Matilda, the truck that houses the Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital is set to become a busy place thanks to $110,000 worth of new education and training projects funded by the NSW Government.

These funds allow Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital (BBWH) to help educate and engage the community on a variety of native mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles. This will include the causes of injuries and illness and ways to help wildlife in the community, including during natural disasters.

“We are grateful to the NSW Government for awarding this grant, which will help us deliver a multi-faceted project supporting the immediate, effective treatment for sick, injured and orphaned wildlife of all species.” Dr Stephen Van Mil, CEO of the Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital said.

Lismore MP Janelle Saffin and Ballina MP Tamara Smith stood with the BBWH to lobby hard and secured the funding. Ms Saffin said, “I thank NSW Minister for Environment Penny Sharpe MLC for appreciating the value of these well targeted education and training projects.”

Ms Smith said, “I know that this grant will make a big difference to our Wildlife hospital and support their incredible work training wildlife carers and educating the broader community about our extinction crises.

"We welcome this investment in community organisations that are doing the frontline work rescuing and protecting endangered species like our Koalas and Swift parrots."

(Pretzel The Green Sea Turtle hatchling)

Part of the finance will go towards easy-to-understand short videos and fact sheets on commonly treated species. They will be designed to educate the community on wildlife of the area and build awareness of actions community members can take.

Dr Bree Talbot, the General Manager Veterinary Services at the BBWH said, “Educating and engaging the community on practical ways they can care for wildlife helps reduces suffering, facilitates healing, recovery and rehabilitation. We would like the public to be aware of how they can help, and where to go for help if they encounter wildlife in distress.” 

The funding will also be used by BBWH to deliver work placements for approximately 10 final year student veterinarians and develop online training for general practice veterinary clinics on best practice wildlife handling, triage and wildlife treatment plans.

“Helping to improve the skills and confidence of general practice vets and nurses in wildlife handling, triage and treatment plans, and train future generations of wildlife veterinarians will also contribute to more positive welfare outcomes for native animals.” said, Dr Stephen Van Mil.

The training and education programs will begin shortly and run until July 2025.

(Matilda is fully equipped and can be relocated when disaster strikes and assistance is better provided at the site. Then again, last week she was relocated to secure her precious cargo when floodwaters threatened.)

Janelle Saffin acknowledges the unique aspect of the BBWH, “We are fortunate in the Northern Rivers to have a network of specialised wildlife hospitals and dedicated wildlife carer groups, whose important work was put in real perspective during the 2019-2020 Black Summer bushfires.

“I met with Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital representatives this week and I’ll continue to support our wildlife rehabilitation sector which takes such great care of our native animals.”

This week, BBWH has actively been booking for sponsors to help fund the care they provide. The reality is funding like this grant, “can't be used for operational funding, as per the terms of the grant. We're grateful for it, and it helps us to deliver some of our services through a project,” said Russell Mills, the General Manager of Strategy and Story at the BBWH, "But it doesn’t pay for the basic costs to operate."

Grants are the best way to attract funds, however, Russell says, “like many in the wildlife sector, need to find some way of paying for operations.”

(Echidna's are on the move at the moment - keep an eye out for them)

If you are in a position to help, here is the link to the story about sponsorship.

As the BBWH says, #forthewildlife.

Based at the nature-based tourism attraction Byron Bay Wildlife Sanctuary in Knockrow, New South Wales, BBWH cares for all species of wildlife.