Wildlife Veterinary Nurse

Wildlife Veterinary Nurse (multiple casual roles)

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Position title: Wildlife Veterinary Nurse (Casual)

Employer: Northern Rivers Wildlife Hospital (NRWH)

Reports to: General Manager (GM), Lead Wildlife Veterinary Nurse

Key Relationships: Veterinarians, Vet Nurses, volunteers, wildlife care groups, stakeholders

Date: June 2026

About Us

The Northern Rivers Wildlife Hospital (NRWH) is a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to the care of injured, sick, and orphaned wildlife in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales. Located in the picturesque hinterland community of Wollongbar, just a short drive from Lismore and the coast, the NRWH is poised to become a leading centre for wildlife medicine and conservation.

Opening its doors in early 2025, the NRWH offers a full range of veterinary services for wildlife, including triage, intensive and intermediate in-patient and out-patient care, short-term rehabilitation, and complements the work of existing local wildlife care groups.

Beyond individual animal care, the NRWH aims to make a significant impact on wildlife conservation. By working collaboratively with wildlife care groups, hospitals, networks, universities, TAFE, local communities, organisations, and government and non-government agencies, the NRWH contributes to systemic improvements in wildlife conservation.

The NRWH is committed to providing a supportive and nurturing environment for both animals and staff. The hospital's facilities are designed with human and animal welfare in mind. The NRWH prioritises employee well-being, offering a supportive workplace culture, a healthy work-life balance, and access to an employee assistance program.

About the Role

Wildlife Veterinary Nurses (vet nurse/s) will provide an exceptional standard of veterinary nursing care and husbandry to all animals admitted to the NRWH, whilst providing excellent service to members of the public and wildlife carer groups. Vet nurses report to the GM and Lead Wildlife Veterinary Nurse; directly assist the Wildlife Veterinarians and work alongside the veterinary nursing, reception and administrative teams. The role also involves supporting and training volunteers and engaging with stakeholders (incl. social media/ media as required).

Key Responsibilities

Nurses will assist in day-to-day operations of the hospital, and will:

• Provide gold standard veterinary nursing care, rehabilitation \& husbandry to all patients
• Foster a collaborative work environment in which staff and volunteers feel empowered to learn and grow; be approachable and compassionate
• Maintain overall cleanliness and hygiene of the hospital, including equipment, patient wards and the reception and hospital areas
• Assist in educating, training and mentoring volunteers and students
• Form strong relationships with and provide excellent service to local wildlife care groups
• Help promote NRWH by engaging with the marketing team, visitors and at NRWH events

Selection Criteria

Essential criteria:

• Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing (or Australian recognised equivalent)
• Ideally 3 years of veterinary nursing experience, including a minimum of 1 year working with wildlife or within a wildlife facility
• Demonstrated proficiency in restraint, treatment \& rehabilitation of Australian wildlife
• Developed understanding of the specialised husbandry needs of different species
• Possess strong ethics, initiative, resourcefulness \& adaptability to ensure each patient is provided a high standard of veterinary care and welfare
• Ability to encourage and maintain a positive, fun and compassionate workplace culture that aligns with NRWH’s vision, mission \& values
• Possess strong, multidimensional communication skills and work effectively in a team
• Strong time management and ability to perform under stress in a fast-paced environment
• Possess enthusiasm for continuing education
• Ability and commitment to implementing safe work practices in all areas of the workplace
• Ability to perform physical duties including manual handling

Desirable criteria

• Experience in mentoring/ training staff and students
• Current vaccination or protective titres against rabies, tetanus and Q fever
• Venomous snake handling experience and training
• Current First Aid Certificate
• AVNAT Registration

If you are interested in this role, we would love to hear from you. Please submit your cover letter \& CV (maximum 2 pages each) to: [email protected]

The Northern Rivers Wildlife Hospital is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we encourage interest from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. We value diversity, inclusivity, gender equity and we promote human friendly practices.

Employees of the NRWH must comply with and maintain up to date knowledge in:

• OH\&S legislation
• Privacy legislation
• Confidential Information Policy
• NRWH Code of Conduct

Work Location: In person