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In 2021-22 there were 8,621 volunteers who supported or were otherwise directly involved in wildlife rehabilitation.

Volunteer numbers in New South Wales continue to grow off the back of the many wildlife emergencies that have occurred in the previous 2 years.

In 2021–22 more than 128,000 animals were rescued involving 543 different species, including 109 threatened species.

View the complete report at https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/-/media/OEH/Corporate-Site/Documents/Animals-and-plants/Native-animals/wildlife-rehabilitation-annual-report-202122-230236.pdf

The NSW Wildlife Council is the peak representative organisation for wildlife groups and individual rehabilitators licensed by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment (NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service). The objective of the Grants Program is to increase the capacity for individual wildlife rehabilitators, and groups in exceptional circumstances at the discretion of the management committee, to purchase materials to build animal enclosures or equipment needed to rehabilitate native Australian wildlife within the state of NSW.

Grant applications must be submitted to the Grants Committee of the NSW Wildlife Council between 1 July and 31 July 2023.

Grant applications need to be in writing on the approved NWC Wildlife Rehabilitation Grant Application Form. Applications for grants will be evaluated based on 3 criteria: Need; Excellence and Value for Money. The grant decision will be made in a manner determined by the NSW Wildlife Council Management Committee.

Grants of amounts from $500 to $4000 will be provided to the applications voted most worthy. Applications are open to NWC groups and individuals; any NWC Group may be awarded a maximum of 2 individual member grants and 1 group grant; an independent general licensee may be awarded 1 grant.

The 2023 Grant Budget is $50,000. Applications are restricted to members of NWC groups in NSW and independent general licensees (IGLs).

Guidelines for applying for the grants can be found in the attached PDF.

Application forms are available in the following formats:

• Application form *.pdf format
• Application form *.docx format
• Application form *.odt format

Since 2003 Australian wildlife carers have gathered to meet, learn and share their experiences. Each conference has been held in a different location and has featured presenters from around Australia and beyond. Our goal is to help raise the standard of wildlife care in Australia through education and collaboration. Our conferences are the only national conferences delivered for and by wildlife carers.

The conference allows wildlife carers to learn from each other and experts in the field, including researchers, carers and veterinarians. Topics have ranged from the latest hands-on wound treatment to emergency response, fund-raising and lobbying.

To book and find out more go to https://www.awrc.org.au/

To help support licenced volunteer wildlife rehabilitation organisations, WIRES has worked closely with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) to create free online training courses in leadership, training and conflict resolution.

NPWS is focused on implementing new initiatives to help support the growth and long-term sustainability of the wildlife rehabilitation sector.

NPWS and WIRES recommended these topics has worked with NPWS to make these courses available for free.

The courses have been created to assist organisations and individual volunteers wanting more support. They will assist new committee members and other volunteers who take on leadership and training roles in their respective organisations.

Wildlife Rehabilitators Leadership Course

This free course is designed to help volunteers take on leadership roles as executives or committee members within their organisations.

Wildlife Rehabilitators Train the Trainer Course

This free course is designed to help volunteers experienced in rehabilitation move into training roles within their organisations.

Wildlife Rehabilitators Conflict Resolution Course

This free course is available for all licenced wildlife rehabilitators and groups to help them identify strategies to best manage situations where conflict may occur.

To find out more go to:

https://www.wires.org.au/nationalgovernancetraining-nsw

I wish on behalf of all the wildlife sector to send our congratulations to one of our wildlife warriors Cheyne Flannagan for her OAM award in The Kings Birthday awards this year.

Cheyne has works for so many years in the conversation of our wildlife and has played a huge role in koala care and conversation.

Many of us would have done her wonderful training education course and have learnt so much from her knowledge of these animals.

This award was so well deserved to Cheyne as she has given her life time to helping and caring for so many species of wildlife.

Cheyne is a long time member of FAWNA and works at the Koala Conversation Australia.

A well deserved  award to a person who has given so much back to wildlife conversation .

I give my personal congratulations to you Cheyne and thank you for all you have done in the wildlife sector .

Warmest Regards

Audrey Koosmen

Chair NSW Wildlife Council .