line cook

web developer

sous chef

public relations manager

kitchen supervisor

Australia Zoo

Australia Zoo comes across as an amazing place to work - it has an international reputation, excellent animal welfare standards, a beautiful environment and smiling faces everywhere. 
Beneath the surface however, it is a toxic work environment with little professionalism in how staff are treated. Work has little ownership to it with all accomplishments being attributed to those higher up and little recognition given for what you complete. As a staff member, you're constantly treated and spoken to like a child by management. You're often told off about simple things not mentioned or covered in the short induction you get when starting, and then reminded of these failures (which are not really your fault) for months later. 
Nearly everything requires a "sign off" even if they are things you have done previously or have qualifications in. This is not an issue in itself, but some (or most) of these sign-offs don't occur for months after commencing employment with several people in the department having  been there for nearly 6 months and still unable to complete the majority of their roles. This becomes highly problematic when trying to plan around who has and has not been signed off on various things, many of them petty tasks that would require 10 minutes of someone's time to be briefed on but apparently that is too much to ask. 
Roles are under-paid, with wages barely covering basic living  expenses on the Sunshine Coast. Most people in roles are over-qualified for them and the staff turnover speaks highly about this and the above points. In short, staff are treated like expendables with little effort put into retention.

The work is easy, but it is a highly stressful place to work. The whole place is nothing but smoke and mirrors.   
The high flow of people coming and going, just leads to no one getting trained right or efficiently. You are constantly thrown in the deep end and basically left to figure things out on your own. It always feels like staff are pit against each other. You constantly have to watch what you say, do and how you act. People will try to get you written up and in trouble however they can. There's no team work and no chance of there ever being any kind of team. 

Management doesn't think things through properly and always jump on things and cause upset and ripples into all aspects of the zoo. Due to their money hungry ways, animal welfare is shocking and unacceptable. They disregard anything keepers say about the animals and their welfare and tell you that you're easily replaced - hence why there's a high flow of staff coming and going.
They care more about their image and money than anything else. If you can't conform into their puppets then they will make your life difficult.
They don't care for staff at all. And only care about the animals when a camera is around or the public can see.

I worked at the feeding frenzy, which is the company which runs the food court and vending machines inside Australia Zoo. I have spoken to other employees and ex employees and the feel the same. Firstly micro-management of staff slows down everything, we cannot even give a refund or make a change to the cash we returned, the procedures are slow and frustrating on staff and customers. Secondly their is no recognition, over Christmas we would all work over-time for free and less time on breaks etc. and the team or individuals would never get a simple well done or thanks. Thirdly the management was stuck up and thought they were the best, pretended to be professional, friendly etc. but were the complete opposite, the training was minimal, expectations high, no fun, no flexibility. Fourthly they sent you home after 2 hours if it wasn't 'busy enough', you needed to sign literally 20 forms to get the job, make promises and never go through with them and rip off prices. The feeding frenzy has put a bad name on Australia Zoo, i recommend not working for this section.

I had the pleasure of working for this backwards company and all I can say is I was shocked at the lack of oh&s.
From public safety to their own staff

It seems that some of the management staff only have a job because of who they know not what they should know. 

Which might I add most management staff have no idea what is required to complete the day to day operations of the business. 
Also the main manager doesn't understand that to run a business you need to turn up to work. 

Staff get the pleasure of being promised zoo tours which you may never get.

If you are casual they will not give you many hours,
They want you to wait around till they decide they need you (which is school holidays)

Feeding frenzy has a very high turn over of staff due to mismanagement of the day to day requirements of the high public profile that the company is expected to uphold. 
They don't appreciate their staff & on a daily basis all staff are  treated like they can be replaced at the drop of a hat.
Regards 
Good luck

I work as a volunteer at Australia Zoo, assisting with Animal Welfare and general keeping.  I have learned about different animals and wildlife within the zoo, also sustainability projects on keeping the wildlife safe and secure.  Management is excellent always ensuring workers are safe and enjoy their roles at the zoo.  I have worked with all of the animals in the zoo and also assisted in educational programs such as ZooKeeper for the day.  This is an educational program aimed at kids from 6-15yrs, where they get an experience of being a ZooKeeper for the day.  All of my co-workers are great and I enjoy working with them.  I have found that they are adaptable and have a genuine love for the zoo and its role.  There is nothing hard about this job as I enjoy working and being there, so everything is great.  The only problem is it is volunteer work and I am looking for something full time.  I have learned excellent customer service skills and dealing with people from diverse cultures.

Was employed as a general keeper after a year of looking for a zookeeper job and was ecstatic when I got the email to say they were going to hire me.

I drove an hour there and back each day and did every task asked of me including cleaning out the fridges from the old lunch room and weeding for hours resulting in so many cuts on my arms and legs, I worked hard only to be let go three months in because I had not passed my probation/ I was not given any reason as to why I didnt pass my probation,another lady who started on the same day as me a keeper was also let go at the same time and was also not given a reason.
Training is terrible and good training is only given if they like you are also only given training to handle the animals if they like you.

Weekends aren’t rotated so you don’t get a very good work life balance. 

I had the pleasure of working with a great team and seeing things on a day to day basis that I would never dream of seeing anywhere else. Every day was different and projects really forced you to think outside the box and success was rewarding.

If only success was recognised! Ridiculous requests with impossible time lines by management who had zero idea about how to successfully do their job and a neurotic paranoia about any outside assistance or networking. 

A toxic working culture permeates upper management and filters down through the personnel in every department. They seem to think that labour is expendable and can always be replaced with another who wants to work at a Zoo.

I would never recommend to anyone to work there.

Supervisor of staff in Reception area
Formulation of systems, Policies and Procedures
Supervising and training the staff in reception in all key areas of responsibility
Maintaining a high standard of Customer Service in Reception Department
Seven-day week roster for staff, Staff reviews
Ensure commitment of confidentiality and privacy
Attending meeting requested by Management
Monthly Statistical reports to HR/ Management
Support to other Departments
Encouragement, guidance and coaching to team 
Assisting team with taking bookings and maintaining documentation of work coming into Department.
Relating with other Departmental Supervisors and Customer Service Manager 
Booking tickets for cruises – processing on specialized programme.

I worked for Australia Zoo a few years ago and although enjoyed aspects of the role, the recruitment, day-to-day, and turn over of employees was poorly managed. The environment is heavily female orientated and employees are treated simply as tools (in my experience). The travel was inconvenient and the long walk to work from the furthest car park on arrival. Some employees were fantastic to work for but the line management were unprofessional and sometimes down right mean. Positives include the animals, beautiful location and discounts on food/drinks and entry for family. Overall I would rate this workplace 2 stars.

Each day at Australia Zoo does not feel like work, as it is such an awesome environment to be a part of. The staff are fun and happy, we have lots of laughs, I love the positivity and upbeat vibe. OMG the animals are so cool, where else can you see a tiger cub walk past and staff are given opportunities to meet the animals, so far I have met tiger cubs, dingo puppies, otters, koalas all while 'working'. I love the commitment to conservation and the funding of a free wildlife hospital for sick and injured native animals.The Irwin's are incredible and to see Steve's legacy continued is totally awesome and to be a part of it is so special. Go Team Australia Zoo!

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Line cook 1 salary reported	$75,000 per year
Web developer 1 salary reported	$45,000 per year
Sous chef 1 salary reported	$75,000 per year
Public relations manager 1 salary reported	$57,500 per year
Kitchen supervisor 1 salary reported	$60,932 per year

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