This Christmas, you can give a gift that truly matters – a safer future for koalas in the Northern Rivers and across Australia via timely and expert medical care for injured Northern Rivers koalas.
Friends of the Koala is launching our Christmas fundraising campaign to complete the Northern Rivers Koala Hospital expansion. We need your help to raise $250,000 to finish the final fit-out.
Your gift directly supports koala rescue, treatment, rehabilitation and the release of rehabilitated koalas into the wild where they belong.
We know this is a big, daunting amount, however, every donation, no matter how big or small, will help and add up to the final total! If you can, please
and be part of Australia’s koala conservation story!
Celebrating Phase One: Real Progress for Koala Care
Thanks to WWF’s Regenerate Australia program grant and generous supporters, Phase One of our Koala Hospital is now complete.
We now have expanded the clinical spaces and recovery areas and are very happy about the new part of the Northern Rivers Koala Hospital which, once completed will give us much improved treatment facilities.
Progress photos
Phase Two & Three: What Your Donation Helps Fund
But to fully open the hospital and save more koalas, phases 2 and 3 must now be completed to make the new hospital fully operational, including:
- Separate surgical space
- Designated state-of-the-art Research and Diagnostics Laboratory
- X-ray room
- Pharmacy and medical storage space
- Necropsy room
- Treatment room
- Recovery and rehabilitation areas
- Intensive Care Units (ICUs)
- Diagnostic & surgical equipment
- Recovery and rehabilitation areas
- Volunteer and vet support facilities
Fundraising goal: $250,000
This investment will ensure the hospital is fully equipped, expanding our capacity to provide timely, advanced care to more koalas.
and help complete the Northern Rivers Koala Hospital expansion!
Give a Meaningful Christmas Gift
Looking for Christmas gifts with purpose? Here are great ways to support koala conservation:
- Adopt a Koala $50/$100
- Adopt a Tree $15/tree
- Joey Buddies Membership $15/month
- Become a Friend of the Koala Hospital $500+
- Vaccinate a Koala from $10
- Gift membership – from $15
- Give in someone’s name – we can create a digital certificate for gifting!
Why Your Support Matters Now
As the challenges facing koalas continue to grow, so too must our ability to care for them. Each year, we rescue, treat, and rehabilitate more than 350 sick, injured, and orphaned koalas – more than any other koala hospital on the East Coast of Australia. However, it is clear that we must do even more to protect these vulnerable animals before time runs out.
Our expansion marks a major leap forward in koala care for the Northern Rivers region and beyond. With increasing demands for rescue, medical treatment, and rehabilitation, the new facilities will give us the capacity to support even more koalas in need, offering them world-class care and the best chance to heal and return to the wild where they belong.
Although our veterinary team already provides gold-standard treatment, our current facilities limit our ability to perform specialist procedures such as endoscopies, advanced orthopaedics, and dental surgeries. The upgraded hospital will be purpose-built specifically for koalas, giving our expert vets and dedicated volunteers the tools and space they need to carry out life-saving work more effectively.
Across the Northern Rivers, we respond to every call to help koalas in distress. But the rise in car strikes, dog attacks, the spread of disease – specifically Chlamydia, which is the leading cause of koala deaths in our region, and more frequent extreme weather events have made it clear: our current hospital must grow to meet the increasing demand.
The Research & Diagnostics Laboratory will also enable us to contribute to a greater number of research initiatives, supporting the long-term protection and management of koalas not only in the Northern Rivers but across Australia.
To give koalas the best possible chance of rehabilitation and long-term survival in an increasingly challenging environment, it is vital that we remain at the forefront of scientific research into koala health. This means advancing preventative healthcare strategies and contributing to critical developments such as vaccines for Chlamydia and koala retrovirus.
By completing our expansion, we can:
- Treat more koalas
- Improve recovery outcomes
- Support vital research
- Train vets and volunteers
- Return more koalas to the wild
- Ensure we are better prepared for emergencies including bushfires and floods
Your gift doesn’t just build a hospital – it saves lives.
Picture the Future…
Imagine a fully equipped koala hospital with modern surgical rooms, diagnostics, ICUs for our incredible team and our koalas.
That vision is within reach
All we need now is the final funding push
That’s not all
In addition to the hospital expansion, we are also upgrading our Community Education Centre, “Burribi”. This enhanced space will allow us to welcome more visitors – local, interstate and international and deepen our efforts in education and community engagement. Through expanded programs and interactive learning opportunities, we will be able to share vital information about koalas, the threats they face, and how each person can help protect them.
The upgraded centre will also strengthen our ability to train local residents to recognise signs of illness or injury in koalas and to contact our 24/7 rescue hotline (02 6622 1233) when help is needed. By empowering the community with knowledge and practical tools, we are building a stronger network of advocates for koala conservation.
Transparency & Accountability
We understand that $250,000 is a major campaign target and we are committed to openness. We will provide:
• Project updates as the fit-out progresses
• Stories of koalas helped by your donations
• Financial transparency on how funds are used
Together, we can build a future where koalas can heal, recover and thrive again in the wild.
FAQ – How to Help Koalas
Q. How can I donate to help koalas this Christmas?
You can donate directly here or you can also:
- Adopt a Koala $50/$100
- Adopt a Tree $15/tree
- Joey Buddies Membership $15/month
- Become a Friend of the Koala Hospital $500+
- Vaccinate a Koala from $10
- Gift membership – from $15
- Give in someone’s name – we can create a digital certificate for gifting!
Q. Are donations tax-deductible in Australia?
Yes! Friends of the Koala is registered with DGR status. All donations over $2 are tax-deductible.
Q. Where is the Friends of the Koala Hospital located?
In Lismore, NSW serving the Northern Rivers region and beyond.
Q. How much do you need to complete the Northern Rivers Koala Hospital expansion?
We need $250,000 to fully fit out the new building and open more medical facilities for koala care.
Q. Can businesses or corporate sponsors contribute?
Absolutely! Corporate partnerships and sponsorships are welcome. Please contact us to discuss naming opportunities or ESG gifting.
Will You Help Us Cross the Finish Line?
This Christmas, give a gift that lasts longer than a season a gift that saves lives.
Together, we can finish the Northern Rivers Koala Hospital expansion and give our koalas the care they urgently need.
Share our campaign with friends & family
Help protect Australia’s koalas
From all of us, and from the koalas – thank you for your kindness and compassion this Christmas
Related articles:
- Hospital Expansion
- Research and Diagnostics Laboratory
- Help us keep the doors of the Northern Rivers Koala Hospital open
- NSW Koala Hospital Alliance
- Pioneering Chlamydia Vaccinations for Koalas in NSW
- Hospital Expansion Plans
Partner thanks
This project is proudly supported by WWF’s Regenerate Australia program, our amazing partner and supporter. WWF-Australia is the primary funder for the hospital expansion. Their commitment to koala conservation has helped make this dream a reality. We’re so excited to grow our capabilities and continue this vital work together.
