• A total of $150,000 is available under a new State Government grants program, in partnership with the Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife
• Grants available for licensed groups and individuals, with applications open until Friday, May 29, 2020

Licensed wildlife rehabilitators are set to benefit from a new grants program announced today by the McGowan Government.

The one-year Wildlife Heroes Rehabilitation and Emergency Grants 2020 will support licensed rehabilitators to care for sick and injured native wildlife, with the aim of releasing them back into the wild.

A total of $150,000 is available, made up of $100,000 from State Government funds and $50,000 from the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife's Wildlife Heroes project. Individuals will be able to apply for up to $500, while groups of 2-20 people can access up to $2,500 and groups of more than 20 people can seek a maximum of $10,000.

Successful applicants will be able to use funds for relevant items, such as to purchase specialist equipment, animal food, first aid supplies, veterinary support, reference materials and the development and implementation of training courses.

To be eligible to apply, wildlife rehabilitators or groups must hold or have applied for a fauna possessing (other purposes) licence under the Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2018 to undertake wildlife rehabilitation activities. Individuals who are part of a group do not need to hold their own licence if the group is licensed.

The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions has waived the fee for this licence until June 30, 2021.

For more details and to apply for the grant, visit: http://pws.dbca.wa.gov.au/faunalicences.

Applications close Friday, May 29, 2020.

Comments attributed to Environment Minister Stephen Dawson:

"The McGowan Government values the vital work of wildlife rehabilitators, with many going above and beyond to provide a high standard of care to some of Western Australia's most vulnerable wildlife.

"By investing in this program, we are supporting not just wildlife rehabilitators, but also some of the State's most vulnerable wildlife. This has been particularly tough in recent times with wildlife rehabilitation groups unable to raise funds through their usual avenues.

"The one-year grants will support successful applicants to have the resources and knowledge they need to provide native animals with high quality care so they can be successfully released back to the wild."