Northern Rivers Wildlife Carers Inc

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South Lismore, NSW
Northern Rivers Wildlife Carers Inc

Northern Rivers Wildlife Carers Inc. We have been part of the Northern Rivers community since 1992. License No: MWL000100243

is a not-for-profit network of trained volunteers that is licensed to rescue and rehabilitate sick, injured or orphaned wildlife. We help wildlife from Ocean Shores in the north to New Italy in the south, from Byron Bay in the east to Tabulam in the west. This is one of the largest areas covered by any wildlife caring group in NSW.

01/09/2026

Today is the first day of spring and already in the last 48 hours we have seen five new orphaned wallaby joeys come into care.

With around the clock care and feeding every 4-5 hours, these little lives are now looking at 12–18 months in care before they are ready to return to the wild. We, along with other local care groups are struggling to keep up with the demand.

Early this morning we received a call about this little joey after his mum was hit by a vehicle.

Mum had been left in the middle of the road, and this small joey was desperately trying to get back into the pouch. Alone, frightened and completely vulnerable, he was incredibly lucky that someone stopped.

That someone was Amy, an absolute superstar member of the public who has called us several times to report injured and orphaned wildlife. In fact, only yesterday, Amy reported another orphaned joey from the very same location who’s mother had also been hit and killed.

With guidance from our hotline operator, Amy was able to safely approach and contain the joey while mum was moved from the road.

If Amy hadn’t stopped, this story could have had a very different ending. ❤️

Please, take extra care on the roads. Wild animals don’t understand cars or traffic. They don’t know to look both ways, and sadly, they often pay the ultimate price.

If you hit an animal or find one that has been hit, please stop when it is safe to do so and report the incident. There may be a joey in the pouch, an injured animal nearby, or another life that can still be saved.

We desperately need more people willing and able to not only care for animals but help transport too. Our available spaces are filling quickly, and our volunteers are regularly travelling hours to find carers in other areas who have capacity.

Every call, every carer and every member of the public who stops can make the difference between life and death.

🦘 If you’d like to get involved or are in a position to help support our work, please click the link below;

https://www.wildlifecarers.com/?fbclid=IwVERDUAUC-69wZG9mAWZkaWQWUNliE1-TRygcHCtY5ojc_To_twQK0GV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR4d_4_8u7T83D2VCOCB1w2f_MatktuHQPkwVIXGHn-SPKnpkerNijL5N4ctJQ_aem_ZmFrZWR1bW15MTZieXRlcw

Together, we can give these little ones the second chance they deserve. ❤️

19/08/2026

Our wildlife hospital is facing financial crisis, they play a crucial role in treating our local wildlife. Please consider donating, they need our support more than ever 🙏🏽

29/07/2026

It’s been a busy few weeks for the NRWC team, with echidnas and joey macropods flying through the door almost on the daily! Alongside that, we’ve also led an incredible community effort to help relocate and release eight sugar gliders displaced by tree removal works on a private property in Ross Lane.

As many of you may have seen, this project attracted plenty of local attention, and we’re happy to share the positive outcome.

On 8 July, NRWC were contacted after sugar gliders were found in the base of a recently felled tree stump. Just two days later, another colony was found denning in the base of a second stump. All gliders were routinely transported to Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital for health checks, where they were cleared of injuries before heading into care with our expert glider carer, Kerry Anne.

Over the following week, we liaised with the Jehovah’s Witness Congregation, whose neighbouring property offered an opportunity to establish new habitat within the gliders' existing territory. NRWC glider experts and Wildbnb Wildlife Habitat David Brook helped identify suitable locations for new habitat boxes, while NRWC member Alicia, who runs Project BarbShield, coordinated with landowners to remove and cover barbed wire fencing to make the area safer for wildlife.

On 22 July, NRWC volunteers teamed up with Wildlife BNB, Lennox Head Tree Care and members of the Jehovah’s Witness Congregation to install three new habitat boxes in a huge 250 year old scribbly gum at the back of their property. Because the tree is located adjacent to where the trees were removed, this site allows the gliders to remain within their territory and reunite with other members of their colony. Later that day, the sugar gliders were returned to their new habitat boxes amongst a huge sigh of relief from all of us who’d worked so hard to give them a second chance.

We are incredibly grateful to have worked alongside Lennox Head Tree Care that prioritised wildlife welfare in what was a challenging situation from the onset. We’re equally grateful for the many individuals and small non for profit community orgs who worked together to provide the best outcome for these gliders. This is what community looks like.

A massive thank you to everyone involved 🌳💚🙏🏽

19/07/2026

We haven’t quite reached baby bird season yet, but here’s a little glimpse into some of the tiny lives that will soon come our way 🐣

These baby figbirds came into care as nestlings and remained with us for around three months. They were initially fed every few hours until they became more independent and learnt to self feed.

And check out the head wobble! Thats a skill set of its own.

A huge thank you to one of our amazing bird mummas Lisa Donaldson for raising and successfully releasing these guys 🐦🩵

08/07/2026

We are holding an Introduction to Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation Course on 25 July.

If youve ever wanted to care for wildlife or simply want to know what to do when you come across injured, sick or orphaned animals, this course is the perfect place to start.

You'll learn the basics of wildlife rescue and rehabilitation including how to respond to wildlife emergencies.

No experience is necessary, just a willingness to learn how to support our wildlife when they need us most.

We hope to see you there 🐦🩵

28/06/2026

Late yesterday afternoon we received a call from a member of the public about a noisy miner entangled in string, about two metres up in a tree. The whole family was very vocal while our friends at Fire and Rescue NSW Station 240 Brunswick Heads stepped in to help, safely freeing the bird.

As the string was removed and the little one was safely returned to its tree, the family fell quiet, watching closely the entire time. Moments like these remind us again and again of the care, connection, and community that exists within the animal world, and how important kindness and support are.

As carers and rescuers, we rely on that same sense of community. We are a not-for-profit organisation and depend heavily on the generosity of donations to continue the work we do.

If you have the capacity to give before we move into the new financial year, we would be incredibly grateful for your support.

Thank you , as always, to our amazing fellow community responders, this time , for their support with these challenging rescues 🙏🏽

11/06/2026

As the 2026 financial year comes to a close, we want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported us over the past 12 months.

Your generosity has helped wildlife across the Northern Rivers region and literally kept our wheels turning.

A massive shout out also goes to the incredible rescuers and carers at NRWC. Your dedication is nothing short of inspiring. From late night rescues to the many sleepless nights caring for wildlife, without you much of our wildlife wouldn't have a chance.

We’re also incredibly grateful to the amazing members of the public who stop to help injured animals or take the time to call them in. We are blessed to have so many kindhearted people in our community.

This year alone, NRWC has responded to over 2,400 calls for help and had hundreds of animals in care. As a small volunteer run group, we rely heavily on donations to keep doing what we do.

As the financial year closes, we’d love to ask for your support. Every donation helps us continue rescuing and caring for our local wildlife.

From the caller, to the rescuer, to the hospital, to the carer - it truly takes a community.

Your support means the world to us and to the wildlife we care for 🌏🪷✨️🙏🏽

https://www.givenow.com.au/northernriverswildlifecarers

24/05/2026

💙Meet Kerry-Anne💙

As part of National Volunteer Week, we’re introducing you to some of the incredible people behind our organisation and the passion that drives them to help wildlife.

Kerry-Anne has been volunteering with NRWC for more than 18 years, dedicating her time to being a voice for wildlife and advocating for the animals that cannot speak for themselves. Her passion comes from wanting to make a difference in a world where habitat destruction and development continue to impact our native species.

With a background as a Neonatal Intensive Care nurse before later flying long haul for Qantas, Kerry-Anne brings an incredible depth of care, compassion, and experience to wildlife rehabilitation. 🦆

One of her key roles within NRWC is Training Officer, helping organise training days and supporting both new and existing members throughout their wildlife caring journey. She is also passionate about educating the public and helping people see wildlife from a new perspective.

For Kerry-Anne, some of the most meaningful moments come from raising orphaned possums and hearing that, after release, they have gone on to thrive in the wild, especially when a female returns later with a joey of her own. Moments like these remind her why every sleepless night and challenge is worth it. 🤍

Kerry-Anne says one of the greatest strengths of NRWC is the incredible support shared between volunteers, all working together with the same goal: helping wildlife.

Her message to the public:
“Wildlife are not pets, but when they lose everything, we try to be the best substitute we can be. If you find injured wildlife, please call a wildlife rescue group as soon as possible, time matters.”

Thank you Kerry-Anne, for your dedication, leadership, compassion, and tireless advocacy for native wildlife 🦋

23/05/2026

💚Meet Alicia💚

As part of National Volunteer Week, we’re introducing you to some of the incredible people behind our organisation and the passion that drives them to help wildlife.

Alicia joined NRWC in 2021 after moving from the Gold Coast, inspired by her love for flying foxes and a desire to help protect these often misunderstood animals. During COVID, she found was the time to get involved and quickly discovered just how vital wildlife rescue and rehabilitation truly is. 🦇

Alicia’s main role is wildlife rescue and care, with a focus on trauma care specifically and orphan raising. One of her most meaningful experiences has been raising her first flying fox orphans, watching them grow from tiny vulnerable babies into strong animals ready to return to the wild and play their important role in the ecosystem.

She says one of the best parts about volunteering is that every day is different, with each rescue bringing new experiences and opportunities to learn.

While the emotional side of wildlife rescue can sometimes be difficult, Alicia says the rewarding moments far outweigh the hard ones, especially the feeling of releasing an animal back where they belong.

Alicia’s message to the public:
“Our wildlife is truly unique, and once it’s gone, it’s gone. Everyone has something to offer, whether on the frontline or behind the scenes, and every action matters.”

Thank you Alicia, for your compassion, dedication, and incredible work helping native wildlife.🦇

22/05/2026

🧡Meet Romilly🧡

As part of National Volunteer Week, we’re introducing you to some of the incredible people behind our organisation.

Romilly has been volunteering with NRWC for over 2 years, with a passion for wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and habitat restoration. As a venomous snake handler her work includes reptile rescue, possum releases, nest box installation and workshops, as well as bush regeneration to help create safer habitats for native wildlife. 🐍

Inspired through doing her own rescues, Romilly says the most meaningful part of volunteering is seeing animals successfully released back into the wild after care and rehabilitation.

While wildlife rescue can be emotionally and physically challenging, Romilly says the reward of directly helping native animals and contributing to long-term conservation far outweighs the difficult moments.

Her message to the community:
“Wildlife deserves respect and protection. Small actions like slowing down on roads, protecting habitat, and contacting trained rescuers for injured wildlife can make a real difference.” 🐸

Address

PO Box 6439
South Lismore, NSW
2480

Telephone

+61266281866

Website

http://www.wildlifecarers.com/home/

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