What we do.
Made for Wildlife is built around a pretty simple idea: when people want to help, there should be an easy way to turn that support into something that makes a real difference for our local wildlife carers.
Local wildlife carers do an incredible amount with their own time, money and resources, but some things are simply bigger than one person can take on. Those are the kinds of projects we help with.
We bring people together to make them happen. Our makers create wildlife-themed products for us to sell at markets and events, while others support us by shopping, donating, contributing materials or pitching in when there’s practical work to be done.
We are a volunteer-run, not-for-profit. 100% of profits go directly towards local projects that carers have told us they need.
That might be a new enclosure, fencing, shelter or an important piece of equipment like a humidicrib. We focus on the bigger projects that can be difficult for individual carers to fund or organise themselves, while keeping each project clear and transparent so people can see what we’re working towards, how much we need to raise and what their support has helped achieve.
No single person has to do everything. Someone might make a pair of earrings. Someone else might buy them. Another person might donate timber, chip in $20 or spend a Saturday helping build.
Bring enough of those small things together, and suddenly something much bigger becomes possible.
Why we do it.
Wildlife carers already give their time, their homes, their money and countless hours caring for animals that need them. Yet some of the biggest practical costs of wildlife care, like enclosures, fencing and other infrastructure, can still fall back on the individual carer.
Many wildlife organisations cover huge geographical areas, with limited funding that has to stretch across a lot of carers and communities. Deciding where that funding should go is understandably difficult.
Additionally, the organisations often need the infrastructure they fund to be portable and recoverable if a carer’s circumstances change. It makes sense, but it is often far more expensive, difficult and less suitable than building something permanent.
Made for Wildlife was created to do something much more local; to build capacity, raise support and keep it here, for the carers and wildlife in our region.
If carers have the space, experience and genuine need, we simply want to take some of those bigger practical costs off their plate and make sure they have the facilities they need to keep doing what they already do and have the capacity to help the next animal that needs them.
Where we help.
Our focus is the Southern Tablelands and surrounding areas of NSW.
We’re based locally, we know many of the carers in the region, and we want the support raised here to stay connected to practical needs close to home. We offer support to carers from all wildlife groups; in fact, we come from different groups ourselves. This is about working together and building capacity across the whole region to support local carers, no matter which organisation they are licensed with.
As Made for Wildlife grows, so might the number of carers and projects we can support, but our starting point will always be local, practical and community-led.
Who we are.
We’re Sarah and Alyssa, local wildlife carers trying to do our bit. We live in town, have young families, work full-time and fit wildlife care in around everyday life, so we can only take on a small number of animals ourselves at any one time. Made for Wildlife came from wanting to find another way we could still make a meaningful difference beyond the animals in our own care and bring the community along with us on this journey to support our incredible local wildlife carers.Â
And while we might be the faces you see most often, Made for Wildlife is only possible because of the people supporting us; an amazing behind-the-scenes team and a growing community of makers who give their time, skills and creativity to help bring it all together.
Sarah
Hi! I’m Sarah, and I’m a self confessed crazy wombat lady. I’ve spent years caring for native wildlife and working alongside other carers in the region. I’ve seen first hand how much time, experience and heart is already out there, we just need more resources. I started MFW when I wanted to find another way to contribute alongside the wildlife I care for at home. My day job is in construction, so I’m used to working through the logistics and details that sit behind getting a project off the ground.​
Alyssa
Alyssa might be newer to wildlife caring, but animals have always been a huge part of her life and she’s spent years working in the animal care industry. She’s also the funny, creative brain behind a lot of MFW ideas, especially the merch, and brings plenty of practical experience from running her own local business. Everything she does for us comes from her real passion for helping wildlife and supporting the carers who give so much to look after them.​