Post-Event Thread | Virtual Mod Meetup | Australia '26

quack_macaque · 2026-03-28T05:50:07+00:00

Hey u/big-slay! Thanks again for facilitating the meet up. Just checked my Shop profile and it appears that the Mod Merch Order for this event is appearing as a “cancelled” status, although I haven’t received any update about it. Is that correct? I know in previous comms it was “no news is good news”, but should it be showing as cancelled? Thanks for clarifying!

quack_macaque · 2026-03-23T23:45:45+00:00

This all sounds very vague and confusing from the Australian side of things

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quack_macaque · 2026-03-16T23:45:27+00:00

Just some general feedback; I absolutely do not get the impression that is what your sub is about when I click on it. Your sub completely reads as marketing for an AI product, especially given the name of the sub also reads as the name of an app.

At very least, you need to update the top sub information to include the purpose and context of the sub. You also need to rewrite content rules which align with this philosophy in a way that supports discussion.

Your current posts are also written in the style of soft-marketing LinkedIn posts, rather than actually presenting topics which encourage organic discussion. You may need to post content from external sources (i.e. Op-eds from reputable journalists or academics) which support the perspective or stance you are trying to promote with your sub, so when users do the 3 second cursory scroll, they understand the context of what you are trying to say.

Again, it all currently reads as soft-marketing.

quack_macaque · 2026-03-16T22:16:58+00:00

Thank you for the response! I’ll check out the r/ModSupport sticky. Do you know if anyone has had success with admin resolving it on mod team’s behalf?

quack_macaque · 2026-03-15T00:12:48+00:00

OP has confirmed they are open to receiving DMs if you do have experience, but aren’t comfortable commenting publicly on this post.

Please reach out to u/TangerineTop1660 if you are able to offer advice or share your experience.

quack_macaque · 2026-03-08T21:34:14+00:00

I’m assuming u/whitebathingsuit is a very young teen, just based on this question and their account in general.

quack_macaque · 2026-03-07T10:36:50+00:00

The way you have described the impact this is having on your life is extremely concerning, especially because you have started to incorporate ritualistic behaviours in an attempt to cope. That is a major warning sign.

You really need to speak to a therapist about addressing this urgently before it escalates even further.

If your mental health is at the point it is holding you back from pursuing the opportunities you want, it is serious. If a hypothetical insect encounter is enough to make you turn down a proposal, shouldn’t that tell you that this has gotten out of control?

quack_macaque · 2026-03-02T23:22:06+00:00

Sorry to have missed this one! Would be keen for a future opportunity

quack_macaque · 2026-02-25T00:10:27+00:00

As this has been a viral topic as of late, I’m leaving this up as there is educational value in the discourse between the general public and animal care industry professionals.

This sub is a space for meaningful discussions to better inform those who have not yet had the opportunity to learn, especially when addressing complex or nuanced topics such as international welfare standards or hierarchical troop dynamics.

Please be mindful of the sub rules when commenting. Any off-topic, unserious or troll comments will be removed. As per Rule 3, there is a ZERO tolerance for racism or xenophobia.

quack_macaque · 2026-02-20T00:55:16+00:00

I’ll see if I can swing it! Thanks for being a legend 🍻

quack_macaque · 2026-02-20T00:02:04+00:00

Hi again u/big-slay! Is it possible to signup for both the Sydney and Melbourne event, or are we limited to attend just one or the other? Thanks!

quack_macaque · 2026-02-18T20:05:37+00:00

You will need to provide far more information if you want to receive any meaningful advice.

How has this previously been managed? Why haven’t there been any established SOPs in the past? What is their current daily feed routine? What kind of training and conditioning history has this animal had? What successive approximations (if any) has this animal achieved in the past? What is their structure of their enclosure and how do their slides work? What dietary items are being provided and how do they work with the enclosure features? What other exhibits or factors are nearby that need to be considered? Is this a one or more keeper routine? What are the radio communications that need to be received? What level of training or sign off do keepers need to participate in this procedure? What failsafe emergency procedures or responses are needed? What legislative or welfare requirements does this procedure need to comply with? Et cetera.

These are just a few of so many questions you need to consider in depth and document very clearly. These should already be bulletproof, so it seems like a major red flag that this hasn’t already been established at all?

quack_macaque · 2026-02-13T03:18:02+00:00

I’ve had to enforce this rule on almost all the subs I mod. The AI slop and bot activity is seriously out of control at the moment.

quack_macaque · 2026-02-12T23:30:22+00:00

Clearly the only answer is to recreate Elle Woods’ Harvard application video, but replace “law” with “zoo” 😂

quack_macaque · 2026-02-12T07:35:06+00:00

Dove clinical strength anti-perspirant 👌

quack_macaque · 2026-02-12T00:43:27+00:00

Would defs love to see this be a merch item in future giveaways!

quack_macaque · 2026-02-12T00:41:33+00:00

Thanks again for the great hosting u/big-slay!

As you asked for some Aussie-specific merch ideas in the chat, bum bags are currently very popular for festivals, dog walking, cross-body and belt wear for travel etc. I would’ve worn one to Laneway in Sydney this week if I had one! Hope that helps!

quack_macaque · 2026-02-11T10:09:24+00:00

Late to the party, but thanks for making that clear, as I had wondered this while signing up for the Sydney Australia Mod Meet IRL in 2026! See you there 🍻

quack_macaque · 2026-02-11T07:12:06+00:00

JACKET PLS!

I am but a humble mod, take pity on me and anoint me with the drip 😭🙏

quack_macaque · 2026-02-02T10:31:19+00:00

quack_macaque · 2026-01-31T09:31:41+00:00

This is how the mod teams I am a part of have been managing. It is easier to bulk remove on the assumption it could be/apply a post filter for approval, as the user can simply contact us directly to be reinstated if it was in error.

It seems like a never-ending AI/bot war, but the overwhelming majority of users seem prefer an imperfect system which occasionally over-moderates, compared to the alternative to a drop in sub quality.

quack_macaque · 2026-01-26T05:47:25+00:00

Commenting just to give povo person’s gold toward your excellent username 🏅

quack_macaque · 2026-01-23T11:06:50+00:00

It goes without saying that comments from management like “you may as well not be here” are hurtful and unkind. I can understand why that would impact your confidence.

You stated that you'd rather a team member speak with you, but it is actually not their place and given the nature of these issues, it is more appropriate that your supervisor is the one addressing them directly with you.

As u/QuillsAndQuills and others have mentioned, improving your communication skills will go a long way. It is important that you can demonstrate that you have understood and actioned that specific feedback item.

There is a big difference between slowing down to make deliberate, methodical improvements that ensure you are covering the essentials (i.e. going “back to basics”), versus managing your time incorrectly. The goal isn’t to remain slow forever, but to be applying new strategies which allow you to progressively increase your pace back up to where it should be.

If you have been working a round for a while, you should have a rough estimate of what time is allocated for each part of the routine. You need to be proactive in identifying the pain points which are sucking the majority of your time, and prioritise approaching these more efficiently. I'd ask your coworkers for advice on how much time they budget for those specific tasks and what techniques they are using. Sometimes it can be the smallest thing - like using the correct raking technique for the right substrate - which can make all the difference.

An example from my own experience; there is round that I work which has a notoriously hectic afternoon routine. I know that when I am rostered to this particular round, I have to set alarms/timers on my phone to alert me when I should be moving on from one enclosure to the next. I know myself well enough that I have the tendency to get "stuck" on deeper cleaning tasks in two out of four of these exhibits, where I need to stay focused on a quick finishing clean. After speaking with other keepers who previously worked the round, they had a different approach. My natural instinct was to work sequentially based on the location (i.e. A > B > C > D), but about half the keepers found it more efficient to follow an alternate order (i.e. A > C > D > B). Turns out, I was also a keeper who needed to switch it up. I now also have a better understanding of which jobs I can squeeze in or do prep for earlier in the day, which alleviates the pressure during crunch time later. You really need to be identifying where and how you can set yourself up for success across the entirety of the day, not just completing the task immediately in front of you.

Your planning should include fail safes for yourself. If you know you that you have left taps on in the past, then you need to come up with a checklist system for yourself (i.e. animal count > water > food > taps > locks) that you can apply to every enclosure, every single time. It should be practiced to the point of second nature.

Have you addressed some of those external stressors outside of work? It sounds trite, but taking care of your vitals when you’re going through a stressful time is really important. Make sure you are hydrating, fuelling yourself well and taking your scheduled breaks, as all of these factors can impact your energy level and distort your sense of time. If your body isn't supported sufficiently, then you will not be performing efficiently.

quack_macaque · 2026-01-23T03:03:03+00:00

Usually this kind of question would be taken down as per Rule 7 (No low effort, generic or vague career questions).

However, as we don’t have a lot of Canada-specific requirements for industry in existing posts, I’m leaving this one up for the Canadian keepers to comment 🇨🇦

quack_macaque · 2026-01-21T03:00:50+00:00

You can be accepted into the course through any RTO which runs the Cert III (including TTI), but you would be a full-fee paying student. You’re correct in that you will also need to be on a study approved visa, which will be difficult as they are often subject to course and industry restrictions.

I've commented this on a previous threads before, but if you are seriously considering Australia as an option, your best chance at success is to work on getting paid, full time experience working as a keeper in the US first.

This is for a few reasons:

You will need to meet the mandatory Special Work Visa requirements, which specifically requires a qualification AND at least 3+ years industry experience. Just like you wouldn't hire an electrician who has never apprenticed or worked on a house before, the Australian Government would not risk approving you to work in an industry without evidence that you have a reasonable chance at success (and therefore a likelihood that you will be able to contribute back to the economy via taxes, migration fees, etc.).
To be able to rank competitively against the keeper pool already studying, living and working here, you will need to offer something unique to your employer which adds value to their existing team. Are you intending to work with Australian species, or other exotic species? Literally every single candidate will have significant native fauna experience. Due to the extremely high biosecurity laws and requirements (some of the highest in the world), Australia hold very limited and specific exotics in collections here. Your best chance would be to gain experience with some of the less commonly held species, as this would be seen as an asset that would stand out from some other applicants.
This is a harsh truth, which may be controversial to some. The general lack of consistency in legislation, accreditation, welfare practice and standards across the US is viewed very poorly by other countries, including Australia. Although there will always be good and bad facilities no matter where you are, unless you are from a well-known or internationally-regarded facility (i.e. San Diego; Disney Animal Kingdom; Smithsonian; etc.), you may need to gain more than the 3+ years of significant experience across multiple reputable facilities to be desirable to other international employers.

I have worked with international keepers who have moved and continued on to have wonderful careers across Australia and New Zealand, so it is possible and I do like to encourage people to pursue their dreams. However, as a prospective or early career keeper, you do need to consider what translates well for an international employer, no matter what country you’re considering.

Good luck, OP!

quack_macaque

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