Casual Animal Ambulance Driver (shift work including overnights) 

About us:

The Lost Dogs’ Home is Victoria’s largest animal shelter. During our last financial year, our dedicated team found new forever homes for more than 8,000 abandoned animals and reunited a further 4,400 lost pets giving all animals in our care the best chance at a happy and healthy life.

About the role:

The Lost Dogs' Home currently provides a casual and after-hours (overnight) animal ambulance service in and around our sites in North Melbourne and Cranbourne. Ambulance Drivers are to ensure lost and injured animals are collected safely and transported to one of our animal shelters. We are looking for candidates who have exceptional animal handling skills, flexibility, and commitment to work a rotating roster, including after-hours and weekends. 

This integral role is critical to our success as a leading animal welfare organisation. In this role, you will be responsible for ensuring that domestic animals and livestock are safely transported to the appropriate holding facility. 

  
Key responsibilities include: 

• Receiving call-outs via the council's after-hours service and acknowledging them promptly,
• Attending to stray, contained, or injured animals, including large domestic animals and livestock within an allocated area,
• Confidently handling all animals to ensure their safety and welfare,
• Liaising with members of the public, council representatives, and other external stakeholders, including the police and veterinary clinics, both in person and via telephone,
• Accurate report writing, with a strong focus on attention to detail,
• Checking and maintaining equipment and vehicle.

To be successful in this role, you will have: 

• Certificate in Animal Studies and/or relevant qualifications (desired),
• A current driver's licence, held for over 1 year, with a proven track record of safe driving,
• Excellent animal handling skills including confidence with high-risk dogs and livestock,
• Experience working with animals in a shelter-type environment (desired),
• Flexibility to work after various hours, overnight, weekends and/or public holidays,
• Have a good telephone manner, strong verbal and written communication skills,
• Strong self-motivation and confidence to work alone at night, travelling varying distances within set contractual response times,
• Exceptional customer service and problem-solving skills,
• A passion for animal welfare.

What we can offer you

• Fantastic career development and opportunities to gain skills in the diverse field of shelter work,
• Attractive hourly rates and penalty rates for after-hours and weekend work,
• Discounts and benefits at our vet clinic, Frank Samways,
• Unique and supportive work environment, surrounded by animals!
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program, including an onsite counselling service.

If you are looking for an opportunity in the animal welfare industry and this job is of interest to you, please click on the “Apply” button, ensuring you have attached your cover letter and current resume in Word or PDF format. If you have any queries about this position, please email recruitment@dogshome.com

The successful applicant will be required to complete satisfactory background screening checks.
 
The Lost Dogs’ Home is an equal-opportunity employer committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion. Only candidates with the right to work in Australia may apply for this position.