1. What courses are available on the OWRT website 

Level 1: Foundations of Oiled Wildlife Response 

Level 2: Rehabilitation and Facilities Development 

Please note you must complete Foundations to enrol in Rehabilitation and Facilities 

2. How much do the courses cost? 

Foundations – US $150 

Rehabilitation – US $500 

3. What do the courses cover and who are they suitable for? 

Level 1: Foundations 

The Foundations course is designed as a comprehensive introduction to oiled wildlife response for anyone interested in learning more or helping in a response. Participants will be introduced to key concepts over eight modules including petroleum and its effects, historical spills, oil spill and oiled wildlife response, and the importance of health and safety. 

Level 2: Rehabilitation and Facilities Development 

The Rehabilitation and Facility course teaches you about working in the oiled wildlife rehabilitation facility and each stage of the process from Field Stabilisation through Intake, Pre-wash care, Wash-rinse-dry, Conditioning and Release. You will learn from our experts via online interactive teaching tools, exercises and videos of these activities from real responses. It’s the course to take if you think you will be working in an oiled rehabilitation facility (either directly with wildlife or with facility management) but is also essential to understand for those that will go onto management or planning for oil spill responses. 

Please watch videos about course content on the Courses page 

4. Can anyone do the course? 

Yes. Both courses are open to anyone interested anywhere in the world, however to enrol in the Level 2 Rehabilitation and Facilities course you must have completed the Level 1 Foundations course. 

5. Are the courses completely online? 

Both courses are online courses (100%). Practical training for oiled wildlife response and rehabilitation is part of a higher-level training course that needs to be undertaken face-to-face. 

6. How long do the courses take to complete? 

Foundations 

Allow 3 hrs to complete the Foundations course. Once you register and start, your progress is saved, so you don’t have to do the course in one sitting. However from the day of your registration, the course is only open to you for four weeks (28 days), so we suggest you try and get the course completed before your registration is suspended. 

Rehabilitation and Facilities 

Allow 7 hrs to complete the Rehabilitation and facilities course. Once you register and start, your progress is saved, so you don’t have to do the course in one sitting. However from the day of your registration, the course is only open to you for four weeks (28 days), so we suggest you try and get the course completed before your registration is suspended. 

7. Is there an instructor available to answer questions? 

Should you have questions or need technical support while completing the course you can email support@owrt.org and one of our experts will reply within 48 hours. The only time support is not available is weekends, public holidays and during the holiday break: 15 December – 15 January. 

8. What skills do I need to have to be able to complete the course? 

The course is presented in English. Basic computer skills to be able to follow the online instructions – clicking chapters, next buttons etc are all that is needed. 

9. How do I enrol? 

Click on the “enrol here” button on the OWRT website. This will take you through to a page where you will: 

1) Register your details and receive your confirmation email (check your junk inbox to ensure it didn’t end up in there!), then 

2) Chose the course you are enrolling in. Its at this point that you will pay for the course. 

You then have access to the course. 

10. How do I pay for the course? 

Individuals can pay via Pal Pal when they enrol – just follow the online instructions. This gives you immediate access to the course. 

Groups. Groups can enrol but payment is by invoice not Pay Pal. Email us at info@owrt.org and we will invoice you. Once you have paid us we will provide access codes to you to distribute to your students. Students will use their access code to individually enrol. 

11. When is the course open? 

The course is open all year. Once you enrol and pay for your course you have 4 weeks (28 days) to complete your course. After 4 weeks you lose access to the course and you would need to re-enrol and pay for the course again. So, we encourage you to start and complete the course within 4 weeks. 12Dec18 

If you are a large group, we can set up opening and closing dates and timeframes specially for your group – just chat to us about your requirements. 

12. Do I receive a certificate or qualification when I complete the courses? 

You will receive a certificate of completion of both courses when you successfully complete them. 

Groups or organisations can get a list of their students who have successfully completed the course. 

13. Can I help in a real oil spill? 

This courses provide a good theoretical grounding to oiled wildlife response and rehabilitation. To get involved in oil spill response we encourage you to do further training to build your skill levels. Also find out if there are local government or private organisations in your area where you can sign up to volunteer to help with oiled wildlife response. 

14. Where can I get further training? 

If you have undertaken Foundations, consider doing our Level 2 Rehabilitation and Facility course, seek work or volunteer with local animal centres/vet clinics and volunteer with local oiled wildlife response agencies or groups to get experience.