Funded Projects
The Ballarat Koala Research Project
In 2022, BWRACs President, Jessica Robertson secured a state government grant to support the immediate care needs for injured and sick koalas in the Ballarat area. This grant would not have been possible without the support of Andy Meddick MP, Animal Justice Party – Thank you Andy! In September 2022 BWRAC received the grant from the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA).
The grant was sought after a tragic year of Koala fatalities in Ballarat. Having no access to after hours veterinary care, the grant provides much needed funds to pay for medical expenses and rehabilitation of sick and injured koalas. We were able to purchase three koala enclosures as part of the grant funding. This grant also provided seed money for a future research project on Koalas in the region.
The research tracks post rescue-release koalas in the BWRAC catchment area (which is Ballarat and surrounds, and includes Creswick and Buninyong) to determine their rehabilitation and recovery success as well as to understand their use of landscape.
This project is a collaboration between BWRAC wildlife carers, Jen Greenhalgh and Jess Robertson and veterinary professionals Adrienne Lavinia and Nikki Shannahan, and Federation University personnel.
BWRAC would also like to thank the following supporters who have all contributed to the success of the project:
- Planet Arch 2022 National Tree Day Grant
- Catherine Kane (fundraising)
- Mitre Ten
- Bunnings
- Dela Landscaping Supplies
- Buninyong Garden & Rural Supplies
- Fire Logic Services
