- First round of Cook Government's Bird Flu Wildlife Resilience Grants awarded
- Up to $10,000 for immediate wildlife rehabilitation and biosecurity activities
- Cook Labor Government strengthening protection for Western Australia's wildlife and biodiversity
The first round of funding through the Cook Government's $2 million Bird Flu Wildlife Resilience Grants has been awarded, providing immediate support to wildlife rehabilitators across Western Australia.
Eight recipients will receive a total of $50,000 to support practical, community-led projects that reduce biosecurity risks, strengthen wildlife rehabilitation capacity and help protect vulnerable native species.
The grants will support a range of activities including improving biosecurity protocols and practises, purchasing equipment, and caring for sick or injured native birds or wildlife.
The successful recipients operate across the Peel, South West, Wheatbelt, Great Southern, Pilbara, Kimberley and Perth metropolitan areas, helping strengthen preparedness across regional and metropolitan Western Australia.
Grants of between $1500 and $10,000 are available to licensed wildlife rehabilitators to support on-the-ground preparedness and biosecurity activities. Applications under this funding stream will continue to be assessed as they are received, with funding available until all allocations are exhausted or the application deadline of 10 December, 2026.
A second funding stream is also open, with grants of up to $200,000 available to eligible organisations with demonstrated experience in wildlife management. These grants will support strategic, longer-term projects that strengthen the resilience of vulnerable native wildlife populations and reduce other pressures on threatened species. Applications close at noon on 29 September 2026.
This Bird Flu Wildlife Resilience Grants package forms part of the Cook Government's coordinated response to H5 bird flu, which includes
- regular engagement with the poultry industry, local governments, veterinarians and wildlife rehabilitators, including webinars and community forums;
- enhanced surveillance and testing across the State, supported by trained field teams, expanded laboratory capacity and increased supplies of sampling equipment and personal protective equipment;
- additional training for response personnel in safe sampling techniques, biosecurity procedures and the correct use of personal protective equipment;
- Divisional Commands established in Perth, Esperance, Albany, Bunbury and Geraldton to co-ordinate regional operations, with additional capability in northern Western Australia ready to be activated if required;
- increased surveillance capacity across the metropolitan area, South West, Great Southern, Wheatbelt and Mid West, including joint Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions monitoring at priority coastal and island locations;
- vessels and field teams deployed to locations including Lancelin and Edwards Island to monitor wildlife populations and identify signs of illness or unusual mortality;
- a central bird flu website and weekly public updates providing clear information and helping Western Australians contribute to early detection;
- a stakeholder communications toolkit providing consistent, practical information for industry, community organisations and other partners to share through their networks;
- regular engagement with the Consultative Committee on Emergency Animal Diseases and the National Management Group;
- the establishment of a new bird flu advisory group to strengthen collaboration with the wildlife sector; and
- a bird flu vaccination trial for threatened black cockatoo species at Perth Zoo.
Further information, including instructions on how to apply and a list of eligible activities, is made available at www.wa.gov.au/birdflu
As stated by Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis:
"Our Government is acting early to prepare Western Australia's wildlife and poultry sectors for the threat of bird flu.
"These grants will help wildlife rehabilitators strengthen their biosecurity, improve their preparedness and continue the important work they do caring for native wildlife.
"Our focus is on reducing the impacts wherever possible while continuing to protect farmers and minimise the risk to backyard and commercial poultry."
As stated by the Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn:
"Wildlife rehabilitators and conservation organisations have already made an important contribution to surveillance and early detection of H5 bird flu in Western Australia.
"This funding will provide practical support to these organisations, which will continue to play a vital role going forward.
"They are so often our eyes and ears on the ground and their expertise will be essential as this situation continues to evolve."
