About FAWNA

FAWNA is a government approved wildlife rescue and rehabilitation organisation for sick, injured and orphaned native fauna.

FAWNA is entirely run by volunteers and administered by a committee elected annually at the Annual General Meeting by the members.

Aims

The Aims of FAWNA are:

• to provide emergency care, shelter and rehabilitation for wildlife in need and to release them into a suitable natural environment.
• to encourage appreciation and respect in the minds of others for our native animals by providing educational programmes for FAWNA members and the public, with particular emphasis on schools.
• to provide support for other wildlife carers.
• to form associations with groups who have similar aims.
• to educate and increase awareness in FAWNA members and the public of the environmental issues that affect our indigenous fauna.
• to provide a pool of equipment for the use of members.
• to raise funds necessary to implement our aims.

Location

FAWNA is based in Busselton with the majority of members located in the South West of Western Australia.

We meet quarterly at the

Busselton/Dunsborough Environment Centre,
23 Prince Street (Mitchell Park), Busselton
Phone/Fax: 9754 2049

Postal Address:

The Secretary FAWNA Inc.
P.O. Box 551 Busselton WA 6280

History

Established January 1984, FAWNA held its first official meeting on
29 February 1984 at 8pm in the Busselton Senior High School Library.

The first president elected was Tess Hunt, vice president Bernie Hadfield.
Amy Cocker was secretary/treasurer and Rita Watts publicity officer.

Carers

FAWNA members take care of the wildlife in their own homes. Some members like to specialise in certain species because of their particular interests or due to the fact that not everyone is able to house all kinds of wildlife adequately.

Threatened species come under CALM jurisdiction and may require experienced carers.

No salaries for carers are paid and they usually even pay for equipment and food for their charges themselves.

Carers running a so-called Depot take in casualties and will provide guidance on care. They will transfer fauna to other carers.

Supporters

FAWNA is funded through membership subscriptions, public donations and fundraising activities.

We rely on the support of the local vets, their invaluable expertise, help and generous donation of time, effort and material.

We highly appreciate the support of:

• Illuka Resources who sponsors the printing of all our brochures
  
  
  
• Westnet who partly sponsors the hosting of this webpage.
  
  
  
• The Busselton-Dunsborough Mail who spreads the word via our monthly column “Wildlife Watch”.
  
  
  
• Department of Justice, Busselton, for the material and manifacture of three indoor cages.
  
  
  
• Busselton Jets who helped with equipment and money raised through their annual Fun Run for several years now.
  
  
  
• Geo Vets and
• South West Pets who jointly donated a full size aviary.

Last but definitely not least we rely on YOUR help. We are always grateful for donations and any amount will help us in our endeavours.

If you would like to donate, please sent a cheque or money order payable to

FAWNA Inc., PO Box 551, Busselton WA 6280
Donations of $2 and over are tax deductible.

We are also always in need of equipment such as:

• Cages - all sizes
• Pet carriers
• Heat pads
• Old blankets, including electric
• Towels
• Sheets
• Pillow cases
• Wool beanies
• Old track suits

If you find a sick, injured or orphaned native animal, are you allowed to care for it?

The finder will often be advised to hand the animal to a carer if it is believed that the animal needs experienced care.

Otherwise FAWNA can assist a member of the public to look after an animal. The Group has information brochures available on the care of many species and can sometimes lend emergency equipment and supply feeding bottles, special teats and correct foods at a nominal cost.

See the ‘Wildlife’ Section of this webpage for Native Animal First Aid.

Meetings and Events

FAWNA conducts quarterly general meetings for all members at the Busselton/Dunsborough Environment Centre in Mitchell Park, Busselton.
The times (March AGM and General Meetings in June, September, late November or early December) are advertised in our newsletter.

Basic Wildlife Carers Course

This comprehensive course presented by the Department of Conservation and Land Management, which is held four times a year, is a must for anyone interested in helping our increasingly beleaguered wildlife. It is designed for those who would like to volunteer their time at a rehabilitation centre, an association such as FAWNA and for those volunteers who in the future wish to apply and become a CALM Registered Wildlife Carer for which this course is a pre-requisite.

This interesting course is presented in an accessible form and features the State’s most experienced Wildlife Carers who will share their expertise in their specialised fields – marsupials, reptiles, birds and raptors.
The course is conducted over 2 days, Saturday and Sunday, 8am to 5pm and on completion of the course, participants will receive a comprehensive manual and a certificate.

In October 2004 CALM presented this usually Perth-based course for the first time in Busselton and with the assistance of FAWNA.

Busselton Show

FAWNA has been organizing and running the Animal Nursery at the Busselton Agricultural Show for over 20 years.
The nursery allows children to see the miniature horses, fluffy alpacas, cheeky goats and all the other baby animals associated with farms. But what about a tiny possum, baby kangaroo, echidna, bandicoot and you can't forget our feathered friends. So come and see FAWNA's Animal Nursery for yourself. It's on Saturday the 29th of October and you'll find us just inside the Carey Street entrance. See you there!

Members

Anyone over the age of 12 years who is interested in Australian native animals and has a responsible and caring attitude can become a FAWNA member.

Apart from caring for wildlife, FAWNA members can help in various ways such as

• Publicity
• Fund raising
• Obtaining and washing blankets
• Transporting wildlife and equipment
• Administrative assistance
• Attending to injured wildlife in the field
• Relocating of mammals and birds under threat or causing distress to the public to a suitable property
• Making of
  cages and possum boxes
  joey and possum pouches

Annual Membership Fee is $10 for the individual or the family.

If you would like to apply for membership or renew your current membership, please print out the relevant form and return it with your membership fee to: The Secretary FAWNA Inc. P.O. Box 551, Busselton WA 6280.
Membership can also be paid directly into our bank account:
Bank West, Busselton FAWNA Inc. BSB: 306005, Account: 4166717

See also Membership

Depots

A depot is an initial point of contact to FAWNA Inc. Depots will provide guidance and advice on the care of animals. They are also designated drop off points. Depots take in casualties, give first aid, obtain veterinary treatment and may care for the animals or transfer it to a FAWNA member.

More in the Depots section