Wildlife volunteer grants now available

VICTORIA’S wildlife rescue volunteers are now able to apply for the Wildlife Rehabilitator Grant with up to three thousand dollars in funding available.

The grants will support volunteers who dedicate their time and expertise to care for sick, injured and orphaned wildlife with the goal of releasing them back into the wild.

“We’re supporting wildlife volunteers to provide the best possible care to the animals they work with by supporting them with training, equipment and resources to carry out best-practice treatment,” Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulos said.

“Wildlife shelters and foster carers across Victoria play an essential role in the recovery and rehabilitation of native animals that have been injured or orphaned.”

Wildlife shelter operators and foster carers can apply for the funding to cover expenses including equipment, vet fees, training, feed and medication.

The program funding is available as part of a $300,000 package to support wildlife rescue volunteers in helping native animals in need of rehabilitation.

More than 100 organisations shared in $230,000 worth of funding in January this year, enhancing facilities to treat, house and rehabilitate wildlife.

Wildlife shelters can apply for up to $3,000 while foster carers can apply for up to $2,000, the difference in funding is due to shelter operators taking in more animals and supporting foster carers.

The State Government has invested $6.3 million into supporting foster carers, authorised wildlife shelter operations and key wildlife organisations since 2015.

Applications are open now and will close in February 2025, with recipients notified in March.

For more information, or to submit an application, head to wildlife.vic.gov.au/grants/wildlife-rehabilitator-grants.