Overview

Saving our Koalas- a Recovery Partnership

Koalas are now an endangered species in NSW, and if we don’t take urgent action, they could be extinct by 2050. It really will ‘take a village’ to save them, and we need everyone to work together.

Great partnerships make the world of difference, and a difference to the world! At Koala Conservation Australia (KCA) we partner with all levels of government, private and public organisations with landholders, research and education institutions, First Nations people, and wildlife and conservation groups to help deliver our programs.

Key Activities

There are a number of key activities that Koala Conservation Australia (KCA) are undertaking to save our koalas, which include:

Ongoing operation of the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital,

The Wild Koala Breeding Program,

World-leading Education, Research, Training and Advocacy,

And now, we’d like to introduce our latest program:

The Hastings-Macleay Koala Recovery Partnership

With koalas on the brink of extinction, the NSW Government has set an ambitious goal to double koalas in New South Wales by 2050 under the NSW Koala Program. Part of this program includes  8 Regional Partnerships, which leverage local expertise to deliver coordinated on-ground actions to protect koalas and their habitat.  The Hastings-Macleay region has several critically important ‘Koala Strongholds’.

Learn More

Our Partnership

In recognition of our work and expertise, KCA has been appointed by the NSW Koala Program to host the regional partnership for the Hastings-Macleay region. We’ll be collaborating with Port Macquarie Hastings Council, Kempsey Shire Council, Hastings Landcare, Macleay Landcare, Local Land Services and Local Birpai and Dunghutti First Nations people to protect koalas.

How will the Recovery Partnership help restore koala populations?

Delivered under the NSW Koala Program, KCA will support local on-ground activities to protect koalas and their habitat, via the following:

  • The Hastings-Macleay Koala Habitat Restoration Program:

    More than 60% of our koalas are known to be on private properties, so it’s essential that we work with private landholders to protect and restore koala habitat. This Program will provide landholders with direct support to assist with this goal.

  • Reducing koala injury and attack:

    After habitat destruction and disease, the next biggest threat to our koalas is death or injury due to vehicle strikes and domestic dog attacks. We aim to reduce the number of koalas killed and injured by delivering community education and initiatives.

  • Working with our local Aboriginal community:

    Our approach to habitat restoration will be informed by both modern scientific research and traditional ecological and cultural knowledge of the Birpai and Dunghutti people. We also want to ensure any work undertaken is sensitive to cultural sites.

  • Research & mapping of koala habitats:

    We’ll work with our Council partners to assist with Koala Habitat mapping, via vegetation assessments and Koala Occupancy survey. Conserving Koalas for years to come | Your Say Macleay (nsw.gov.au)

  • Community engagement & education:

    We’ll deliver information and education sessions to our community, stakeholders and landholders, to empower them to make positive change to support koalas.

Introducing our local Koala Officer

In early 2023 we welcomed Louise Hoade to our team in the role of Koala Officer (funded by the NSW Koala Program). She’ll be coordinating the on-ground delivery of the Koala Recovery Program. Louise is based at Port Macquarie Koala Hospital, and she’ll be supporting koala conservation through working with communities and stakeholders on habitat restoration, prevention of vehicle strikes and domestic dog attacks, education, and research. One of Louise’s key activities will be working with local landholders to assist in the delivery of habitat restoration activities.