Animal Attendant – Dog Team

About GAWS

Geelong Animal Welfare Society (GAWS) is a not-for-profit animal welfare organisation providing best-practice care, education, shelter, rehoming and community veterinary services across the Geelong region.

Established in 1956, GAWS has a long and proud history of supporting animals and the local community. Our work is guided by our values of Respect and Integrity, Teamwork, Accountability, Leadership and Learning.

We are seeking experienced Casual Animal Care Attendants to join our Dog Team.

About the Role

Reporting to the Animal Care Supervisor, you will provide hands-on care and support to dogs with varying breeds, sizes, temperaments and behavioural needs.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Providing daily care using best-practice animal husbandry and handling techniques.
• Safely handling and moving dogs throughout the facility.
• Reading canine body language and adapting your approach to each individual dog.
• Supporting dogs that may be excited, fearful, stressed or require additional care.
• Completing feeding, cleaning, grooming and enrichment activities.
• Maintaining clean, safe and hygienic animal housing and work areas.
• Assisting with admissions and ensuring animal records and systems remain accurate and up to date.
• Monitoring animal health, wellbeing and behaviour, and escalating concerns appropriately.
• Working collaboratively with the team to maintain high standards of animal welfare.
• Providing professional and compassionate service to members of the community.
• Undertaking other reasonable duties as required.

This is a casual position, with remuneration aligned with the applicable award and the successful candidate’s qualifications, skills and experience.

About You

You have a genuine passion for animal welfare and demonstrated hands-on experience working with dogs.

You are confident working with unfamiliar dogs and understand that animals entering a shelter environment may display a range of behaviours due to fear, stress, excitement or uncertainty. You can read canine body language, exercise sound judgement and adjust your handling approach to meet the needs of each dog.

Previous experience in an animal shelter, kennel, veterinary clinic, boarding facility, dog daycare, training environment or a similar animal-care setting will be highly regarded.

You will also bring strong communication and organisational skills, compassion, reliability and the ability to remain calm in a busy and sometimes challenging environment.

The Musts

• Demonstrated practical dog care and safe handling experience.
• Confidence working with dogs of varying breeds, sizes, temperaments and behavioural needs.
• Sound knowledge of canine body language and safe handling practices.
• A strong commitment to animal welfare.
• Ability to work effectively within a team and independently when required.
• Good communication, organisation and record-keeping skills.
• Physical capacity to safely undertake the inherent requirements of the role.
• Availability to work a flexible casual roster, including weekends and public holidays when required.
• Current Australian driver licence.
• Current Police Check or willingness to obtain one.

A Certificate III in Animal Care Services, Companion Animal Services or a related qualification will be highly regarded.

If this sounds like you and you are as excited as we are by this opportunity, then apply now!