Here’s to all volunteers, those dedicated people who believe in all work and no pay. – Robert Orben
The volunteer programme at the Two Oceans Aquarium has been running since we opened our doors in 1995.
We see volunteers come and go, but we also have some Golden Oldies (as we endearingly call them) who have volunteered with us for more than five years. Some go back as far as 18 years!
We are so thankful to our volunteers; they are invaluable to us. From being educators at our Hi-Tec Microscope Exhibit or at the touch pool, to assisting our curatorial staff with animal husbandry, diving in our exhibits and helping with collections, our volunteers are a vital part of the Aquarium family.
We have volunteers from all walks of life coming through our doors, ranging from 16-year-olds to retirees. Our youngest volunteers are Grade 10 students who complete our Young Biologist programme during the school holidays.
If you are in Grade 10 and would like to volunteer at the Aquarium, read more here and apply here.
So how can I become a volunteer if I am not in Grade 10?, you may ask. If you are 18 years or older, you need to complete our volunteer training programme.
The course comprises seven consecutive Saturdays of theoretical and practical training, preparing our new volunteers to interact with our visitors. We need to make sure that all staff and volunteers are well informed when speaking to the public, and this is why the training is compulsory.
This requirement also eliminates the need for any previous background knowledge of marine life. So if you are, say, a nurse or newspaper salesman but are interested in marine life and volunteering your time, you can do it with us.
Once the training is completed and all assessments have been passed (yes, we assess you each week), our new volunteers can book their first shift. We require everyone to commit to at least one shift per month.
What is also important to note is that all new volunteers are required to first volunteer front-of-house for 45 hours, before they can diversify into other volunteering areas, such as behind the scenes or with the penguins, as well as in the Environmental Education Centre.
Our next volunteer training programme will start in January 2015. If you feel that, after reading all of the above, you will have the time and the commitment to become a volunteer at the Two Oceans Aquarium, hurray for us! Here is what you need to do:
- Write a motivational letter of a minimum of 400 words on why we should choose you to take part in our next training programme.
- Acquire a letter of recommendation from a non-family member who can give us a better idea of your character (i.e. your employer, or a lecturer).
Applications will be open on our website from 1-16 November 2014. Please attach these two letters to the online form that you will fill in. All successful applicants will be notified by the end of November.
Good luck with your application!
Stay in touch: for daily Aquarium updates, follow us on Twitter (@2OceansAquarium) and become a fan on Facebook.
