The Foundation is proud to sponsor the two Rescue Vans used by Friends of the Koala to transport injured koalas and collect their eucalypt sustenance.

​

In 2006 the Foundation donated the first Rescue Van (a Toyota HiAce) for the organisation and it is still in service.

 

However it became obvious that there is an urgent a need for a 4-wheel drive vehicle to access rugged bushland habitat, so in 2017 a second Rescue Van was purchased - an all-terrain VW Transporter Van.

​

The Foundation provides ongoing funding for the annual operating costs of the two vans.

​

Friends of the Koala is committed to conserving koalas and preserving and enhancing their habitat, particularly in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales.  Key activities include:

​

• Rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing koalas

• Protecting and enhancing their habitat

• Educating the community about koalas and issues that affect them

• Advocating on their behalf

• Assisting relevant research

• Propagation and distribution of koala food trees for planting by landowners - a major and innovative activity

• 24/7 hotline

​

Established 30 years ago, now with a volunteer base of about 130 people, by 2017 they have distributed around 152,068 koala food trees across the Northern Rivers since this work started in 1990, brought into care over 5,000 koalas (releasing over 1,230 back into the wild), educated people about caring for and living with koalas, written submissions on matters related to koala well-being, participated in numerous research projects, and worked with a wide range of diverse partners to ensure the koala’s survival in the region.

​

Friends of the Koala operate out of a specially built Koala Care and Research Centre in Lismore, NSW.  It contains the new Burribi Education  & Administration Centre and the current Care Centre which is being upgraded to a Triage, Treatment & Pathology Clinic due for completion by 30 June 2018.

​

​