Wildlife Care - Victoria
Join Love Volunteers in supporting the survival of Australia’s iconic native species at a dedicated Wildlife Shelter nestled in the remote and tranquil region of Granya, Victoria.
This extraordinary Shelter provides essential care for orphaned joeys, injured wombats, displaced wallabies, and other native marsupials, with the ultimate goal of releasing as many animals as possible back into their natural habitat. Home to a wide range of species—including kangaroos, koalas, wombats, possums, and more—the Shelter operates solely on donations and the generosity of volunteers, receiving no government funding.
For over a decade, a passionate and experienced local team has worked tirelessly to care for Australia’s vulnerable wildlife. Volunteers play a crucial role in this effort, assisting with the daily feeding, medical care, cleaning, and enrichment activities needed to rehabilitate these animals.
This is a hands-on, deeply rewarding volunteer opportunity that offers a unique chance to work directly with native wildlife in a stunning rural setting. Whether you're feeding a baby kangaroo, helping construct animal enclosures, or learning from seasoned wildlife carers, you’ll be making a real difference every day.
Goals of this Project:
- Provide a refuge for injured, displaced, orphaned or abandoned animals
- Provide medical attention and appropriate care to animals in need
- Rescue, rehabilitate and release as many native animals as possible
- Be a source of education and inspiration for wildlife preservation
How You Can Help
Volunteers are desperately needed to assist with Wildlife Rescue efforts in Australia. Dedicated local staff work tirelessly to rescue and rehabilitate wildlife and they cannot do this without the invaluable support of a willing volunteer workforce.
Volunteers will be kept busy and engaged on a variety of tasks. The daily schedule of feeding, cleaning, and collecting resources is a busy one so the shelter needs volunteers to assist with tasks such as bottle feeding infant animals, growing, collecting and distributing food materials, assisting with medical treatment as appropriate and ensuring the shelter is kept clean and well maintained.
Care for the rescued animals is required 24/7 so the project operates a flexible seven day working week. There is an excellent camaraderie between local and international volunteers alike, dedicated to a common cause.
Volunteers contribute in various ways and may be involved in the following:
- Bottle feeding and caring for infant and young animals
- Preparing and distributing food
- Assisting in rescue calls
- Administering medical treatment
- Cleaning and maintenance work in the shelter
- Animal enrichment and exercise activities
Requirements
Love Volunteers welcomes those who wish to give their time and energy to help protect and conserve the native wildlife of Australia. The program is strictly limited to those 18 years and over due to the nature of the work and risks inherent in working with wild and injured animals.
This project is best suited to those who are either pursuing a career in animal conservation/zoological studies, or who simply wish to explore an interest in this field. However, the project does not require participants to have specific education, qualifications or experience, as you will be shown everything you need to know by one of local project leaders.
Participants must:
- Be independent in all daily activities
- Be physically fit, able to carry and handle animals, and walk across uneven ground—often at night
- Be able to cope emotionally with the realities of wildlife care, including injury, trauma, and in some cases, euthanasia
- Be open to learning new skills and engaging in meaningful, sometimes challenging, tasks
- Have a genuine willingness to help, show drive and initiative, and bring a positive 'can-do' attitude.
If this sounds like you, we want you on the team!
A current tetanus vaccination is highly recommended.
Additionally, volunteers applying to join this program will be required to supply to following documentation:
- Emergency contact
- Resume
Project Location
The incredible Wildlife Shelter this program supports is remotely located in Granya, in the Australian state of Victoria.
Granya, is located in the foothills of Victoria’s Snowy Mountains. The area is quiet and rural, surrounded by bushland, native wildlife, and winding country roads. There isn't a town centre within walking distance, but volunteers can enjoy scenic walks, wildlife spotting, and the peaceful bush life. On rest days (if arranged), volunteers can visit nearby towns like Tallangatta or Corryong for groceries, coffee, or a local bakery stop. There are beautiful drives, swimming spots, and national parks in the area.
Start Dates & Duration
This project is available year-round with programs starting every WEDNESDAY. Volunteers can choose to participate for periods ranging from 1 week to 8 weeks. Longer stays can be arranged directly with the local team, but will be subject to availability and individual visa conditions.
Spaces on this project are limited and therefore subject to availability. Early booking is recommended.
For current available start dates please check the calendar on the right.
Arrival & Orientation
Volunteers fly into Melbourne or Sydney international airport. You can then take a train or flight onto Albury where you will be met by the local team. It is a 1 - 1.5-hour drive to your accommodation. The transport from Albury is included in your fees unless you choose to leave early or arrive outside normal hours.
Volunteers must arrive in Albury during daylight hours, as the final leg of the journey to Granya involves rural roads and wildlife crossings. If your arrival is later in the day, you’ll need to arrange overnight accommodation in Albury and schedule your pick-up for the following morning. Detailed travel instructions will be provided once your placement is confirmed
Orientation and training is provided on-site and local staff are on-hand to provide supervision, advice and support to volunteers at all times.
- Arrival Day: WEDNESDAY, before 3pm
- Departure Day: WEDNESDAY
- Arrival Airport: Melbourne (MEL) or Sydney (SYD) international airports.
Accommodation & Meals
Volunteer accommodation is provided on-site in an off-grid home powered by solar and reliant on collected rainwater, making conservation and conscious living part of the daily rhythm.
There are three rooms—a double, a queen, and a bunk room—housing 3 to 5 volunteers at a time. In most cases, volunteers will have their own room, unless travelling together. Occasionally, volunteers may be asked to share the bunk room, depending on the group size and availability.
The bathroom is shared, with hot running water available. Volunteers are asked to keep showers short to help conserve water, especially in dry seasons.
Wi-Fi is available but very limited, best suited to messaging and light browsing. It is recommended volunteers purchase their own TELSTRA SIM or eSIM for better coverage if required.
Three meals are provided daily. Meals are prepared in a communal kitchen and volunteers are asked to assist with the preparation and clean-up. Vegetarian and vegan volunteers are welcome and encouraged to assist with the shopping and preparation of meals.
Bedding and linen are provided for you. Volunteers are asked to bring 1 or 2 towels. Laundry facilities are available for volunteers to do their own washing.
Fees
That’s just USD 127 per day* for:
*In addition to the program fees listed above a Registration Fee is payable to secure your place. The registration fee is USD 299 for those volunteering with Love Volunteers for the first time or USD 149 for any subsequent volunteer placements. The registration fee includes: lifetime LV Alumni Membership, fundraising support & advice, dedicated pre-departure support, certificate of completion (on request), and exclusive access to the LV Trip Planner.
Some things are not included in the program fees listed above, such as flights, visas, vaccinations, travel insurance, additional foods and snacks, spending money, local transport, in-country trips and excursions, return airport transfer (unless mentioned above).
Please note that prices are subject to change without notice. Please ensure you have read the Love Volunteers Terms and Conditions & Refund Policy.