Love people as much as you love wildlife? Apply to be a volunteer Perth Zoo Docent! (volunteer).

The Perth Zoo Docent Association is looking for friendly, outgoing people 18 years and over, who are good communicators, physically fit and can commit at least two days a month from 8.45am until 3.00pm.

We will be holding a volunteer information and orientation session on Saturday 18 April 2026 (arrive at 9.45am for 10.00am start). This session is open to anyone who is interested in finding out more.

We will start in the Zoo’s comfortable theatre, then one of our experienced Docents will accompany you around the Zoo and show you exactly what being a Docent entails. Following the information session, interviews will also take place on Saturday 18 April and Sunday 19 April 2026. Successful applicants will then be required to undertake an intensive ten-week training course across every Saturday between 2 May and 4 July 2026.

For more information on becoming a Docent, please click here. 

What are Docents?

Docents belong to a separately incorporated organisation which is a significant and valued partner to Perth Zoo – the Perth Zoo Docent Association (Inc). ‘Docent’ is derived from the latin docere, meaning ‘to teach’.

What Docents Do?

Docents provide the ‘unexpected’ – including informal talks about animals, tours on foot and by vehicle, directions and general visitor information. Docents become especially skilled at “edu-tainment” (the combination of education and entertainment to inspire and engage visitors) to promote the Zoo’s conservation mission.  Docents are people who love animals but primarily they are people who love people.

No Pay, No Perks?  

Becoming a Docent is a ‘no pay’ role, but it is definitely not a ‘no perks’ role. You will be in the fantastic Zoo environment, be with dynamic like-minded people, gain as much wildlife knowledge as you want and develop both professional and personal skills. There are also opportunities to help at special Zoo events, assist with educational activities and attend interesting talks and other educational opportunities. You can become as involved as suits you. We only ask for a minimum regular commitment of two days per month.

Where Do I Sign?

The Perth Zoo Docent Association is fortunate to have more people interested in joining than empty spots available. To make sure you get the fairest and best opportunity to join, the Association recruits once a year just before the intensive ten-week training program begins.

There is a minimum age requirement of 18 years. The cost of training is $140, which includes your first year’s membership fee, training materials, a police check and morning teas. Membership is $55 per year thereafter.

Training

Trainee Docents must be dedicated, outgoing people who enjoy interacting with the public. They need excellent communication and people skills. The Perth Zoo Docent Training course is structured to provide information and to develop the communication skills required.

Exhilarating and interesting, the course is very intensive. It runs for ten consecutive Saturday mornings and attendance is mandatory. Most sessions run for about five hours, but three of the sessions will finish later in the afternoon. During that ten-week period but in addition to the Saturday program, there will be an opportunity to observe a typical Docent day. At the end of the ten weeks, trainees will undertake four probation duties under the guidance of an experienced Docent.  

As some of the main duties of a Docent are to provide information and tours for Zoo visitors, learning skills in visitor engagement and tour guiding form a major component of this course. During the ten weeks of the course trainee Docents must also undertake a couple of assessments. 

Probation Period

Following the ten-week training course, trainee Docents enter a probation period of two months where they perform a variety of duties under the guidance of an experienced Docent. For each of these months, trainee Docents must commit to two rostered days. Attendance is mandatory.

Acceptance into the Perth Zoo Docent Association is subject to successful completion of the training course and the two-month probation period.

Graduation for the successful trainees will be held in mid-September and rostered duties will commence from 1 October.
If you have any further questions, please email: applications@pzda.org.au