Queensland Koala Rehabilitators Hub
This Hub is for koala rehabilitation organisations and authorised independent koala rehabilitators , as well as other relevant parties such as wildlife veterinarians and state and local government officers.
It provides information and resources for rehabilitators to use and refer to in their practice, including for rescue, care, and release of rehabilitated koalas.
South East Queensland (SEQ) has the highest concentration of koalas in the state. The coordination of conservation efforts across multiple levels of government, community, non-government organisations and industry is critical to achieving long-term recovery and persistence of koalas in SEQ.
The Hub aims to improve the exchange of knowledge between rehabilitators—advancing the quality of koala rehabilitation and supporting threat management for koalas in SEQ.
Rehabilitation of sick, injured, or orphaned koalas
All koalas in Queensland are protected animals and are classified as ‘endangered’ under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 (NC Act) and the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
The Department of Environment, Science and Innovation is the agency responsible for administering the NC Act, including the assessment, licensing, and enforcement of koala rehabilitation activities undertaken by individuals and organisations.
The Code of practice for rehabilitation of sick, injured, or orphaned koalas in Queensland applies to all individuals, organisations and members of organisations operating under a rehabilitation permit that authorises koala rehabilitation, including rescue, care, and/or release. It provides information on the fundamental principles to ensure rehabilitation (including rescue, care, release) practices lead to the best possible conservation outcomes for koalas. It also provides guidance to ensure appropriate welfare outcomes for sick, injured, or orphaned koalas are achieved; risks to human health and safety are minimised; and that a collaborative approach with First Nations people is applied where possible.
Under section 17 of the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001, persons in charge of an animal during its rescue, treatment, care, or release (including wildlife rehabilitators and veterinarians) have a statutory duty of care to appropriately provide for the animal’s welfare, including treatment for injury and disease.
The Guideline: Determining whether a koala requires euthanasia provides information to assist veterinarians and rehabilitators in understanding when euthanasia may be appropriate.
The Communications guideline: SEQ Koala Rehabilitation Network has been developed to support koala rehabilitators, veterinarians and wildlife hospitals, and local and state government understand the knowledge communication process for the entire process of koala rehabilitation in SEQ, from a koala’s initial rescue, through to its eventual release.
Find more information on koala legislation and policy.
Release of rehabilitated koalas
The following documents and resources are designed to help koala rehabilitation organisations and authorised independent koala rehabilitators determine when, where and how to release a rehabilitated koala:
The release site assessment page provides information to help koala rehabilitators identify an appropriate release site, including further information relevant to SEQ in the Guideline: Selection of release sites for rehabilitated koalas in SEQ. .
The release site assessment tool helps rehabilitators assess potential koala release sites, including by using CSIRO’s release site assessment map for further information relevant to SEQ.
SEQ Wildlife Hospital Network
The Queensland Government provides funding support to the SEQ (South East Queensland) Wildlife Hospital Network that gives vital treatment and assessment to sick, injured, or orphaned koalas. The SEQ Wildlife Hospital Network consists of a number of wildlife facilities including:
- Moggill Koala Rehabilitation Centre
- RSPCA Wildlife Hospital
- Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital
- Currumbin Wildlife Hospital.
SEQ contacts directory
View the SEQ contacts directory to find contact information for the SEQ Wildlife Hospital Network, koala rehabilitation organisations, and local and state government offices relevant to koala rehabilitation in SEQ.