SUPPORTING MACEDON WILDLIFE REHABILITATOR VOLUNTEERS
The Victorian Government is supporting Victoria’s wildlife rehabilitator volunteers who dedicate their time and expertise to care for sick, injured and orphaned wildlife.
Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas today congratulated shelter operators and foster carers across Macedon for being awarded funding thanks to the Victorian Government’s annual Wildlife Rehabilitator Grants.
The grants are providing more than $310,000 to support 150 wildlife shelter operators and foster carers across the state by improving the standard of care they provide, enhancing facilities to treat, house and rehabilitate wildlife for release, and boosting their skills and knowledge through education and training.
Successful recipients in Macedon:
• Serenity in Drummond for the purchase of feed for Eastern Grey Kangaroo joeys and textbooks to increase rehabilitation knowledge.
• Lyndarth Wildlife Shelter in Gisborne to construct a movable cage/aviary to allow for the soft release of rehabilitated animals.
• Gwandalan in Darraweit Guim to cover the cost of food and milk powders.
• The Wildlings Woodend Wildlife Shelter to expand the enclosure for gliders to enhance recovery.
• Red Box Wildlife Shelter in Elphinstone to purchase brush-screen fencing and wildlife- specific manuals.
These grants, worth up to $3,000, recognise the important role of wildlife rehabilitators, through dedicating their own time and money to rehabilitate injured or displaced wildlife and release them back into the wild.
Since 2015, the Victorian Government has invested $7.4 million to support the work of foster carers, authorised wildlife shelter operators and key wildlife organisations.
The Government committed $7.2 million from the 2023-24 State Budget for wildlife welfare and preparedness actions. The 2025-26 State Budget allocated an additional $2.1 million to support the protection of wildlife, which will continue support for Wildlife Victoria Hotline and provide support for shelters and carers to rehabilitate wildlife.
This funding delivers on the Victorian Government’s long-term plan to protect the environment – Biodiversity 2037. Since 2014, the Victorian Government has invested a record $800 million into biodiversity and the environment.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Environment, Steve Dimopoulos
“Victoria’s wildlife shelters and foster carers do incredible work to help rehabilitate injured and orphaned native animals so that they can be released back into the wild.”
“These grants are about supporting those volunteers who dedicate their time and expertise to care for sick, injured and orphaned wildlife.”
Quote attributable to Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas
“We’re proud to support our local volunteers who house, feed and care for our precious wildlife when they need it most.”
