Local students and communities joined the 2025 Koala Safe Spaces art and writing competition to celebrate and protect koalas in Mid Coast NSW.
The Mid Coast region is home to some of the highest recorded densities of koalas in New South Wales, supported by large areas of remnant native vegetation that provide crucial habitat. To help protect these vital populations, the NSW Koala Strategy has partnered with MidCoast Council to deliver a range of on-ground actions through the Koala Safe Spaces program. The program focuses on protecting and restoring habitat, reducing threats, supporting landholders and empowering the community to live alongside koalas.
To celebrate local creativity and raise awareness of koala conservation, the Koala Safe Spaces program hosted a Koala Art and Writing Competition throughout 2025, with submissions closing in September. Open to all ages, from primary and secondary students to adults, the competition invited participants to explore the theme 'koalas and safe spaces' through creative expression.
Submissions ranged from vibrant paintings and sculptures to poems and short stories aiming to spark ideas, stir emotions, and make people think differently about how we can protect koalas and their habitats.
MidCoast Council received an overwhelming number of submissions from St Nicholas OOSH Forster, Hallidays Point Public School, Manning Adventist Bush School, Upper Lansdowne Public School and Wingham High School, highlighting strong interest from across the northern Mid Coast region.
The competition provided valuable opportunities for schools to explore environmental issues and build appreciation for koalas as a keystone species in the Mid Coast region and beyond. Inspired by these conversations, students created artworks that depicted the pressures koalas face locally, aiming to raise awareness and encourage others to take action to protect koalas and their habitat.
Prizes for the competition were awarded across age groups, but more importantly, the competition provided a platform for people of all ages to reflect on what it means to share the landscape with one of Australia's most loved native animals.
