Keeper - Elephants, Taronga Western Plains Zoo

Taronga Western Plains Zoo is on the lookout for a passionate and dedicated Elephant Keeper to join our world-class team!
If you're motivated, eager to learn, and ready to make a real impact in conservation and wildlife care, this is your chance to be part of something extraordinary.

• Located at Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo, New South Wales  


• Ongoing Full-time position


• TCSA Salaried Employees Award, annual package ranging from Trainee Keeper, to Trade Keeper – depending on experience
  $58,148 (Trainee keeper) to $100,785 (Senior Keeper) + 12% Superannuation and leave loading where applicable
  
  

About the Role…

We're looking for someone who’s not only passionate about wildlife but also committed to delivering the highest standards of animal care and inspiring our guests through meaningful conservation storytelling.

As an Elephant Keeper, you’ll be responsible for the daily care and welfare of one of the zoo’s most iconic and socially complex species. Working as part of a close-knit team, you’ll support the physical, behavioural, and psychological wellbeing of our elephants through best‑practice husbandry, protected contact management, and positive reinforcement training.

You’ll bring hands-on experience working with large mammals, a strong understanding of animal behaviour and safety protocols, and the ability to contribute to enrichment planning, habitat maintenance, and ongoing welfare monitoring. Just as importantly, you’ll be a confident and engaging communicator — helping connect our guests to the vital conservation work supporting elephants in the wild.

This is a rare opportunity to play a meaningful role in Taronga’s commitment to securing a shared future for wildlife and people, while working closely with one of the world’s most intelligent and awe‑inspiring species.

Key Accountabilities…

• Work under the supervision of others to safely provide high quality animal husbandry and management techniques in line with Taronga policies and procedures to assist Taronga in meeting WHS and animal care and welfare targets and in complying with all relevant legislation.


• Comply with Taronga's Animal Welfare Charter to ensure industry leading standards of animal welfare are maintained and animals in our care are assured of Taronga's 5 Freedoms.


• Communicate Taronga's education and conservation messages both internally and externally, ensuring all communications align with Taronga's values to inspire behavioural change in accordance with Taronga's vision and strategic pillars.


• Deliver high quality customer services experiences in order to provide excellent guest experience and promote repeat visitation.


• Work effectively as a member of a high performing team including peers, volunteers and students to assist Taronga in its achievement of strategic outcomes.


• Comply with sustainability practices in the workplace to help achieve Taronga's sustainability targets and reduce environmental impact.

About You…

We are looking for candidates that have:

• NSW C Class Drivers License (or ability to transfer current unrestricted license)


• Pre employment TB Screening


• Pre employment Q Fever Vaccination


• Obtain and maintain a current paid NSW Working with Children Check (WWCC) at own expense.

Benefits…

Our employees enjoy generous employment conditions including some of the following:

• Complimentary family and friends passes across both Taronga’s Sydney & Dubbo Zoo’s


• Free onsite car parking, outside of peak periods


• A wide range of discounts on our award winning accommodation across both sites


• Discounted food and beverage purchases across the sites


• Fitness Passport


• We’re a social team - there’s always lots going on around the zoo that we get involved with!


• + more!

We Value Diversity…

Taronga is an equal opportunity employer, where we recognise the diversity of our workforce and community – be it on the basis of gender, age, culture, religion, language or personal circumstances.

Taronga is also committed to building on the perspectives, experience, knowledge and skills that this diversity brings to our organisation.

About Applying…

Please submit your resume and a cover letter of one page. You are also required to complete the following target questions as part of your application.

1. What experience do you have with animal training or behavioural conditioning? Please include the methods you’ve used and how you tailor approaches to individual animals.


2. Elephant keeping requires strong teamwork and communication. Provide an example of how you’ve contributed to a team working in a safety‑critical or animal‑care environment.


3. How many years of paid full time equivalent work do you have in zookeeping?

Applications Close: 11:59pm Sunday, 31 May 2026