Role Title: HPAI Preparedness Intern
Organisation: WA Wildlife
Internship Period: Winter (June - July)
Location: Perth
The intern will work closely with the WA Wildlife team to support the development of a comprehensive High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI) Preparedness and Response Plan. This plan will ensure that WA Wildlife is equipped with a scalable response framework (Levels 1–5) to maintain safe and continuous hospital operations in the event of an HPAI outbreak in Perth.
Key responsibilities will include:
Assisting with the design and documentation of tiered operational response levels based on outbreak severity and proximity
Reviewing existing protocols, government guidelines and current best practices for managing avian influenza in wildlife care settings
Mapping critical workflows and identifying pressure points in hospital operations that may be impacted during an HPAI response
Supporting the integration of infection control, triage, staffing, communications, and quarantine procedures into the plan
Collaborating with staff, veterinarians, and external advisors to gather input and ensure alignment with WA Wildlife’s risk mitigation strategies
This internship is ideal for someone interested in biosecurity, wildlife health management, or emergency response planning, and offers the opportunity to contribute to a critical aspect of WA Wildlife’s long-term operational resilience.
WA Wildlife is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to rescuing, treating, rehabilitating and conserving native wildlife since 1998.
Located in Perth, Western Australia, our mission is to “Help Wild Lives Live”, to ensure a sustainable future for all generations!