About RSPCA Victoria:

RSPCA Victoria is a non-government, community-based, not-for-profit organisation whose purpose is ‘to exist for animals to live better lives’. We are Victoria’s best-known and most respected animal welfare organisation.

Our organisation’s vision is to have ‘a world where animals and people live together with dignity, respect and compassion’.  RSPCA’s values – show compassion, lead the way, act with courage and seek positive outcomes – set clear expectations for all our employees and volunteers.

The Role:

To support the work of RSPCA Victoria's Animal Welfare Policy (AWPC), we are looking for a volunteer Committee Member with expertise in wildlife science and/or management. Your knowledge and experience in wildlife welfare, research and/or management will help to inform our direct advocacy work, the development of our submissions to parliamentary inquiries, and other relevant consultations.

RSPCA Victoria’s AWPC is a sub-committee of the Board which reviews animal welfare policies and position papers developed by RSPCA Australia, RSPCA Victoria and any relevant government bodies; and provides recommendations and advice to the Board relevant to the Society’s objectives and ethics. The AWPC’s expert volunteer members are vital to the function of the organisation.

The Committee’s core responsibilities are to:

• Review relevant policies, position papers and Approved Farming Scheme (AFS) Standards from RSPCA Australia;
• Review National and Victorian reports, stakeholder consultation processes, codes of practice and legislation and formulate appropriate positions and responses;
• Formulate animal welfare policy and ethical positions as necessary;
• Advise industry bodies and government departments on animal welfare issues;
• Contribute to development of submissions in response to parliamentary inquiries into animal welfare matters;
• Set a pro-active annual agenda regarding priority areas for review, research and action; and
• Provide guidance on best practice animal welfare operations at RSPCA Victoria sites in accordance with RSPCA animal welfare policies, scientific evidence and ethical principles.

Key tasks include:

• Attend a minimum of 4 meetings per year (in person or virtual). Meetings are scheduled monthly, during business hours, on the first Wednesday of each month for the entire year except January and are cancelled if there are no items to discuss. In-person meetings are held every second meeting at our Burwood East site.
• Review papers prior to scheduled meetings (papers are provided one week in advance). Occasionally items may be circulated to the Committee outside of scheduled meetings for review and comment.
• Act on behalf of and in the interests of RSPCA Victoria.
• Participate in discussions and raise any matters of interest and concern. You may be asked to lead a discussion if the item falls in your area of expertise, however this is optional.
• Provide constructive and objective feedback.

Skills, Qualifications and Experience:

RSPCA Victoria is looking for a Committee Member who has expertise in wildlife welfare, research or management to inform our direct advocacy work, the development of submissions to parliamentary inquiries and provide input to other relevant consultations.

To successfully undertake this role, the volunteer will possess the following skills, attributes and/or experience:

Essential:

• A degree in either wildlife biology, ecology, management, veterinary medicine or a related field
• Experience in wildlife research, and/or wildlife management (including invasive species management), in an Australian setting
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Attention to detail

Desirable:

• Understanding of the Victorian legislative and governance framework regarding wildlife
• Understanding of animal welfare
• Previous experience on a committee
• Understanding of the NGO/Charity sector

Role Requirements:

It is a requirement of this role that the successful candidate must become a member of RSPCA Victoria (which includes a small annual fee of $10).

Additionally, the successful applicant will be required to comply with a code of conduct which includes a requirement to maintain confidentiality of all meeting papers and discussions.