Brief History.

The Group resulted from a meeting of wildlife carers in May 1989 who used the list of permit holders supplied by the then National Parks and Wildlife,(all native fauna is held under permission of the Crown) to contact and to invite them to a public meeting to form an independent community group of members with a common interest in wildlife care.
At subsequent meetings we decided on aims, intentions and structure. All interested personnel, including the Parks and Wildlife representatives were involved in this creative process. Implementation of our dreams began. Formulating a Constitution, planning our Aims, Fundraising, subsequent Incorporation, a membership drive, development of long term aims and goals and the beginning of our continual process of public education through Seminars and Workshops and all of this at the same time as we were caring for, rearing and releasing our continual stream of animals!

Established Goals of our Organisation.

We have six recognised goals of our Organisation and these are:
a. To care for sick, injured and orphaned native fauna for rehabilitation and release
b. To provide mutual assistance, support and information about the care of sick, injured and
orphaned native fauna.
c. To encourage education concerning native fauna in the community
d. To provide access to release sites approved by the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
e. To provide access to veterinary resources at minimal cost.
f. To provide a Trust Fund.

We are now an established based, not for profit organisation with a membership of approximately 120 made up of individual carers, veterinary clinics and respected scientific leaders. The Group has a 24hour phone contact number for assistance and guidance for members of the community; this invaluable community service is provided by trained volunteers and figures from the annual report on calls handled in 2006 indicate an average of 420 calls were handled each month. Other yearly figures on the numbers of animals handled by Group members vary on climatic conditions. Each year we average about 140-200 Macropods ( Kangaroos and Wallabies) 40 - 60 Megabats ( Little red Flying Fox, Black headed Flying Fox), 20-30 Microbats, 6-10 Echidnas, 150-220 Possums, 15-20 other Marsupials ( Bandicoots and Melomys Spp.) 5-20 Tortoises and a range of small to large birds averaging about 450 –1000 per year. The cost in time, effort and financial commitment is borne by the individual volunteer, with some group financial assistance to those carers who bear a huge financial load when staging pre-release large social marsupial and mammal groups.

Current members of the North Queensland Wildlife Care Inc recognise that the burden of caring for injured and orphaned native wildlife in the local area has increased dramatically since the Groups inception in 1989. We recognise that the Department of Environment, section National Parks and Wildlife now relies heavily on the community to support the rehabilitation of sick orphaned and injured wildlife. We also recognise the importance of providing education to our members and education throughout the community to a variety of ages and experience.

In June 2006 the Group purchased a community hall no longer in use. This hall will become the administrative centre for our Group, also the wildlife education centre for the community and we are planning to make it an animal assessment Centre for Townsville and Thuringowa. The internal modifications required to bring this building to a workable standard are being assisted financially by support form Townsville City Council and the physical skills are being supported by a “ Life Be In It “ 26 week community work programme

We have an active fundraising Committee in place to augment our finances and help pay for the numerous expenses incurred such as food costs, medical and pathology costs, rent of the post box, public liability insurance, future plans, mobile phone etc.

Each year, we hold four Basic Trainings open to the public and to our own members; these are all day seminars and topics covered include O.H.& S.issues, Legal requirements, Rehabilitation skills, animal identification etc. In addition we hold various public workshops on a selection of topics sometimes importing speakers from around Australia or drawing on the Lecturers and Post-Graduates from James Cook University. New members must attend a Basic Training prior to caring for an animal. Training records indicate this Group has provided basic training to over 950 individuals since we began.. These trainings are well attended and expanding as the need for further community education occurs.

We have volunteers who promote the work of the Group by being visible at functions, talking to schools and groups about caring for wildlife. We have set up the North Queensland Wildlife Care Public Trust Fund, hoping to attract industry and corporate sponsorship to assist us; BHP Billiton / Queensland Nickel Industries have been a major industry supporter for three years and are continuing this support in 2007. This Trust fund has four prominent figures from our local community as Trustees and is approved by the Justice Department to allow donations of $2.00 and over as Tax-deductible donations. We currently have our own small office where the rent is partially subsidised by one of the Trustees; this office houses all our records, a Library, Resource materials and a computer. All of this equipment will transfer to our new building when the office is secure.

We assist both local Councils, all veterinary clinics, the Department of Parks and Wildlife Rangers; we are recorded as volunteers willing to assist in local and regional wildlife emergencies such as bushfires, oil spills, and natural disasters. We have links with other wildlife care groups and liase with the Queensland Wildlife Rehabilitation Council ( the State body representing wildlife carers in Queensland).

We receive fantastic support from the local Veterinarians and the Research staff from James Cook University. We allocate funds annually for post-mortems of mystery deaths or possible zoonoses that might occur. As our members will often be the first to alert health authorities to mass mortalities in the wildlife populations we provide a monthly newsletter to all members including latest zoonotic information, up-coming events, future trainings etc. Members of N.Q.W.Care Inc have initiated contact with the new Veterinary School at James Cook University where a syllabus requirement of Year 5 veterinary students will be placement with a wildlife facility in North Queensland. We also have plans in hand to include a teaching module for Year 4 veterinary students concerning wildlife care. We are now in the process of establishing an interactive website for community use.

Our organisation has a long term plan to benefit the native fauna of urban and rural Australia, which for a variety of reasons negatively impact with human society and we are committed to provide public education to encourage responsible interaction with our native fauna. We are dedicated to supporting responsible wildlife rehabilitation care and education.