In 2022 Wildlife Victoria identified a need to relieve pressure on local wildlife rescuers in regional areas. Rescuers in regional communities cover long distances, often over remote and difficult terrain. This isolation can be exacerbated by patchy phone coverage and limited veterinary services.
We saw a need to create, support and grow local rescue networks, increase practical support for new recruits, and provide succession planning for established responders who were looking to reduce their workload or retire.
In the past, most volunteer rescue training sessions were run in Melbourne, with regional volunteers needing to travel or participate online.
Wildlife Victoria’s new program provides basic rescue and transport training to new volunteers locally across regional Victoria, reducing the need for volunteers to travel making the training more accessible and engaging.
The Regional Training program created a regional-based model, utilising local volunteers' expert knowledge in local flora, fauna and terrain. Existing rescuers from regional areas were trained to help deliver basic rescue training to new volunteers in their area.
Experienced rescuers are at the core of the Regional Training Program: people with local knowledge training local people to acquire the knowledge needed for wildlife rescue.
Upskilling these local volunteers into trainers helped create regional communities of volunteers who can work together and support each other.
Six local trainers delivered ten basic rescue and transport training events across eight regional locations: Benalla, Traralgon, Lorne, Mildura, Orbost, Shepparton, Leongatha, and Warrnambool.
137 new volunteers from regional areas completed the Basic Rescue and Transport training. We received overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants who are now ready to start responding to cases of wildlife in need.
Plans are underway to expand the regional training program in 2024.
Thank you to everyone who participated, and especially our volunteer trainers.