Calling all wildlife warriors in NSW – WIRES needs volunteers urgently. And there’s no reason it can’t be you!

 

If you’ve ever come across a sick, injured or orphaned wild animal and didn’t know what to do, sign up today to complete an online course to become a Rescue 101 volunteer with Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service (WIRES).

This Rescue 101 program gives you basic rescue skills to take part in simple rescues requiring rapid transportation of animals such as birds, possums, lizards, turtles and frogs to the vet. Think animal ambulance but without the flashing lights (and stick to the speed limit please!).

You’ll then be able to assist with rescuing and transporting animals to the nearest vet for assessment and treatment, alleviating unnecessary suffering and giving the animal the best chance of survival. And we all want that!

About the Rescue 101 Program

How long is the course?

The course is valid for one year and only takes around four hours to complete, but at your own pace – you have three months from enrolment to finish it.

How much does the course cost?

$25 initially (if you’re keen to continue after your first year, a refresher is required).

What will I learn?

  • Work, Health & Safety
  • Wildlife rescue and transport fundamentals
  • Bird rescue and transport
  • Reptile and amphibian rescue and transport
  • Mammal rescue and transport

How do I sign up?  

  • You must be 18 years or over to register for WIRES training
  • Participants must live in an area in NSW where WIRES is licenced to rescue and care for wildlife
  • Rescue 101 participants must have their own transport in order to attend rescues

Enrol Now!

 

Young Boobook 0wl found on the ground

What is WIRES?

Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service (WIRES) began in 1985 in response to a need for a native wildlife rescue service. The official service was launched in 1986 and is Australia’s largest wildlife rescue organisation. It operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and provides help to over 130,000 animals annually across Greater Sydney, South East Queensland, and Tasmania.

WIRES’s mission is to actively rehabilitate and preserve Australian wildlife and inspire others to do the same. It works nationally with strategic partners to support wildlife habitat recovery and preserve native animals in the wild.

WIRES trains hundreds of new volunteers every year and the Rescue 101 program is just the beginning. You can go on to take advanced rescue and rehabilitation courses so you can start rescuing other types of specialised animals such as macropods, wombats, flying foxes and microbats, reptiles, birds, birds of prey (raptors), possums and gliders, and other small mammals.

 

Feature photo thanks to WIRES Facebook page