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| Friends of the Koala | |
|---|---|
| Name | Friends of the Koala |
| Formation | 1991 |
| Type | Non-profit |
| Headquarters | Lismore, New South Wales |
| Region served | Northern Rivers |
| Focus | Koala rescue, rehabilitation, conservation |
Friends of the Koala is an Australian wildlife rescue and rehabilitation organisation based in Lismore, New South Wales, dedicated to rescue, veterinary care, rehabilitation, and release of koalas. The group operates within a network of regional and national institutions including New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service, Taronga Conservation Society Australia, Australian Museum, CSIRO, and collaborates with local councils such as Lismore City Council and Byron Shire Council. It engages with universities and research bodies like University of New South Wales, University of Sydney, Southern Cross University, University of Queensland and conservation NGOs including Bush Heritage Australia, WWF-Australia, The Wilderness Society (Australia), and Australian Conservation Foundation.
Friends of the Koala was established in 1991 amid increasing koala admissions linked to habitat loss after infrastructure projects and events involving Pacific Highway (Australia), regional development by New South Wales Government agencies, and altered fire regimes observed since the Black Summer bushfires era. Early volunteers worked alongside veterinary clinics connected to Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Australia, veterinarians trained at University of Melbourne and staff from Australian Veterinary Association. Over subsequent decades the organisation responded to episodic crises involving incidents near Brisbane River, post-cyclone events similar to those following Cyclone Yasi, and regional land-use change driven by policies from institutions such as NSW Environment Protection Authority and planning approvals referencing Planning and Environment Act 1987 precedents. Partnerships developed with wildlife rehabilitators in networks including Wildlife Victoria, Wildcare Australia, and international contacts at institutions like San Diego Zoo Global and Jane Goodall Institute.
The organisation's mission aligns with conservation strategies promoted by IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, national recovery plans created under frameworks from Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment and state-level biodiversity strategies such as those endorsed by NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. Core activities include rescue operations coordinated with NSW Ambulance and local Rangers from National Parks and Wildlife Service (New South Wales), veterinary assessments conducted with clinics linked to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital training programs, and rehabilitation protocols informed by studies from CSIRO and publications in journals like Australian Mammalogy and Journal of Wildlife Diseases.
Rehabilitation centers operate incorporating husbandry standards comparable to those at Taronga Zoo and procedures influenced by research from Murray Darling Basin Authority projects and protocols used by Healesville Sanctuary. Clinical care follows veterinary guidelines from Australian Veterinary Association and uses diagnostic approaches referenced in work by University of Sydney School of Veterinary Science researchers. The organisation maintains soft-release enclosures similar in concept to programs at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and participates in post-release monitoring using telemetry methods developed in studies associated with CSIRO and Australian National University. Rescue records and clinical case series have informed submissions to recovery planning panels convened by Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment and scientific collaborations with University of Melbourne.
Education initiatives involve partnerships with school systems such as New South Wales Department of Education, volunteer training drawing on models from Volunteering Australia, and public engagement at events hosted by Lismore City Library, Byron Bay Writers Festival, and regional shows like the Lismore Agricultural Show. Community-first programs have featured collaboration with First Nations organisations represented at National Native Title Tribunal-linked events and cultural education involving custodians connected to Bundjalung Nation groups. The organisation produces resources referenced by media outlets including ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), The Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian (Australia), and regional papers like Northern Star (Lismore).
Friends of the Koala contributes data to statewide monitoring projects such as those coordinated by NSW Office of Environment and Heritage and national efforts like the Threatened Species Scientific Committee. Collaborative research with universities including Southern Cross University, University of New England (Australia), and University of Queensland has examined disease prevalence for pathogens discussed in literature by Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation authors and international comparisons in journals like Conservation Biology. Conservation initiatives include habitat restoration aligned with best practice from Greening Australia, land stewardship models used by Bush Heritage Australia, and advocacy engaging policy forums convened by IUCN and submissions to state inquiries managed by NSW Parliamentary Inquiry processes.
The management structure comprises a volunteer board and staff roles reflective of non-profit governance benchmarks seen at organisations such as Australian Red Cross and Legal Aid NSW. Governance adheres to incorporation frameworks like those under the Associations Incorporation Act 2009 (NSW), reporting obligations to agencies including Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission and liaising with regional emergency services such as NSW Rural Fire Service. Volunteer coordination and training follow standards promoted by Volunteering Australia and risk management uses templates similar to those adopted by SafeWork NSW.
Funding sources include donations, grant funding from bodies such as Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, state grants from NSW Government, philanthropic support from trusts like Myer Foundation, and community fundraising events coordinated with partners including Bunnings Warehouse community programs and regional businesses. Strategic partnerships extend to research institutions like CSIRO and zoos such as Taronga Conservation Society Australia and Healesville Sanctuary, while collaborative networks include Wildlife Health Australia, Wildcare NSW, and national peak groups like Australian Koala Foundation.
Category:Wildlife rehabilitation in Australia Category:Koalas