About the RoleWe are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Veterinary Nurse to join our team at Taronga Zoo. As a Keeper Veterinary Nurse, you will be responsible for providing high-quality veterinary nursing and husbandry care to the animals in our population, as well as injured, orphaned, and rehabilitating wildlife.
Key ResponsibilitiesProvide highest quality care to animals for wildlife, hospital, and quarantine patients, including preventative and routine health and husbandry, as well as responding to injuries and illnesses as they arise.Sound knowledge and competency in animal husbandry techniques in a hospital environment for a wide variety of zoo and wildlife species, including enclosure cleaning regimes, enclosure set up, animal enrichment, diet preparation, and capture and restraint.Monitoring of anaesthetics and assisting in surgical and non-surgical medical procedures; both in the hospital and in field contexts.Assisting with sample collection and processing with the support of our experienced laboratory team.Provide compassionate, pragmatic care and rehabilitation to wildlife presented by members of the community, including but not limited to admissions, communications with carers, coordinating rehabilitation programmes and releases.Liaise with keepers and vets utilising strong interpersonal skills, contributing to a positive workplace.Excellent written and verbal communication skills.Maintain accurate records, input in data management systems.Involvement in educational and visitor experience activities such as mentoring, media, tours and talks.Safely provide high quality animal husbandry and management techniques in line with Taronga policies and procedures to assist Taronga in meeting WHS and animal care and welfare targets and in complying with all relevant legislation.Work effectively as a member of a high performing team including peers, volunteers, and students to assist Taronga in its achievement of strategic outcomes.Comply with sustainability practices in the workplace to help achieve Taronga's sustainability targets and reduce environmental impact.Assist in emergency response situations.About YouWe are looking for candidates that have:
Certificate III in Captive Animals or equivalent certification with minimum 3 years' paid experience caring for a range of zoo and wildlife species (required).Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing or equivalent certification with 2 years' paid experience working as a veterinary nurse (highly desirable).Experience working in a zoo or wildlife veterinary hospital or similar.Skills and experience in animal capture and restraint on a wide variety of species.Sound knowledge and competency in all aspects of veterinary nursing including but not limited to anaesthesia monitoring, triage and first aid, radiography, sampling techniques, drug calculations, and administration techniques.Exemplary hygiene and compliance with quarantine policies and relevant legislation, safely work around zoonotic and notifiable diseases.A commitment to wildlife conservation and animal welfare.A high level of physical fitness.Demonstrated ability to follow Work Health & Safety protocols.A proactive, positive outlook with strong problem-solving skills.An ability to multi-task and maintain high standards in a complex, busy and extremely varied workplace.NSW C Class Drivers Licence (or the ability to transfer current unrestricted licence).Vaccinations against Zoonotic disease (in accordance with Taronga's Zoonotic disease vaccination matrix).A current paid NSW Working with Children Check at own expense.BenefitsOur employees enjoy generous employment conditions including some of the following:
Complimentary family and friend's passes across both Taronga's Sydney & Dubbo Zoo's.Free onsite zoo car parking.A wide range of discounts on our award-winning accommodation across both sites.Discounted food and beverage purchases across the sites.Discounted Fitness Passport.We Value DiversityTaronga is an equal opportunity employer, where we recognise the diversity of our workforce and community – be it based on gender, age, culture, religion, language or personal circumstances. Taronga is also committed to building on the perspectives, experience, knowledge and skills that this diversity brings to our organisation.