- $2 million fast-tracked for new Bird Flu Wildlife Resilience Grants
- Up to $10,000 available for immediate wildlife rehabilitation and biosecurity activities
- Larger grants of up to $200,000 for longer-term wildlife management initiatives
- Cook Labor Government strengthening protection for Western Australia's wildlife andbiodiversity
Western Australian wildlife rehabilitators and community organisations will receive additional support to prepare for the impacts of H5 bird flu through a new $2 million Bird Flu Wildlife Resilience Grants package.
The grants will support practical, community-led projects that reduce biosecurity risks, strengthen wildlife rehabilitation capacity and help protect vulnerable native species.
This week, Australia recorded its first mass mortality event, with testing by CSIRO's Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) confirming the virus in a large group of wild birds found on an island off South Australia's south-east coast.
While there is currently no evidence of local transmission in WA, there is potential for future spread among wild birds, and the CookLaborGovernment is continuing to prepare for new detections and possible impacts on wildlife.
As part of the Bird Flu Wildlife Resilience Grants package, grants between $1,500 and $10,000 will be available to licensed wildlife rehabilitators to support on-the-ground activities.
Funding in this stream will be provided to support a range of purposes, including enhancing biosecurity measures, undertaking relevant training, and purchasing essential consumables, including PPE.
Larger grants of up to $200,000 will be available to eligible organisations with demonstrated experience in wildlife management.
This funding will support strategic, longer-term initiatives that improve the resilience of native wildlife populations and reduce other pressures on vulnerable species, including the impacts of feral animals.
The grants package forms part of the Cook Labor Government's coordinated response to H5 bird flu, which also 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 coordinate regional operations, with additional capability in northern WA ready to be activated if required.
- Increased surveillance capacity across the metropolitan area, South West, Great Southern, Wheatbelt and Mid West, including joint DPIRD and DBCA 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.
Further information on the package, including instructions on how to apply and a list of eligible activities, will be made available at wa.gov.au/birdflu
As stated by Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis:
"While there is still no evidence of local transmission in WA, we are acting early to prepare Western Australia's wildlife and poultry sectors for further detections and the potential spread of H5 bird flu among wild birds.
"This funding will provide practical support to the wildlife rehabilitators and community organisations that will play an important role in the response.
"Our focus is on reducing the impacts wherever possible, particularly for threatened native species, while continuing to protect farmers and minimise the risk to backyard and commercial poultry."
As stated by the Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn:
"We know wildlife rehabilitators are preparing for what could be a significant increase in sick and injured birds, and this funding will help them put the right biosecurity measures, equipment and training in place.
"By supporting both urgent short-term initiatives and major long-term projects, these grants will help take meaningful action to care for our wildlife and biodiversity with the likely spread of H5 bird flu.
"This program will strengthen the local capacity needed to ensure WA's wildlife rehabilitators and carers are supported to do their important work."
