There are many ways that you can help koalas
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protect and plant koala trees on your land and in your community
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slow down when driving through koala country – especially at night and during breeding season when koalas tend to roam (typically August to February)
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keep your dog on a lead when outside – especially at night when koalas are most active
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help any koalas that fall into your swimming pool by tying a rope to a tree or post and placing the other end of the rope in the pool
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plant or maintain trees near your fence to help koalas move safely in between trees in your backyard – this will also help them escape quickly if they need to
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contact a licensed fauna rehabilitation group if you spot a koala that looks sick (a wet bottom is a sign of disease) or is injured
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participate in citizen science koala surveys
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volunteer time or money to local groups that support koala conservation
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tell your friends about this website.
If you live elsewhere you can:
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slow down on the roads and highways when you are driving through NSW Koala Country on your holidays
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visit a national park with your friends or family and marvel at the amazing natural wonders that New South Wales, and NSW Koala Country, has to offer
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raise awareness – speak to your friends, family and community to let them know that the koala is a threatened species in New South Wales and there are things we can all do to help
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donate to an organisation that specifically helps koalas and protects their habitat
- partner with us to help conserve koalas and their habitat in NSW. We are looking to pilot collaborative partnerships with businesses, impact investors, corporates and non-government partners to help deliver new projects that will make a difference to koala populations in NSW. Contact partnerships.investment@environment.nsw.gov.au if you’re interested in discussing partnership opportunities.
Find a koala conservation group near you
The organisations
that are dedicated
to protecting koalas
Two Thumbs Wildlife Trust
The Two Thumbs Wildlife Trust is a trio of koala sanctuaries and a rehabilitation centre 2 hours south of Canberra in NSW’s sub-alpine region. James Fitzgerald started Two Thumbs Wildlife Trust to ensure that the sanctuaries remain safe for wildlife, provide enclosures and other facilities for wildlife rehabilitation, and as a base for scientific research.
Breaking News January 2020
Two Thumbs Koala Sanctuary was burned in recent bush fires. Please consider making a donation to help restore this important koala conservation area.
Hastings-Macleay Koala Recovery Partnership
The Koala Recovery Partnership seeks to improve koala conservation across the Hastings-Macleay region by engaging with landholders, the community, research groups and government sectors to achieve better on-ground koala conservation outcomes and on-going viability for local koalas.
Got a burning idea on how your community group can help koalas? We would love to hear about it and help where we can.
Koala Recovery Partnership
Koalas in Care
KOALAS IN CARE INC. is a non profit organisation run by volunteers committed to the welfare and preservation of wild koalas in Australia. We provide a 24-hour koala rescue service for sick, injured and orphaned koalas.
You can support our work by donating to provide the necessary treatment and medications for our koala patients.
Phone 02 6552 2183 or 0439 406 770
Science for Wildlife
Science for Wildlife (a not-for-profit organisation) works collaboratively with communities to ensure that the best available science and technology is applied on the ground where it counts, to conserve wildlife.
You can support our work by donating, reporting a koala sighting, volunteering, or by becoming a friend.
Science for Wildlife Website
Tweed Shire Council
Tweed Shire Council is actively involved in koala conservation initiatives. Through successful community and stakeholder partnerships, the Council delivers programs that aim to recover koala populations and improve their habitat.
You can support our work by getting involved. Join a local group working to help koalas, and report sightings.
Phone 02 6670 2400
Tweed Council Website
Campbelltown City Council
Campbelltown City Council is situated in south-west Sydney between the Nepean and Georges Rivers. Campbelltown boasts one of the healthiest, disease-free koala colonies in New South Wales.
You can support our work by joining one of the many community events we run each year.
Phone 02 4645 4000
Campbelltown Council Website
Port Macquarie Koala Hospital
The Koala Hospital is a licensed wildlife rehabilitation facility carrying out on-site procedures. The hospital consists of a treatment room, 8 Intensive Care Units, 6 outdoor intensive care units and 33 rehabilitation yards, many of which have trees for koalas to learn to climb as part of the rehabilitation process.
You can support our work by donating, planting a koala food tree, volunteering, or adopting a wild koala
Port Macquarie Koala Hospital Website
Port Stephens Council
Port Stephens Council is actively involved in koala conservation initiatives. As a Council, we’re working hard to ensure our local koala population is around for many generations to come.
You can support our work by getting involved. Join a local group working to help koalas, and report koala sightings.
Phone 02 4988 0255
Port Stephens Council Website
Port Stephens Koala Hospital
Port Stephens Koala Hospital aims to provide the world best practice standards of care to sick, injured and orphaned koalas to give them the best opportunity to be returned to the wild.
We also support research and collaboration to preserve their habitat to ensure that future generations may continue to enjoy seeing wildlife in their natural setting.
You can support our work by becoming a member, adopting a koala, volunteering or donating.
Port Stephens Koalas Website
Friends of the Koala
Friends of the Koala is licensed to rescue, rehabilitate and release koalas in the region, and are also engaged in habitat protection and enhancement, community education, policy reform and research.
You can support our work by becoming a volunteer if you live in the Northern Rivers or donating to help cover our costs.
Phone 02 6621 4664
Friends of the Koala Website
Southern Highlands Koala Conservation Project
The Southern Highlands Koala Conservation Project aims to gain a better understanding of koala distribution, habitat, status and threats throughout the Southern Highlands.
You can support us by reporting all koala sightings to our Koala Hotline 02 4868 0888 or via Facebook.
Conservation Volunteers Australia
Conservation Volunteers Australia (CVA) is Australasia’s leading practical conservation group. We connect thousands of people to nature by managing their involvement in local conservation projects that need extra hands-on help.
Support our work by becoming a volunteer or partner and help plant trees for habitat and monitor koalas. Find a local project or become a partner.
CVA Website
Coffs Harbour City Council
Coffs Harbour City Council has commenced a review of the Coffs Harbour Comprehensive Koala Plan of Management. This plan, adopted in 1999, was the first comprehensive plan for the State and Council is excited to continue this great work undertaken as part of this plan.
You can support us by recording sightings of Koalas in Coffs Harbour through the Koala register on Councils website.
Coffs Harbour Council Website
Wildlife Save Our Species
Wildlife SOS is an independent, not-for-profit organisation. We work with individuals, community groups and government to achieve positive outcomes for native wildlife and the habitat in which they live.
We are based in the Clarence Valley of northern New South Wales, an area internationally recognised for the high level of biodiversity.
Support our work by visiting our website to learn more about our wildlife and the work being done to help them.
Wildlife SOS Website
Landcare
Landcare is a community-based approach to managing and protecting our natural resources – creating more productive and sustainable farms, conserving our environment and building more cohesive and resilient communities. We are involved in multiple projects restoring koala habitat across NSW.
You can support us by volunteering on one of our koala projects.
Landcare Website
WIRES
WIRES has been rescuing and caring for native animals since 1985. Our mission is to actively rehabilitate and preserve Australian wildlife and inspire others to do the same.
WIRES has over 2500 volunteers in 28 branches across the state.
You can support our work by becoming a volunteer or donating to help rescue and care for more native animals. Or if you see a sick and injured animal please report by calling 1300 094 737.
WIRES Website
Bangalow Koalas
Bangalow Koalas long-term goal is to create a koala wildlife corridor, forming a linkage of habitat from Bangalow heading westwards towards Lismore, allowing koalas to move safely across the local landscape.
You can support us by volunteering or becoming a member. To find out more call or contact us.
Bangalow Koalas Website
Koala Health Hub
The Koala Health Hub is an initiative of the University of Sydney to benefit koala welfare and conservation by connecting researchers across the country with people on the coalface of koala care and management.
You can learn more and donate to this initiative by visiting our website.
Koala Health Hub Website
NSW Wildlife Council
The NSW Wildlife Council Inc. (NWC) is the peak policy body for wildlife rescue and rehabilitation in NSW representing over 3800 volunteer wildlife rehabilitators.
You can support our work by visiting our website and donating. All donations will be used specifically for projects that will directly benefit wildlife needing assistance.
NSW Wildlife Council Website
Wingecarribee Shire Council
Wingecarribee Shire Council is in the beautiful Southern Highlands of NSW, 1.5 hours south-west of Sydney. Council is actively involved in conservation projects that aim to gain a better understanding of koala distribution, habitat, status and threats throughout the region.
You can support our work by reporting all sightings, planting koala habitat, keep your dog secured and slowing down when driving. Please report ALL sightings or evidence of activity.
Phone 02 4868 0888
Ballina Shire Council
Ballina Shire is a local government area in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales. Council has a number of projects to better understand and protect our koalas.
You can learn more about our local koalas visit the website or email council.
Ballina Council Website
Clarence Valley Council
Clarence Valley Council is a local government area in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales. We service an area of 10,441 square kilometres and draws its name from the Clarence River, which flows through most of the council area. Koala numbers in our area are under threat due to continuing fragmentation of suitable habitat, dog attack, car strike and bushfires.
You can support our work by visiting our website.
Clarence Valley Council Website
Lismore City Council
Lismore City Council is in the Northern Rivers region and is one of the major regional centres in NSW. Lismore and the surrounding area is blessed with a higher than average population of koalas including a significant urban koala population in south-east Lismore.
You can learn more about our koalas by visiting the website or contacting council.
Phone 1300 87 83 87
Kempsey Shire Council
Kempsey Shire is a local government area located in the mid north coast region of New South Wales. Our Shire includes important areas of koala habitat. The majority of koala habitat within the Shire is situated upon private land and therefore management practices of landowners play an important role in maintaining and increasing koala populations in the area.
You can support our work by visiting our website.
Hello Koalas
Hello Koalas is a bold, ambitious and imaginative sculpture project, which celebrates one of Australia’s iconic animals – the koala. Above all, it is designed to generate a sense of fun and surprise for everyone who comes across one of the creatively decorated koalas resting in parkland, lazing by the river, waiting outside the shops, or playing with children.
Visit our website to find out where you can visit the koala sculptures.
Hello Koalas Website
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council is on the mid north coast of NSW. With more than 2,000 koalas, our local koala population is one of the largest in the state. Council’s Koala Recovery Strategy provides actions and guidelines to help conserve local koalas.
You can learn more about our koalas by visiting the website or contacting council.
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council Website
Byron Shire Council
Byron Shire is a local government area located in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales. Koalas have been recorded over much of the Shire from the coast to the hinterland.
You can support our work by visiting our website.
Help Save the Wildlife and Bushlands in Campbelltown
Help Save the Wildlife and Bushlands in Campbelltown is a group of passionate volunteers who help wildlife in the Campbelltown area.
You can support our work by donating, reporting a koala sighting, volunteering, or by becoming a friend.
Clarence Valley Koala Working Group
The Clarence Valley Koala Working Group aims to progress strategic planning around koala conservation in the Clarence Valley.
Information about our group is available at:
NSW Koala Country Collaborators
