As the federal election approaches, Wildlife Victoria and Wildlife Recovery Australia are urging the government to commit to a national framework for wildlife rescue, treatment, and rehabilitation. The two registered charities, operating independently in Victoria and New South Wales respectively, have partnered to ensure the best possible wildlife welfare outcomes through the rescue, rehabilitation, and veterinary assessment and treatment of native animals.
Every year, tens of thousands of native animals are reported as sick, injured, or orphaned, but without a national framework, rescue services remain chronically underfunded. Organisations like Wildlife Victoria, which operates a 24/7 Emergency Response Service, are stretched thin as demand continues to grow. We need coordinated national support to ensure that expert wildlife rescue is always available when and where it’s needed Australia-wide.
Sick, injured and orphaned wildlife require fast, professional care for burns, trauma, and other serious conditions, yet veterinary services are overwhelmed and under-resourced. Wildlife Victoria’s Travelling Veterinary Service and Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital show what is possible with the right support, bringing life-saving treatment directly to the field. But without sustained government funding, these critical services can’t continue.
Recovering from injury often takes months of care, mostly provided by volunteer wildlife carers who receive little to no financial support. From car strikes to climate-related habitat loss, our wildlife face growing challenges, and rehabilitation shouldn’t rely solely on goodwill. We’re calling for national funding and infrastructure to support long-term recovery and give every native animal the chance to return to the wild.
Show your support for wildlife this election by voting for those candidates committed to advocating for environmental and wildlife protections now and into the future.
What can you do?
Speak with your federal MP and candidates for the upcoming election about issues that are important to you.
Find out about each political party’s policy on wildlife and environment. Do their policies align with your values?
Speak with family, friends and members of your community about what matters to you and the issues currently facing our native wildlife.
Print one of our A3 I Vote For Wildlife posters and display it at home or at work to let everyone know you vote for wildlife.
Change your profile photo to show that you vote for wildlife.
