FAWNA, NSW (which stands for: For Australian Wildlife Needing Aid) is starting its volunteer training round for 2016 with an induction wildlife rescue and immediate care course on January 23 in Port Macquarie and Great Lakes residents are urged to attend.

FAWNA is the only group licensed for all species in its 18,000 sq km area which ranges south from Bulahdelah to the northern part of the Kempsey Shire and west to Stroud and Gloucester. 

The course for new inductees is on January 23 in Port Macquarie is followed in February with one day training on the care of Macropods – the kangaroos and wallabies.  The March training is on possums and gliders.  

Training course details and information on membership of the group are available on the group’s website www.fawna.org.au and course bookings are essential.

The group works closely with Koala Preservation Society and Koalas in Care and points out that WIRES is not licensed to work on this part of the mid north coast – the closest WIRES branches being on the Central Coast, and the mid north coast branch based from Coffs Harbour operates only down to Nambucca.

In the last financial year FAWNA’S volunteers handled over 3000 animals, birds and reptiles that were called in by caring members of the public to the 24 hour 7 day a week person-answered wildlife rescue hotline 6581 4141.   Some were delivered to the region’s caring veterinary clinics and passed to FAWNA for ongoing care before release. 

FAWNA’s President, Meredith Ryan, applauded the wonderful work done by the region’s vets to help wildlife and she acknowledged the group couldn’t possibly have the successes it does without them.  

With reduced funding again this year from NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Mrs Ryan said: “our group relies on its own fundraising efforts and public donations to help us with our work helping injured, orphaned and disadvantaged wildlife”.  She added “We were particularly touched by the donation of $66 received this week as a result of two local children running a lemonade and cake stall to raise money to help wildlife”.

FAWNA needs more volunteers trained and ready to help wildlife that comes into rehabilitation care until it can be ready for release back to the wild.  

Mrs Ryan adds: “If you have thought about helping wildlife but are not sure what is involved, these are the courses to come and learn what you need to know and how you can effectively help the group, and wildlife”.

Courses coming up:

- Rescue and Immediate Care induction Course, Saturday January 23  at Port Macquarie.

- Macropod Course, Saturday February 13 at Port Macquarie.

- Possums and Gliders, Saturday  March 12.

- Go to www.fawna.org.au for more details.