Wildlife Heroes Resources
The following booklet and pocket guide highlight some key health and safety hazards of wildlife rehabilitation and common ways to minimise them. The booklet is designed to fit on a folded A4 landscape style and the pocket guide a small A6 size for your pocket.
The resources can be freely downloaded and printed here:
For BULK PRINTING from a professional printer, the PRINT READY versions can be found here:
The development of these resources was supported by the NSW Environment Trust.
Wildlife Volunteer Recruitment Resources
These resources have been developed to assist wildlife rehabilitation groups in their recruiting efforts. They can be freely downloaded and printed at A4, A3 or A2 sizes.
The brochure is available in two different formats:
The Volunteer Wildlife Rescue Poster has less detail but a QR code on the poster will send viewers to the brochure on this webpage with all detail included.
For BULK PRINTING from a professional printer, the PRINT READY versions can be found here:
The development of these resources was supported by the NSW Environment Trust.
Wildlife Rescue Booklet – what to do in the first 24 hours
You can save the life of an animal by knowing what to do as the first person on the scene. This handbook is full of first aid advice for anyone who comes across an injured or orphaned native animal. The handbook is subtitled the first 24 hours as a reminder that if you are a member of the general public, your main wildlife rescue goal is to get the animal to a licensed volunteer who can provide the best care.
Most Australians love wildlife and want to help in any way they can. However, wildlife volunteers report that while members of the public mean well, they sometimes make matters worse when attempting to handle or feed animals. The handbook provides simple first aid tips to maximise wildlife survival rates and keep animals and rescuers safe. We encourage you to can keep a copy of the handbook in your car or on your phone.
Remember: Do not attempt to capture a sick or injured animal if it means putting you or other people in any danger. Call your local wildlife rescue group so they can assist.
For BULK PRINTING from a professional printer, the PRINT READY version can be found here:
The development of this booklet was supported by the Australian Government’s Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation program.
Communicating with humans: a guide for animal people
Animal people are spoilt for choice when it comes to finding books about animal communication, but what about communicating with other humans? While many animal people are frustrated with their own species, communication is key when seeking funds, influencing decision makers, and recruiting new members. Animal people also need convincing communication skills if they want to improve animal welfare, reduce human/animal conflict, and protect species from extinction.
Research suggests that while Aussies love wildlife and consider wildlife rescue services to be an essential and valuable public service, many people do not know much about how these services operate, or how they are funded. This communication guide provides wildlife carers with tips and tricks for getting the word out there about what they do, and how the general public can help.
This booklet was written by Vanessa Barratt as part of a Master of Science Communication thesis project at the University of Otago. The development of this booklet was supported by the Australian Government’s Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation program.
You Can Save a Life: by knowing what to do
Do you know what to do if you across an injured or orphaned native animal? Knowing what to do as the first responder can save that animal’s life.
This poster was developed to be displayed in local vet clinics, to help remind people of what to do in this situation. It provides simple, easy to follow steps, as well as directing the reader to further useful resources. We recommend the poster is printed in A1 size. Otherwise, keep it on your phone as a handy visual reminder.
This poster was developed as part of the Wildlife Friendly Vets campaign, supported by the Australian Government’s Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation program.
Policies, Guidelines, Reports
Wildlife rehabilitation reporting
NSW Wildlife Rehabilitation Annual Report 2020-21
NSW Wildlife Rehabilitation Annual Report 2021-22
