not just a wildlife conservation enthusiast; you also genuinely enjoy helping people and sharing this passion with others.
  • This role is best suited to outgoing people who are confident in being assertive. You will need to feel comfortable communicating with visitors, including young children and people who may not speak English.
  • You are expected to be able to commit to a weekly shift for a minimum of 6 months.
  • You are prepared to make a commitment to learning about the sanctuary and our animals – there is a lot to learn.
  • You have the physical stamina for standing and walking for the length of your shift.
  • You are willing to work in all weather conditions, and prepared to get wet, muddy, dirty, sweaty, and exposed to animals and their messes.
  • This role involves working independently in outdoor public areas and responding to visitor and safety needs without one-to-one supervision. Applicants must be able to perform the genuine requirements of the role safely and effectively. We welcome applications from people with disability and encourage you to let us know if you require reasonable adjustments during recruitment, induction or volunteering. We will consider adjustment requests on a case-by-case basis in light of the role’s requirements and our operational capacity.
  • Almost anyone can get involved without having prior qualifications, skills or experience – you are primarily looking for enthusiasm, motivation, and a genuine love of working with people and animals!

How do I become a volunteer?

  • Check back in on this webpage in November 2026 – that is when our next recruitment round for volunteering will begin.
  • Once recruitment begins, the process begins with an online application. If this is successful, you are then invited to an in-person interview for the role. If you are offered a position as a volunteer, this is followed by an onboarding process, both online and in person.

Horticultural Volunteers

Horticultural Volunteer Applications are currently CLOSED. We will update the website when future opportunities become available. There is currently no waiting list available.

If you are passionate about plants, enjoy getting your hands dirty, and want to make a positive impact, then this is the role for you! Our Horticulture Volunteer roles at Moonlit Sanctuary are perfect for people who have an avid interest in native plants and working within a conservation and ecology framework.

You will play an active role in conservation – working with our Zoological Horticulturalist in helping care for the flora that calls Moonlit Sanctuary home. This role gives you the opportunity to get hands on, assisting with maintaining animal habitats and gardens and offering valuable experience and insights into the day-to-day life of a Wildlife Sanctuary.

It’s a physically demanding but incredibly rewarding role, offering new skills and the chance to be part of something truly meaningful.

Role Requirements:

  • Availability for weekly shifts on Wednesdays, 8am-12pm (4 hour shift)
  • Minimum 6 month commitment to the role
  • Relevant horticultural/ecological education or experience
  • A high level of physical fitness to perform all tasks required
  • Plant knowledge including observational plant skills
  • Comfortable working in a physical, outdoors role in all weather conditions
Two volunteers in bottle green polo shirts using a spade and a rake to move soil around in a wombat enclosure.

PLEASE NOTE:

  • Due to the large volume of applicants, Moonlit Sanctuary reserves the right to select the most suitable individuals for volunteer roles.
  • Moonlit Sanctuary strives to provide the best quality experience to our visitors and we reserve the right to terminate a volunteer at any time.
  • Our volunteer program is not designed to prepare people to enter the Sanctuary as employees, but rather an opportunity to gain a better understanding of what the industry is like. By partaking in the volunteer program there is no guarantee of employment at Moonlit Sanctuary, or elsewhere.

Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conversation Park is committed to providing a working environment that is purpose-driven, collaborative and positive. We offer access to an Employee Wellbeing, Safety and Support Program, learning and development opportunities and generous discounts on products and services.

Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conversation Park is committed to building a diverse workforce and strongly encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability, people from culturally and racially marginalised and refugee backgrounds, people of all ages, neurodiverse people, gender diverse people and LGBTIQA+ people. We welcome applications from people with a diversity of backgrounds and experiences.