Wildlife Emergency Responder

Wildlife Information Rescue And Education Service; Northern Beaches Council; On-site; AUD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

WIRES Wildlife Emergency Responders is a field-based role based around Brookvale, NSW, supporting wildlife rescue and emergency responses across the Greater Sydney area. You will drive the dedicated wildlife ambulance, handle sick or injured native wildlife and work with vets, volunteers and the public.

The position is 12-month contract with potential extension, requiring hands-on wildlife experience, a valid Class C driver’s licence, and a First Aid certificate or willingness to obtain one.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with native Australian wildlife.
• Current First Aid Certificate or willingness to obtain.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making under time-critical rescues.
• Excellent administration and record keeping skills.
• Good communication and interpersonal abilities.

Responsibilities

• Respond to wildlife rescues involving sick, stressed or injured wildlife across NSW.
• Attend challenging rescues, often as a lone worker.
• Provide appropriate handling, rescue and immediate care per welfare requirements.
• Drive the WIRES wildlife ambulance and travel long distances as needed.
• Maintain rescue equipment and ambulance in safe, clean condition.
• Maintain records relating to rescues, care, incidents and equipment.
• Collaborate with staff, volunteers, veterinarians and agencies.
• Participate in regional and interstate deployments.

Skills

Wildlife handling

Calm under pressure

First Aid

Record keeping

Communication

Tools

Rescue equipment

Job description

Wildlife Information Rescue And Education Service – Brookvale NSW

WIRES Wildlife Emergency Responders rescue, assist and transport sick or injured wildlife across NSW. The role reports to the WIRES Head Office Emergency Response Team, working closely with members of the public, volunteers and vets, as well as engaging in community wildlife education opportunities. The WIRES Wildlife Emergency Responder is a frontline position responsible for supporting WIRES' wildlife rescue and emergency response operations. The role involves responding to wildlife rescues across a range of environments and circumstances, providing practical assistance to affected wildlife. This is a fully mobile, field-based position, with the role primarily carried out on the road and no regular office-based component. This role requires regular travel throughout the Greater Sydney area and the successful applicant will be based within the Sydney metropolitan area to support operational requirements. An equipped rescue vehicle and communication devices are provided. This is a 12-month contract with the potential for extension.

Key responsibilities

• Respond to and undertake wildlife rescues involving sick, stressed, injured and critically injured native wildlife, including higher-risk species such as bats, snakes and raptors.
• Attend challenging and complex rescues, primarily as a lone worker.
• Provide appropriate handling, rescue and immediate care of wildlife in accordance with animal welfare requirements and WIRES procedures.
• Drive the WIRES wildlife ambulance and travel potentially long distances during shifts to attend critical and urgent wildlife rescues.
• Prepare, clean, check and maintain rescue equipment on a daily basis to ensure it is safe, clean and ready for use.
• Maintain the WIRES wildlife ambulance in a clean, safe and orderly condition.
• Conduct equipment and supply inventories as required.
• Maintain accurate and timely records relating to wildlife rescues, animal care, incidents, equipment and other operational activities.
• Work collaboratively with staff, volunteers, veterinarians, government agencies, emergency services and other stakeholders involved in wildlife rescue and emergency response.
• Participate in regional and interstate emergency deployments, including deployment at short notice where required to support emergency operational activities.

About you

• Hands-on experience working with native Australian wildlife. Confident and skilled in handling and rescuing wildlife, particularly those that are sick, stressed and critically injured.
• Current full drivers' licence Class C and a good driving record is required.
• Current First Aid Certificate or willingness to obtain.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills particularly the ability to assess situations, identify appropriate courses of action and make sound decisions during challenging or time-critical rescues.
• Ability to remain calm and professional under pressure including when responding to distressing situations, critically injured wildlife, difficult rescues or distressed members of the public.
• High level of reliability and personal accountability including punctuality, preparedness, following through on responsibilities and being dependable during emergency deployments.
• Willingness to complete practical and online WIRES advanced species training or emergency response courses, which may occur over a weekend.
• Excellent administration and record keeping skills with attention to detail and the ability to easily navigate multiple software platforms.
• Strong commitment to animal welfare and demonstrated ability to apply animal welfare principles when making decisions during wildlife rescue and emergency response activities.
• Highly developed communication (oral and written) and interpersonal skills including sound conflict resolution and negotiation skills.

About us

WIRES is Australia's largest wildlife rescue organisation and has been rescuing and caring for sick, injured and orphaned native animals for 40 years. WIRES' mission is to actively rehabilitate and preserve Australian wildlife and inspire others to do the same. WIRES operate a dedicated Wildlife Rescue Office assisting wildlife and the community across Australia 24-hours a day, 365 days a year, providing rescue advice and assistance for approximately 150,000 animals annually, as well as providing full-time mobile Wildlife Emergency Responders operating across NSW, South-East Queensland and Tasmania.