The Zoo covers an area of 19 hectares and houses approximately 1100 animals from around 200 different species, both native and exotic. The Zoo is also responsible for successful breeding programs for species that are critically endangered. Some exhibits contain shallow bodies of water, so it is crucial to supervise children in these areas. To ensure the safety of both animals and visitors, everyone should stay on designated footpaths when moving around the Zoo. Toilet facilities, including accessible options for individuals with disabilities, are clearly indicated on the Zoo map and can be used by the general public during daytime hours.
You can get a downloadable copy of the Perth Zoo map from vow.Operator.WA.Gob.AU/Visit-the-Zoo/Zoo-Map/. There is also a map available specifically for visitors with disabilities and/or special needs at the same location. For student lunches, they can be placed on the main lawn or in nearby shelters. It is recommended to keep lunches in sealed school bags or storage crates with lids to prevent wild birds from taking food that’s left out. Please note that the Zoo is not responsible for stolen, lost, or damaged items. Additionally, teachers have the option to visit the Zoo beforehand to assess the environment before their trip.
Please contact the Discovery and Learning team to organize your pre-visit pass. Page 1 of 5 Transport Transport is the responsibility of the school. Buses can enter the Perth Zoo car park from Mill Point Rd and park in the clearly marked bus bays. Chartered buses and coaches should proceed along the service road from Mill Point Rd car park to the passenger drop-off bays so that students can safely disembark before entering the Zoo. Student’s Capacity Perth Zoo provides living links to the curriculum, through a range of education experiences. They are engaging, interactive and utilize different strategies to suit different learning styles.
Two options are available to schools planning a visit to Perth Zoo:
- Assisted visit: Includes an education experience (45 min – 1 hrs) facilitated by an Education Officer, utilizing animals and artifacts from the education collection. Students can explore the Zoo either before or after their education experience under the supervision of their teachers and adult helpers.
- Unassisted (self-guided) visit: This visit is entirely developed and facilitated by the coordinating teacher and the school supervisory team. Teachers can download education resources from the Perth Zoo website to support their Zoo experience.
Perth Zoo offers a variety of free presentations for visitors to enjoy throughout the day. These presentations provide the opportunity to meet keepers and Docents (Zoo volunteers). If any students have special needs, please inform us so that we can ensure their visit is maximized. Perth Zoo grants free entry to career or essential companions accompanying individuals with special needs. We accept either the national Companion Card or a letter from a recognized care/social service organization as proof. The Principal of your school must provide a letter identifying the career/essential companion/Education Assistant (Special Needs) who will be accompanying your group.
Perth Zoo offers free sturdy, all-terrain manual wheelchairs to those in need of mobility assistance. A $10 refundable deposit and identification are required. It is recommended to book a wheelchair in advance by calling (08) 9474 0343. The Zoo website, www.operator.wa.gov.au, provides information on the range of education experiences available at the Zoo, including teacher information packs. It is the responsibility of the school to form a supervisory team that meets the requirements for supervision outlined in this document (see Supervision Strategies).
The school supervisory team is required to prepare students for an excursion to the mentioned venue, using the briefing information included in this document. They must also accompany the students during the visit to monitor behavior and intervene if necessary. However, Perth Zoo staff and volunteers will not be responsible for supervising the students. Page 2 of 5 provides information about clearances held by Perth Zoo staff and volunteers who assist with school visits, stating that they have a Federal Police Clearance.
Perth Zoo Education staff also have valid Working with Children Checks. They hold a variety of tertiary qualifications including education and science and have experience in environmental education. In terms of insurance, their public liability coverage is for $250,000,000. You can download a copy of the certificate of currency from our website www.operator.wa.gov.au. The school is responsible for developing a supervisory team that meets their specific requirements in line with the outlined expectations for supervision.
During the visit, the school supervisory team will be present to oversee and address student behavior. The ratios of supervisors to students can be modified according to student requirements, so please get in touch with the Education Manager to discuss this matter. If any students have specific needs, kindly inform us so that we can ensure their visit is as advantageous as possible. Any misbehavior could result in students being expelled from the Zoo and a prohibition on future bookings.
To meet supervision requirements, Perth Zoo offers free entry for adult supervisors based on the ratios specified in the following table:
| Age Group | Kindergarten/Pre-Primary | Yr 1-3 | Yr 4-7 | Yr 8-10 | Yr 11-12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free of Charge Adult:Student supervision ratio | 1:5 | 1:5 | 1:10 | 1:10 | 1:10 |
It is mandatory for students in K-Year 10 to be assigned to groups with a supervising adult for the entire duration of their visit to the Zoo. For senior school groups (Year 11-12), students should be arranged to meet at predetermined locations around the Zoo during the day.
Teachers are advised to maintain a visible profile and move around with their students as needed. It is also recommended that students have a specific focus for their observations. Perth Zoo offers free Teacher Support Packs, which can be downloaded from www.Operator.WA.Gob.AU. These packs provide assistance for teachers. Please note that special supervision is required in certain areas of the Zoo, such as the Nocturnal House and Reptile Encounter (Reptile House). Students must be supervised at all times in these exhibits. Additionally, students are allowed to visit the Zoo Shop in small groups of 10, as long as an adult supervisor is present.
To avoid the rush at the end of the day, it is recommended to visit Lana at specific times throughout the day for this activity. The Main Lawn is a central location suitable for gathering the class together during the day or before departure since the Zoo exit can get congested on busy days. After an education experience involving close contact with an animal, students should clean their hands using a Zoo approved hand sanitizer provided by the Education Officer. School supervisory teams are responsible for managing this crucial hygiene procedure.
The school has the responsibility of identifying excursion participants. To make it easier, schools can opt for using school uniforms or other easily recognizable items for each student. Additionally, the school is in charge of creating a communication plan between students and the supervisory team. It is crucial that everyone acknowledges and adheres to these communication strategies. Please note that megaphones, air-horns, two-way radios, and whistles are prohibited at Perth Zoo.
Please contact the Perth Zoo Visitor Services Officer at the Information Centre (Zoo Map referenced DO) if you need to urgently find members of your group. It is suggested by Perth Zoo that the school supervisory team have a mobile phone that they can be reached on and can use to call during their visit. However, it should be noted that some mobile phone providers may not have coverage in the area. When booking your excursion, please provide the Zoo with your mobile number and inform the cashier staff of your contact information upon arrival.
If the school needs to contact their staff during an excursion, they can do so by contacting Perth Zoo Discovery and Learning at (08) 9474 0356 or Zoo Administration at (08) 9474 0444. Each school has its own Emergency Response Plan specific to their students’ needs. Perth Zoo has its own emergency response plan, which is documented. The complete Emergency Procedures document contains sensitive operational information that cannot be distributed to clients.
However, this document covers several important points, including evacuation and safe house and gate exit procedures, emergency response with maps of equipment storage and locations, coded alarm calls for dealing with potential escape of a dangerous animal or potential life-threatening situations such as fire, serious first aid incident, explosion, accident, escalating situation or public disturbance, or bomb threat. Additionally, it provides appropriate contact lists and details for Zoo staff available 24 hours/7 days. Perth Zoo ensures the presence of a nominated Emergency Coordinator, Communications Coordinator, and trained First Aid staff on duty at all times.
It is advised that the school’s supervisory team has access to a list of participating students’ names, contact phone numbers, student medical information, and relevant health information of supervisors. It is suggested that the school’s supervisory team also has access to a First Aid Kit provided by the school for the excursion. In case of a site emergency or a serious incident, instructions will be given through the public address system and directly from Security staff or other Perth Zoo staff members who can be identified by wearing a Perth Zoo Security Tag.
School supervisory teams are in charge of overseeing student movement under the guidance of Zoo staff. It is highly suggested that these teams meet the supervision requirements in order to better assist with these protocols. If there is an urgent need to find members of the school group or if First Aid help is needed, please contact the Security Coordinator at the Information Centre (Zoo Map preference DO).
Briefing Students and Supervisors School supervisory teams should use the information provided in this document to inform students about standards of conduct, supervision strategies, and emergency response plans before their visit to the Perth Zoo. It is crucial that participants adhere to the prohibition on feeding or interfering with Zoo animals, as feeding Zoo animals is strictly prohibited, and interfering with Zoo animals is against the law. Violators can be subject to fines of up to $600 (Zoological Parks Authority Regulations 2002). Participants must stay on the footpaths while moving around the Zoo grounds.
Please notify students that when they are at the Zoo, they will be with other school groups and members of the public. It is crucial to demonstrate proper behavior in order to ensure a pleasant experience for all visitors. Not following this may result in the students being immediately expelled from the Zoo and potential limitations on future bookings by the school.
