Ms Richards is one of Taronga Western Plains Zoo's zookeepers and it is her full-time responsibility to take care of the eight-month-old joey.

When Ms Richards gets to work Mirrawa is dropped off at "daycare", also known as the Wildlife Hospital, where the joey spends most of her time sleeping in a makeshift pouch.

Ms Richards named Mirrawa- after the Aboriginal word for 'swamp'- a bottle at lunch and another when she finishes work around five.

"She has some hopping around outside if the weather is nice or hopping around the house for about an hour or so. I give her another bottle at 11.30 at night and then it's bedtime," Ms Richards said.

It's the third animal Ms Richards has had to hand raise by herself. She has also looked after a long nosed bandicoot and another swamp wallaby joey.

"We want to give them the best care that we can," she said.

Ms Richards said sharing her knowledge with the visitors to the zoo is another important aspect of her position.

"We want to educate the public and get them to care about wildlife and the conservation of animals and plants and native grasses, and pass on our knowledge," she said.

The zookeeper said she was travelling, doing alternate snow seasons in Australia and America, when she decided she wanted to do something "really fun".

During a Zoofari tour of Taronga Zoo in 2003 she asked the guide about volunteering and in no time at all she was helping with the Australian mammals.

Ms Richards, who is passionate about animals, also volunteered her time for three months in Thailand to work with the elephants.

However, today Australian mammals remain Ms Richards area of expertise.

The quokkas, koalas and wallabies are just some of the Australian natives under her care, all three of which have recently had babies.

As a zookeeper, Ms Richards said she is always asked her favourite things about the job.

"When you see people connect with the animal you're talking about, that's one of many."

Seeing people get up close to the animals is another of Ms Richards highlights, whether they're tourists from overseas or just locals who have never had the opportunity to interact with the mammals.

"There are so many Australians who haven't seen a koala that close. People are just amazed," she said.

"Kids often say ' [the wallabies] came over to me! They must really like me'."

It's a job which involves being outside - rain, hail or shine - and while Ms Richards said it's a really great job, during the rainy days it isn't quite as fun.