As the festive season approaches, many of us are thinking about meaningful gifts – sustainable stocking fillers that don’t cost the world and truly matter. With koalas under increasing threat, the team at Friends of the Koala invites you to give something special this year: a gift that supports real koalas, real habitats, and real hope.

Why this matters

Here in the Northern Rivers region, koalas face mounting challenges – from bushfires and floods to habitat loss, disease, car strikes, and dog attacks. Friends of the Koala has been working for decades to rescue, rehabilitate, and release koalas, restore their habitat, and ensure the species continues to thrive.

Last Christmas, we offered a range of sustainable gift options, from koala adoptions to tree-adoptions and more. This year, we’ve expanded our offerings, giving you even more choices to make a difference.

Gift options for everyone

Adopt a Koala

Choose one of our adorable koalas to adopt for a friend or family member. They will receive a personalised certificate, a photo of their koala, and the story of their new furry ‘friend.’ Perfect for animal-lovers, children, or anyone who seems to have everything.

Joey Buddies Membership

A wonderful gift for younger koala fans (or the young at heart): monthly emails, behind-the-scenes stories, fun activities, and more. It brings the magic of koala care directly into their world.

Adopt a Tree

Help restore vital koala habitat by sponsoring a tree (or many)! Our volunteers grow native seedlings and plant them in key areas. This gift not only helps koalas but supports the broader ecosystem.

Vaccinate a Koala

Protecting koalas from disease is one of the most effective ways to safeguard their future. By funding a koala vaccination, you’re helping prevent the serious illness Chlamydia, which can severely impact their health and reproduction. Vaccinating a koala a unique, thoughtful present that combines compassion with action.

Leave a Bequest

For those looking to make a lasting impact, leaving a bequest to Friends of the Koala is a powerful way to support conservation for years to come. This gift allows you to contribute to the long-term care and protection of koalas, ensuring that future generations can continue to rescue, rehabilitate, and release these iconic animals. Bequests can be tailored to your wishes, offering a meaningful legacy that truly keeps on giving and best of all it will cost you nothing in this lifetime.

Make a Donation in someone’s name

A donation made in honour of a loved one is a thoughtful, meaningful gift that reflects both care for people and wildlife. Whether it’s for a friend, family member, or colleague, this gesture supports the ongoing work of Friends of the Koala.

Become a Friend of the Koala Hospital (Corporate & Premium Gifts)

For organisations or generous supporters looking to make a bigger impact, this gift supports the ongoing work of the Northern Rivers Koala Hospital – rescue, treatment, and release. Every contribution creates a lasting ripple effect.

Free Koala Calendar

Looking for a smaller gesture? Our free downloadable koala calendar is simple, sweet, and spreads koala love at no cost – perfect for Secret Santa or eco-friendly stocking fillers.

Help Us Build the Next Chapter of the Northern Rivers Koala Hospital

This Christmas, you can be part of something truly special: the next phase of the Northern Rivers Koala Hospital expansion.

With Stage 1 now complete and the building at lock-up stage, our vet team is ready for the next step. These new spaces will make a real difference, providing more room for treatment, better facilities for care, and a smoother flow for every koala patient who comes through our doors.

But to make that vision a reality, we need your support.

Stages 2 and 3: Expanding Care, Saving More Lives

The next stages of our hospital expansion will transform how we care for sick and injured koalas across the next stages of the hospital expansion will transform how we care for sick and injured koalas across the Northern Rivers.

We need to raise $250,000 to complete the Koala Hospital expansion. This is a large amount and might sound daunting but small donations add up, and no donation is too small (nor too large)! It all adds up.

When complete, the new facilities will:

• Provide purpose-built spaces for triage, treatment, and rehabilitation.
• Allow our veterinary team to treat more koalas simultaneously, especially during peak rescue times.
• Improve the comfort and welfare of koalas recovering from illness or injury.
• Strengthen our ability to deliver the best possible medical outcomes – giving every koala a second chance at life in the wild.

This expansion isn’t just about bricks and mortar, it’s about building hope and creating lasting infrastructure that will support koala conservation for decades to come.

A Christmas Gift That Lasts

Your donation this Christmas will go directly towards completing Stages 2 and 3 of the Northern Rivers Koala Hospital. Every contribution helps us provide essential care, from new treatment rooms to life-saving equipment and improved facilities for our veterinary team.

Whether you give once, become a Friend of the Northern Rivers Koala Hospital, or support us in another way, you’ll be helping to create a lasting impact.

Together, we can give our koalas the care they deserve and the future they need.

How You Can Help

• Donate today: friendsofthekoala.org/save-koalas/donate
• Become a Friend of the Northern Rivers Koala Hospital: friendsofthekoala.org/friends-of-the-northern-rivers-koala-hospital/
• Share our story: Tell your friends and family about the expansion and help spread the word this festive season.

Looking Ahead

The Northern Rivers Koala Hospital is more than a building, it’s a lifeline. It is where hope, care, and compassion come together for one of Australia’s most beloved species. With your support, Stages 2 and 3 can become a reality, ensuring every koala in need has a safe place to heal.

Why your support goes further

Friends of the Koala is a grassroots organisation, deeply embedded in koala conservation. With countless volunteer hours and a strong focus on efficiency, we ensure your donation or adoption goes directly where it counts: rescuing koalas, releasing them, and restoring habitat. Your gift is more than symbolic – it’s action.

A call to action

This holiday season, skip the generic gift. Give something unforgettable and meaningful. Choose a sustainable gift and support koalas this Christmas. Make a difference today.

Because the cutest animals on earth deserve real help, and you can be part of it.