The Allan Labor Government is backing hardworking wildlife rescue volunteers who dedicate their time and expertise to care for sick, injured and orphaned wildlife throughout Victoria.
Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulous today announced the recipients of the latest round of the Wildlife Rehabilitator Grants program - which supports wildlife shelter operators and foster carers with up to $3,000.
More than $310,000 has been invested in 150 wildlife shelter operators and foster carers across the state to fund wildlife enclosures, medication, feed, rescue equipment, veterinary fees, education and training.
Some of the recipients include Our Haven Wildlife Shelter, which received funding to be an enclosure for wombat rehabilitation, and Melaleuca Wildlife Shelter, which will be able to be buy transportation equipment and a portable incubator for microbats.
Amaroo Wildlife Shelter will receive funding to build an aviary for possums and birds, while Marlo Wildlife Shelter can now expand an enclosure for kangaroo joeys and purchase feed and medication.
These grants recognise the important role of wildlife rehabilitators, through dedicating their own time and money to rehabilitate injured or displaced wildlife and release them back into the wild.
This follows bushfires from the first half of 2025 which had substantial impacts on Koalas and other native wildlife, in Budj Bim National Park a direct investment of $1 million is helping to revegetate land in and around the 2,200 hectare park.
Funding will deliver revegetation of koala habitat, planting of Manna Gum saplings and invasive weed management to support natural regrowth.
Across Victoria, the Government's BushBank program is restoring at least 20,000 hectares of habitat with thousands of trees to be planted in koalas habitat in the Hume, Loddon Mallee and Grampians regions - providing new habitat for koalas years to come.
The Labor Government has provided $2.1 million in the Victorian Budget 2025/26 to support the protection of wildlife including the Wildlife Victoria Hotline and provide support for shelters and carers to rehabilitate wildlife.
This funding delivers on the Government's long-term plan to protect the environment - Biodiversity 2037. Since 2014, the Victorian Government has invested a record $800 million into biodiversity and the environment.
As stated by Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulos
"Victoria's wildlife shelters and foster carers do incredible work to help rehabilitate injured and orphaned native animals so that they can be released back into the wild."
"These grants are about supporting those volunteers who selflessly dedicate their time and expertise to care for sick, injured and orphaned wildlife, especially following bushfires and other natural disasters."
