Frequently Asked Questions.

Who, What, Where, How, Why?

To make a long story short, Made for Wildlife is a volunteer-run organisation supporting wildlife carers across the Southern Tablelands and surrounding regions. We raise funds through community-crafted and donated items to fund local projects. These projects include wildlife care infrastructure, equipment and projects that help carers rescue, rehabilitate and release native wildlife. We do it to keep support local, help our wildlife carers get what they need and give our community another way to be part of that.

• You can learn more about us on our About page.
• See what we’re currently working towards on our Projects page.
• If you’d like to be part of it, visit our Craft page.

What exactly does Made for Wildlife support?

We fund projects that directly support wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and release. That might include things like:

• Wildlife enclosures
• Aviaries or pre-release spaces
• Specialised equipment such as humidicribs
• Improvements to existing care facilities
• Infrastructure that allows carers to safely take on more animals or provide more appropriate care

Each project is clearly identified so our community can see what we are working towards and why it is needed.

Where does the money go?

Made for Wildlife is entirely volunteer-run. We work hard to keep our overheads small and our impact local. Most of what we raise goes towards practical projects, equipment and infrastructure for wildlife carers in our region, with only the necessary costs of fundraising along the way. You can see the projects we are currently working to fund on our Projects page.

The aim is simple: keep support close to home and turn as much of it as possible into something genuinely needed by local wildlife carers.

Why focus on infrastructure?

We know first hand that the right enclosures, fencing and equipment can make an enormous difference to rescue organisations, their carers and the animals they support.

Wildlife rescue organisations have to balance many important costs, including milk, feed, veterinary care, transport and general day-to-day support. We have found that when larger infrastructure is funded through an organisation, it often needs to be modular, transportable or recoverable so it can continue to be used if a carer changes organisations or stops caring. Designing around that flexibility can make projects more expensive and, in some cases, less suitable as a long-term solution.

Enclosures, aviaries, humidicribs and other specialist equipment can be expensive to establish, but they can support animal after animal for years. By helping with those bigger practical needs, Made for Wildlife can complement the work rescue organisations are already doing, make life a little easier for carers and help build stronger wildlife care capacity across our region.

How are projects chosen and what happens to the funds raised for them?

We look at each project based on the benefit it will provide to wildlife and carers, how well it fits our local focus, and what we realistically have the capacity to fund.

If you donate through a specific project on the website, your contribution goes towards that project. If circumstances change, a project can no longer go ahead, or more is raised than is needed, any remaining funds will stay local and be put towards another wildlife-care project. We’ll always be transparent about where that support goes.

Are you connected to one particular wildlife rescue organisation?

No, in fact we come from a number of different organisations. Made for Wildlife is here to strengthen wildlife care locally, regardless of which organisation a carer is part of. As long as carers are appropriately licensed and have a genuine need, our focus is simply on helping build the infrastructure, equipment and capacity our region needs. It means support can stay local and go where it can make a practical difference, rather than being limited to one organisation.

We are a fundraising organisation only. All wildlife carers are operating under the requirements of their relevant wildlife rehabilitation organisations and authorities.

Can I suggest a project or ask for support?

Absolutely. If you’re a wildlife carer with a project in mind, or you know a local carer who could use some practical support, we’d love to hear about it.

Have a look at our Project Request Form and tell us a little about the need, the carer and what the project could make possible.

Do you give cash payments to wildlife carers directly?

Made for Wildlife pays suppliers, builders and other project costs on their behalf. This keeps things simple and transparent while making sure the support goes straight into the project itself.

Once complete, the project belongs 100% to the carer it was created for. If they stop caring in the future, we simply ask that, where possible, funded equipment is passed on to another local carer so it can keep helping wildlife.

How can I help?

There are lots of ways to be part of Made for Wildlife. You can craft or donate items for us to fundraise with, support one of our current projects, volunteer your time, contribute materials or services, shop our fundraising range, or simply help us spread the word.

I’ve found an injured, orphaned or sick native animal. Can you help?

Made for Wildlife isn’t a wildlife rescue service, but there are some wonderful organisations working across our region who can help.

Wildlife Rescue South Coast
Map
0418 427 214 – Wollongong, Goulburn to Batemans Bay
0417 238 921 – Batemans Bay to the Victorian border

Native Animal Rescue Group (NARG)
Map
(02) 4846 1900 – Braidwood Region

Wildcare Queanbeyan
Map
(02) 6299 1966 – Queanbeyan to Young

WIRES Southern Tablelands
Map
1300 094 737 – Marulan to Yass

ACT Wildlife – Canberra & ACT only
0432 300 033
ACT Wildlife assists with native wildlife other than kangaroos.

Injured kangaroos in the ACT
Access Canberra – 13 22 81

If you’re not sure who covers your location, call the organisation closest to you and they can help point you in the right direction. A local veterinary clinic can also assist with injured native wildlife.

Please don’t attempt to handle potentially dangerous wildlife such as bats, snakes, large kangaroos, large wombats, raptors or goannas.