General Questions
- What areas do you run programs in?
- What if I am outside of those areas?
- How much does the program cost?
- How long does it take to set up?
- Where do you do the show?
- Will children / students be able to hold the animals?
- Do you do birthday parties?
Animals
- What animals do you bring?
- Where do you get the animals from?
- How do you look after the animals?
- Do you have the correct permits and insurances?
Safety
- Are your programs safe for children / students?
- Are your programs safe for the animals?
- Are your staff adequately qualified to run the show?
- Does a teacher or educator need to be present during your programs?
What areas do you run programs in?
We are based in South West Sydney and run programs throughout the Sydney, Wollongong and Southern Highlands regions. Unfortunately, we are unable to run programs outside of these areas with our animals due to the challenges of transporting them over long distance.
What if I am outside of those areas?
If you are outside of the Sydney, Wollongong and Southern Highlands regions, please contact us to find out the ways in which your children / students can experience The WildLife Movement. Alternatively, you could browse the free lesson plans that we have available on our website.
How much does the program cost?
The price per session depends on the type of program that is being run.
- Primary school programs are $300 per session (up to 30 students per session).
- Vacation care programs are $500 per session (up to 45 children per session)
Note: There may be additional costs for extra students/children and for schools/centres outside of the Greater Sydney region.
How long will it take to set up?
Setup will take approximately 30 minutes. However, we like to arrive approximately 45 to 60 minutes before the program to ensure that we are ready to present on time.
Where do you do the show?
Due to setup times and equipment requirements, we will need to set up in one location (e.g. library, gym, hall) and classes will need to come to us. Given that we will need to unplug filters and life support systems to transport the animals, the distance between where we can drive/park and the setup location should be minimised. We will also need access to a reliable electricity source to provide life support for our animals for the duration of the day.
Will children / students be able to hold the animals?
A small number of students in each program will have the opportunity to hold some of the animals to show to their fellow classmates. Unfortunately, due to our animals all being marine species, they are unable to be held out of water for a long enough period of time for every student to hold them. However, this doesn’t mean that those students will miss out, as there will be plenty of activities and fun for them to get involved with.
Do you do birthday parties?
At the moment, we are only running our programs at schools, preschools and vacation care programs. This allows our animals to rest over the weekends to ensure that they remain happy and healthy. If you are interested in having an animal / environmental-themed birthday party for your child, feel free to contact us and we will be happy to share ideas to make the party special for your child!
What animals do you bring?
All of our animals are marine invertebrates – that means animals without a backbone. These include sea stars, sea urchins, sea hares, elephant snails, hermit crabs, rockpool shrimp and other amazing invertebrates! They are all commonly found in rockpools and at beaches along the New South Wales coast.
Where do you get the animals from?
Many of the species that we display cannot be purchased from licenced breeders or acquired from university research programs. Therefore we have had to collect our animals from the wild. However, in doing so, we have only collected species that are common and occur in large numbers at our collection sites and along the New South Wales coast. Unfortunately, due to the potential of disease transfer from captivity to the wild, we are unable to re-release our animals and as such, we have to provide ongoing housing and care for all of our animals.
How do you look after the animals?
All of our animals are cared for by Nathan Bass, who has a Bachelor of Marine Science (Honours) degree and has extensive experience working at public aquariums in Australia and overseas. All of our animals are housed in large aquariums and are fed a variety of fresh / frozen seafood and fresh vegetables.
Do you have the correct permits and insurances?
All of our animals have been collected with the appropriate licenses. Given that all of our animals are invertebrates, we do not need a mobile exhibitors licence as invertebrates are not covered by the Exhibited Animals Protection Act 1986. However, we adhere to the Standards for Exhibiting Animals at Mobile Establishments in New South Wales published by the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries. We also have $20,000,000 public liability insurance to ensure that we are covered to work in schools and childcare centres.
Are your programs safe for children / students?
All of our programs are safe for your children / students and you will be provided with a completed risk assessment at the time of your booking. All of our animals are invertebrates and are all non-venomous.
Are your programs safe for the animals?
All of our animals are intertidal marine invertebrates and as such, they are used to living in a variable environment with the stresses of changing conditions and heavy waves. This means that they are pretty tough! However, it is important for all children / students to follow the instructions when interacting with the animals to ensure that they are careful and respectful of our animals.
Are your staff adequately qualified to run the show?
All programs are run by Nathan Bass,who has a Bachelor of Marine Science (Honours) degree and has spent three years working in a primary school as a teachers aide. Nathan has spent his whole life exploring rock pools and learning about the creatures that live in them. Nathan also has a valid working with children check.
Does a teacher or educator need to be present during your programs?
A teacher or staff member from your school / centre must be present at all times during the program’s to ensure the safety and behaviour of students / children.