We have three volunteer partners in Australia. Sea turtles in Cairns, flying foxes on the Atherton Tablelands and wildlife rehabilitation in Perth. We are in constant contact with all our partners around the world, getting updates on volunteers, the weather, new animals in treatment and fundraising campaigns they are rolling out. Our Australia partners have kept us up to date about these issues and of course the fires that we have all seen with tears in our eyes.
Our partners have been incredibly lucky and currently are not in immediate danger. Our volunteers on the ground are safe and the animals continue to get the very best of care.
Over the past week we have gotten an unprecedented 50 new applications a day from people who want to go to Australia immediately and help. Of course we did, who doesn’t want to help these amazing heroes who are on the front line of animal rescue? It has been wonderfully overwhelming to see how many people want to help these animals, how many people see these pictures and videos and instead of getting swallowed up by sadness are inspired to action.
Our message to everyone is thank you, thank you, thank you for your heart and for your compassion. This is a dire situation and it helps all of us to know we are not alone. In order to understand our commitment to Australia now and in the future we would ask everyone read the message we are sending those interested in volunteering in Australia.
Thank you so much for your application to volunteer with us in Australia.
We have been absolutely devastated by the wild fires in Australia and are very privileged to be able to send international volunteers to our wildlife rehab centre in Perth. Currently, the centre cannot accept anymore volunteers until August.
Many wildlife centres are at capacity with volunteers at the moment and won't accept any who haven't had extensive experience with marsupials and burn victims. Hands on the ground are important but they have been telling me that donations for things like fruit, milk and medical supplies are needed urgently and of course through the whole recovery process.
Knowing how many animals have been affected and how much land has been completely destroyed, the road to recovery will be long and the volunteers coming to Australia later in the year will be as welcome as the ones arriving currently.
We have two more programs in Australia, one with flying foxes up in the Atherton tablelands and one in Cairns with sea turtles. If you are interested in going to Australia to help animals, they are both wonderful groups who really do need volunteers throughout the year, including now. Australia’s economy will also benefit from your visit.
Let me also say, that wildlife around the world needs our help. There is no wrong answer when you help animals at wildlife rehab centres. Perhaps they have not been acutely affected by wildfires but many of the animals at our wildlife centres around the world do need immediate and on going help after their rescue from traffickers, loss of habitat and natural disasters in their area. If you want to help wildlife but can't get to Australia, there are animals who need your help in all our wildlife centres.
Thank you so much for your interest in helping. This is a dire and terrifying situation ecologically yet I have been inspired by the amount of people who want to help from all over the world.
A note about fees: Unfortunately, we cannot help with the costs for volunteer fees or ticket. The fees exist to offset the cost of hosting volunteers- from electricity to water, training to materials, volunteers provide an important helping role at the centre but they can also cost the community. We make sure that struggling communities don't personally pay for what the volunteers consume and all the donations that raised for the centre are used directly to help the animals.
This is one of the reasons we visit all the placements before we partner with them. Not only do we make sure they are safe for travelers, ethically run, community lead/supported and authentically helping the animals in the area; we make sure that the fees correctly and ethically reflect the cost of hosting volunteers. Everything from the petrol used to pick volunteers up from the airport to the training that each volunteer must receive is thought of because when it comes down to it, we know no one going to help these communities and these animals wants to be a burden- financial or otherwise.
Just as we don't barter for medical supplies and rent at home, we don't in the places that host volunteers so, as you can understand fees are very important to pay your way and the things you consume while on the program.
Thank you so much for your heart, your compassion and your readiness to help. We will all need to come together in the next months and years to help all the animals and people affected by this devastating climate disaster. We are committed to Australia’s wildlife and we hope you are, too.
Nora
