Volunteer for Qld Guinea Pig Refuge
“Volunteers don’t get paid, not because they’re worthless, but because they’re priceless.” – Sherry Anderson
Our volunteers are the backbone of our organisation, and the Refuge would not exist without the time and effort given by those who offer their help. This form must be completed by anyone applying to become a volunteer for Qld Guinea Pig Refuge.
Please note, volunteers must be over the age of 16 due to insurance and Blue Card requirements. Open days are very busy, and other volunteers do not have time to supervise younger children during the day. It is also preferred that volunteers have previous experience with guinea pigs.
The QGPR Volunteer Handbook, including the Code of Conduct must be read, understood and signed by all who wish to volunteer and/or foster care for the Refuge. Any breaches of the policies contained in the Handbook may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination of membership. Criminal conduct, including failure to return guinea pigs on foster care and/or QGPR property may result in police action being taken.
The Refuge has open days on the first and third Saturday of each month; however, our volunteers perform various tasks every weekend. As we don't have an actual shelter, the Refuge hires the Bald Hills Scout Den as the venue for open days. All our guinea pigs live with foster carers and the majority of our shop stock, Pig'n'Mix and hay is located at a volunteer's house close by the Scout Den.
There are a number of different volunteer roles required for open days, which are listed below:
Set up from 8am to 10am involves meeting at the volunteer's house at Bracken Ridge at 8am on open days. We pack everything we need into our trailer and transport it to the Scout Den. Once there, we unpack the trailer and help with setting up all the stock inside the Den. We also bag hay for sale before we open at 10am. We have several people doing this role at once.
Piggy Parlour Assistant from 10am to 12pm or 12pm to 2pm mostly involves bathing piggies in the warmer months. Training will be give to administer worm and mite treatment orally via a syringe, cutting nails and trimming piggies hair. We also have another person manning the piggy parlour all day so you won’t be alone.
Pack up from 2pm to approx. 4.30pm Volunteers arrive at the Scout Den at 2pm and help with minor stock counts and then help pack everything up into the trailer to take back to the volunteer's house. When there, you help unpack everything and put it away. We have several people doing this role at once.
There are also other roles at open days that last the whole day, starting at 8am and finishing at 4.30pm. These roles include Adoption Assistants, Piggy Parlour Assistant, Point of Sale and a general volunteer (floater) role. We generally start people on the above shorter roles first and teach them the more experienced, all day roles later.
Food Mixing The Refuge mixes our own Pig'n'Mix every weekend, including the open day weekend. This takes around an hour and a half and is done at the volunteer's house at Bracken Ridge. Three people are rostered to do this and it’s up to those people to choose a day and time that suits them all best.
If you can't help at open days, other behind-the-scenes tasks include helping to clean cages, fundraising, printing and sewing. We encourage people to help as much as they can and encourage an “everyone pitches in culture”. However, we do ask that volunteers are reliable and turn up to perform their rostered role as it puts pressure on others if we are left shorthanded on open days.
If you would like to volunteer for Qld Guinea Pig Refuge, please complete the form below.
Our volunteers are the backbone of our organisation, and the Refuge would not exist without the time and effort given by those who offer their help. This form must be completed by anyone applying to become a volunteer for Qld Guinea Pig Refuge.
Please note, volunteers must be over the age of 16 due to insurance and Blue Card requirements. Open days are very busy, and other volunteers do not have time to supervise younger children during the day. It is also preferred that volunteers have previous experience with guinea pigs.
The QGPR Volunteer Handbook, including the Code of Conduct must be read, understood and signed by all who wish to volunteer and/or foster care for the Refuge. Any breaches of the policies contained in the Handbook may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination of membership. Criminal conduct, including failure to return guinea pigs on foster care and/or QGPR property may result in police action being taken.
The Refuge has open days on the first and third Saturday of each month; however, our volunteers perform various tasks every weekend. As we don't have an actual shelter, the Refuge hires the Bald Hills Scout Den as the venue for open days. All our guinea pigs live with foster carers and the majority of our shop stock, Pig'n'Mix and hay is located at a volunteer's house close by the Scout Den.
There are a number of different volunteer roles required for open days, which are listed below:
Set up from 8am to 10am involves meeting at the volunteer's house at Bracken Ridge at 8am on open days. We pack everything we need into our trailer and transport it to the Scout Den. Once there, we unpack the trailer and help with setting up all the stock inside the Den. We also bag hay for sale before we open at 10am. We have several people doing this role at once.
Piggy Parlour Assistant from 10am to 12pm or 12pm to 2pm mostly involves bathing piggies in the warmer months. Training will be give to administer worm and mite treatment orally via a syringe, cutting nails and trimming piggies hair. We also have another person manning the piggy parlour all day so you won’t be alone.
Pack up from 2pm to approx. 4.30pm Volunteers arrive at the Scout Den at 2pm and help with minor stock counts and then help pack everything up into the trailer to take back to the volunteer's house. When there, you help unpack everything and put it away. We have several people doing this role at once.
There are also other roles at open days that last the whole day, starting at 8am and finishing at 4.30pm. These roles include Adoption Assistants, Piggy Parlour Assistant, Point of Sale and a general volunteer (floater) role. We generally start people on the above shorter roles first and teach them the more experienced, all day roles later.
Food Mixing The Refuge mixes our own Pig'n'Mix every weekend, including the open day weekend. This takes around an hour and a half and is done at the volunteer's house at Bracken Ridge. Three people are rostered to do this and it’s up to those people to choose a day and time that suits them all best.
If you can't help at open days, other behind-the-scenes tasks include helping to clean cages, fundraising, printing and sewing. We encourage people to help as much as they can and encourage an “everyone pitches in culture”. However, we do ask that volunteers are reliable and turn up to perform their rostered role as it puts pressure on others if we are left shorthanded on open days.
If you would like to volunteer for Qld Guinea Pig Refuge, please complete the form below.
