A Flight Mix-Up, A Baby Cassowary, and Finding a Wild Calling in Australia
By Alexa Janoschka
Alexa's final day at Austrlaia Zoo - Dream come true
Like so many people in my generation, my first real understanding of wildlife conservation, and honestly, my first experience processing a public figure's death, came through Steve Irwin. Even though I wasn’t utterly enthralled with every single crocodile documentary as a kid, his impact lingered. For most of my childhood and young adult life, whenever someone was acting a little wild, I would narrate them in my best Aussie accent: "And here we have the [insert name]... in its natural habitat."
Whether it was Steve’s legacy or just an innate pull to the other side of the world, I always knew I was going to Australia.
For my senior year of college, I finally got my chance to study abroad at Bond University on the Gold Coast. I booked my tickets for 2025, packed my bags, and headed to the airport. But in classic "Alexa pivoting" fashion, my grand adventure started with a massive hiccup. I live 20 minutes from Dulles International (IAD) in Virginia, but after standing in line, I realized the United app actually had me flying out of Reagan National (DCA), 45 minutes away, with zero chance of making the flight!
The first thing posted when stepping out of the Brisbane Airport
After a mild panic (and tears), three hours of waiting, and a little gentle arm-twisting, I got my flight changed with no fee. The catch? I was being re-routed to Brisbane instead of the Gold Coast and one extra day in In grand ol' U.S.A. I spent the extra day with family and I visited my llama Reese. As I set off to Australia for the first time, my second flight from San Fransisco to Brisbane celebrated my departure with the New Years fireworks welcoming my into 2025! This detour to Brisbane, allowed me to stay with a family friend in Manly West for a couple of days, and with that extra time, we decided to take a day trip to Australia Zoo.
Mind. Blown.
I have to be honest: I don't typically love zoos. But from the second I walked into Australia Zoo, my expectations were completely shattered. The level of care, the precision in the habitats, and the sheer dedication to public education were palpable. The Irwin family and the staff truly live and breathe this mission.
Education sign at Australia Zoo
I was initially lured in by an Instagram post about a new baby cassowary, which literally looks like a tiny, fuzzy dinosaur—and I ended up getting the experience of a lifetime. We happened to visit on a day when Terri and Robert Irwin were doing an extended crocodile feed, including a rare feeding with Agro. I fell in love with the giraffes, marveled at the male cassowary caring for his baby, and left with my breath completely taken away.
From Guest to Volunteer
While studying at Bond University, I spent a lot of weekends getting my animal fix at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary (since I missed my llamas back home!). But as my studies wrapped up, I interviewed for a volunteer position at Australia Zoo.
I spent my probation week bouncing between the bird sanctuary, the Australasia exhibits, the koalas, and the Wildlife Warriors hospital. The hospital involved a lot of backstage cleaning and sweeping, crucial work, but I quickly realized my heart was in the active zookeeping roles where I could engage with the visitors. My absolute favorite day was shadowing the "Zookeeper for a Day" program. Helping kids feed giant tortoises and seeing their faces light up as they connected with nature was everything I could have ever wanted.
The Vegas Gala & The Lighting Pivot
Before heading back to Australia for a longer volunteer stint, I flew to Las Vegas to attend the annual Steve Irwin Gala. Instead of walking at my Carnegie Mellon graduation, I had taken the remaining stipend from my university scholarship and donated it to Wildlife Warriors.
(Left to Right): Light Board at the Gala, Alexa, Robert Irwin, Touch of Khaki lucky bunny
Because of that donation, I was invited as a guest and got to meet the incredible zoo staff and Robert Irwin (Terri and Bindi were in New York at the time!). But in a very me move, while surrounded by wildlife royalty, I actually ended up slipping away to talk to the event's lighting designer. I was so intrigued by the technology they were using for the gala that I ended up networking with a brilliant lighting designer named Joseph.
We became fast friends, which led to a full-circle moment a year later. For the 2026 Las Vegas Steve Irwin Gala, I was the one behind the console! I went back to Vegas to work alongside Joseph, setting up the rig and programming the lighting for the show. I was too exhausted to actually attend the dinner after Load-In and I was watching Rocky and Tebow 🐾 (TrustedHouseSitters), but using my technical skills to directly support wildlife conservation was an absolute dream. It was the perfect encapsulation of who I am.
Llamas, Coffee, and Lifelong Friends
When I returned to Australia to volunteer for two more months, I stayed in the Sunshine Coast, which led to two of my greatest Aussie discoveries.
First: the coffee. Living on the Sunshine Coast introduced me to Tim Adams Specialty Coffee. Tim Adams is an absolute gem of a roaster, and finding their spectacular coffee was the highlight of my month. (I cannot wait to go back this November and grab a flat white with an extra shot!).
Second: The llamas! When I realized Australia Zoo didn't have llamas anymore, I tracked down where they went. That led me to Shane, the owner of The Llama Farm in Ipswich. Let me tell you, this place is heaven on earth. Shane is a massive supporter of the Irwins and Australia Zoo. In fact, Bindi's llama still lives there! When a new cria (baby llama) was born, Shane asked Robert Irwin to name it, and Robert sweetly named the little guy Chandler, after Bindi's now-husband.
Shane and Alexa at The Llama Farm
Shane is an absolute powerhouse when it comes to fundraising for Wildlife Warriors. We ended up volunteering together at the Brisbane Gala, running around selling raffle tickets and having the best time. If you are ever in Queensland, you must visit The Llama Farm.
Keep Being You (And Do Some Good!)
My time with Australia Zoo gave me lifelong friends from the UK, South America, and across Australia. Any minor bumps along the way, like navigating the dynamics of outside contractors, were just great life lessons in adaptability, because the core zoo team was nothing short of spectacular.
If you ever have the chance to visit Australia Zoo, do it. It will leave a lasting impression on you and make you want to leave the world better than you found it. But even if you can't fly across the world, you can still help. Grab a great cup of coffee, learn about a new animal, and find a way to support your local community. Nothing bad ever came from donating to something good!
🦘 How You Can Help Support Wildlife Warriors
You don't have to fly to Queensland to make an impact. If you want to support the amazing work the Irwins and the Australia Zoo staff do for global conservation and their wildlife hospital, here is how you can get involved:
Visit the Zoo: Planning a trip? Get your tickets and learn about their animal encounters here: Australia Zoo Official Site
Donate to Wildlife Warriors: Every dollar helps save sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife. You can donate directly to their hospital and global conservation projects here: Wildlife Warriors - Get Involved
Drink Coffee, Save Wildlife: If you are in Australia, grab a coffee! Australia Zoo is partnered with Zarraffa's Coffee, which actively supports their conservation missions. Read about their incredible partnership here: Zarraffa's Partnership with Australia Zoo
Want to keep up with my daily shenanigans? The adventure doesn’t stop here on the blog! Come hang out with me on Instagram at @alexa.janoschka. I share daily stories capturing my everyday life—from hunting down the perfect extra-shot flat white and hanging with my favorite camelids, to behind-the-scenes lighting production and whatever new outdoor side quest I am currently tackling. Plus, I drop fortnightly grid posts to wrap up all the fun. Come say hi and follow along!
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