Become a SOWFI volunteer & member
If you are over 18 in South Australia you can apply to join Save Our Wildlife Foundation Inc (SOWFI) as a volunteer wildlife rescuer, carer or join the admin team.
SOWFI have a dedicated group of licensed volunteers working around SA to rescue and care for thousands of animals every year. We also have an equally dedicated bunch of people that volunteer to manage the business to ensure good governance and best business practices.
To become a Wildlife Volunteer with SOWFI you need to complete a Wildlife Rescue or Basic Care course. Completing the Rescue 101 training enables you to rescue a range of sick, injured and orphaned native animals. When you start as a rescuer, you will normally take rescued animals to a vet or experienced carer for assessment immediately after the rescue. You may also regularly be picking animals up from vets to transport them to a carer.
The rescue and care of species such as koalas, snakes and bats requires the completion of additional specialist courses.
To find out more about our Wildlife Rescue course, visit our events page.
You may also choose to attend our specialist animal care courses, which are designed to deliver the skills necessary to provide rehabilitative care for particular species.
Many wild animals that require rescue are already very sick or seriously injured. Volunteers must work with vets and experienced carers to make decisions that are in the animal’s best interests, and for some seriously injured and sick animals this can include developing appropriate care plans, finding specialist care or euthanasia.
What level of commitment is necessary?
As a volunteer, you decide on the level of activity and involvement you are comfortable with. You can choose to only be a rescuer or a carer, or both. There are also a number of administrative roles that help support fundraising and management activities.
In terms of wildlife rescue and care, time and equipment are major considerations. If you do make the commitment to become a rescuer and carer there are experienced carers and team leaders who will guide and support you.
What equipment is needed?
Some equipment is essential to carry out wildlife rescue and care. Equipment does not need to be expensive or sophisticated to begin with and may be accumulated over time. Rescue 101 will provide you with detailed information on what you will need for many of the rescues you may encounter and starter kits will be available to purchase at the training.
What about pets and children?
Having pets and/or young children and being a wildlife carer are not mutually exclusive. However, wildlife in care needs to be kept away from all people (unnecessary contact with carers as well) and pets to minimise stress on the animals and improve their chances of survival when they are released.
It is illegal to take native animals from the wild and keep them as pets. Wildlife that come to SOWFI only stay in care until they can be released back into the wild. When wildlife is in care it’s our duty to always act in the best interest of the animal. Unnecessary contact with wild animals can induce stress and impede their ability to be successfully released back into their natural environment and carry out natural behaviours such as finding food and avoiding predators, such as domestic pets.
How do I get started?
To get started in Wildlife Rescue or Wildlife Care, book into our next training course where you will be able to attend a short interview, fill in necessary paperwork and pay for annual membership.
Read about our upcoming courses.
To come on board in an administrative role, please complete your registration of Interest, attach your CV or resume with a cover letter detailing how you would like to get involved and email it to membership@save-our-wildlife.org.au
Alternatively, you can register now to receive email updates about upcoming courses.
If you have any questions about accessing or participating in training please contact team@save-our-wildlife.org.au
SOWFI have a dedicated group of licensed volunteers working around SA to rescue and care for thousands of animals every year. We also have an equally dedicated bunch of people that volunteer to manage the business to ensure good governance and best business practices.
To become a Wildlife Volunteer with SOWFI you need to complete a Wildlife Rescue or Basic Care course. Completing the Rescue 101 training enables you to rescue a range of sick, injured and orphaned native animals. When you start as a rescuer, you will normally take rescued animals to a vet or experienced carer for assessment immediately after the rescue. You may also regularly be picking animals up from vets to transport them to a carer.
The rescue and care of species such as koalas, snakes and bats requires the completion of additional specialist courses.
To find out more about our Wildlife Rescue course, visit our events page.
You may also choose to attend our specialist animal care courses, which are designed to deliver the skills necessary to provide rehabilitative care for particular species.
Many wild animals that require rescue are already very sick or seriously injured. Volunteers must work with vets and experienced carers to make decisions that are in the animal’s best interests, and for some seriously injured and sick animals this can include developing appropriate care plans, finding specialist care or euthanasia.
What level of commitment is necessary?
As a volunteer, you decide on the level of activity and involvement you are comfortable with. You can choose to only be a rescuer or a carer, or both. There are also a number of administrative roles that help support fundraising and management activities.
In terms of wildlife rescue and care, time and equipment are major considerations. If you do make the commitment to become a rescuer and carer there are experienced carers and team leaders who will guide and support you.
What equipment is needed?
Some equipment is essential to carry out wildlife rescue and care. Equipment does not need to be expensive or sophisticated to begin with and may be accumulated over time. Rescue 101 will provide you with detailed information on what you will need for many of the rescues you may encounter and starter kits will be available to purchase at the training.
What about pets and children?
Having pets and/or young children and being a wildlife carer are not mutually exclusive. However, wildlife in care needs to be kept away from all people (unnecessary contact with carers as well) and pets to minimise stress on the animals and improve their chances of survival when they are released.
It is illegal to take native animals from the wild and keep them as pets. Wildlife that come to SOWFI only stay in care until they can be released back into the wild. When wildlife is in care it’s our duty to always act in the best interest of the animal. Unnecessary contact with wild animals can induce stress and impede their ability to be successfully released back into their natural environment and carry out natural behaviours such as finding food and avoiding predators, such as domestic pets.
How do I get started?
To get started in Wildlife Rescue or Wildlife Care, book into our next training course where you will be able to attend a short interview, fill in necessary paperwork and pay for annual membership.
Read about our upcoming courses.
To come on board in an administrative role, please complete your registration of Interest, attach your CV or resume with a cover letter detailing how you would like to get involved and email it to membership@save-our-wildlife.org.au
Alternatively, you can register now to receive email updates about upcoming courses.
If you have any questions about accessing or participating in training please contact team@save-our-wildlife.org.au
