Koala Conversations
Two weeks of ideas, dialogue and action events throughout the Northern Rivers.
May 18th - June 1st 2024
Welcome to Koala Conversations
Experience a series of engaging events across the Northern Rivers, including workshops, tree plantings, and field days, all focused on koala conservation. These activities, led by various organisations, aim to foster understanding and action for our beloved koalas.
Culminating on June 1st in Lismore, our one-day forum will feature expert speakers discussing vital topics focused on Protecting, Restoring, and Creating Koala Habitat.
Program of Events
Join us at events that interest you!
Click through for more information and registration.
May
16-18
TICKETED EVENT
Primex - Koala Conversations Stall
Where: Casino Primex
When: 9am - 2pm
Friends of the Koala and Landcare will have stalls at Primex which is celebrating 40 years. Come and have a chat about koala conservation and grab some koala food trees.
May
18
PUBLIC EVENT
Tweed Coast Koala Celebration
Where: Pottsville Environment Park
When: 10am - 2pm
Join us at Pottsville Environment Park for a day of fun and learning, as we celebrate our beloved koalas and their habitats with engaging activities for all ages!
May
18
TICKETED EVENT
Developmental Panel at Kyogle Readers and Writers Festival
Where: The Fellowship Centre Kyogle
When: 1:30pm - 2:30pm
Australia is at a crossroads we need to change how we live, and quick, so how do we transition to a more ethical society without scaring the NIMBYS? Panel Discussion featuring Dave Heilpern, Sue Higginson, Ella Jeffery, and chair Nancy Cushing.
May
18
PUBLIC EVENT
Where: Tintenbar
When: 10am-3pm
Learn to care for koala habitat, and perform the Spot Assessment Technique (SAT) for surveying koalas, from a local seasoned bush regenerator.
May
19
PUBLIC EVENT
Create and Care with Koalas Workshop
Where: Ballina
When: 1pm - 5pm
Opening koala presentation followed by three creative koala-themed artistic activities running concurrently: Screen Printing, Crochet and Clay Art Therapy.
May
20-31
PUBLIC EVENT
VARIOUS DATES & TIMES
LIMITED SPACES
Koala Education Tour at the Northern Rivers Koala Hospital
Where: 23 Rifle Range Road, Lismore
When: 2pm Monday-Friday
Get up close and personal with one of the regions's oldest koala conservation organisations on a guided tour of the Friends of the Koala facilities.
May
22
PUBLIC EVENT
Cultural Burn on the Boorabee Songline
Where: Rock Valley
When: 10am-3pm
Join Jagun Alliance Aborignal Corporation undertake a cultural burn on the Boorabee (koala) songline to improve habitat and climate resilience through cultural fire, kinship, connection, custodianship, knowledge and Caring for Jagun (Country) practices.
May
22
PUBLIC EVENT
Among the Gum Trees - A closer look at koalas
Where: Lawrence Public Hall
When: 6pm - 7pm
A koala information evening for Lawrence locals. Learn about koala ecology, habitat restoration and identifying and reporting sick koalas.
May
22
PUBLIC EVENT
koala tree Planting with Bangalow Koalas
Where: Tuckarimba
When: 10am start
Join Bangalow Koalas to plant 1000 koala habitat trees. Bookings are essential. Email to book your place. Email: president@bangalowkoalas.com.au
May
23
PUBLIC EVENT
Collage club at Pop Up Gallery
Where: 46 Magellan St, Lismore
When: 4pm - 6pm
This collage club will focus specifically on the koala with a representative from Friends of the Koala available to talk about koala habitat and conservation. Collage Club is a free program organised by Lismore Regional Gallery and all materials are provided.
May
24
Ruthven Travelling Stock Route Koala Habitat Planting Day
Where: Rodgersons Road, Ruthven
When: 10am -12pm
Come along to a community tree planting and learn about habitat restoration in a highly significant area for koalas at Ruthven Reserve.
May
24
PUBLIC EVENT
Improving Koala Habitat: A decision making workshop for Landholders
Where: Koonorigan Community Hall
When: 9am - 2:30pm
How to maintain, improve and restore koala forests in the specific context of the Lismore area. Includes field visit.
May
25
PUBLIC EVENT
Plant a Tree at Cudgera Creek
Where: Cudgera Creek Nature Reserve
When: 9am - 12pm
Come along to this family friendly event and plant some trees that will grow to become future koala habitat and protect other threatened species at Cudgera Creek Nature Reserve, near Pottsville.
May
26
TICKETED EVENT
Koala Food Tree ID - Learning through Drawing
Where: Pottsville Environment Park
When: 9.30am - 12.30pm
We will have a really close look at some of the main koala food trees in this area, and use pencil, pen and watercolour to sketch and annotate key features.
May
28
TICKETED EVENT
Koala Food Tree ID - Learning through Drawing
Where: Southern Cross University, Lismore
When: 9am - 12pm
We will have a really close look at some of the main koala food trees in this area, and use pencil, pen and watercolour to sketch and annotate key features.
May
30
PUBLIC EVENT
Koala Conversations in Motion
Where: Bentley to Casino
When: 9am - 12pm
An interactive group bike ride along the Bentley-Casino Rail Trail exploring the habitat values through that landscape including some stopover talks about the rewilding vision.
May
30
PUBLIC EVENT
North Coast Regional Seed Bank - Seed Collection Apps
Where: Mullumbimby
When: 8.30-11.30am
This event will provide training to seed bank volunteers in smart phone apps that will help with coordination, identification and record keeping.
May
30
PUBLIC EVENT
Collage club at Pop Up Gallery
Where: 46 Magellan St, Lismore
When: 4pm - 6pm
This collage club will focus specifically on the koala with a representative from Friends of the Koala available to talk about koala habitat and conservation. Collage Club is a free program organised by Lismore Regional Gallery and all materials are provided.
May
31
PUBLIC EVENT
koala tree Planting with Bangalow Koalas
Where: Codrington
When: 10am start
Join Bangalow Koalas to plant 1000 koala habitat trees. Bookings are essential. Email to book your place. Email: president@bangalowkoalas.com.au
June
1
PUBLIC EVENT
Koala Conversations Forum
Where: Southern Cross University Lismore
When: 9 am - 5pm
A one-day forum featuring expert speakers discussing topical ideas across the themes of protecting, restoring and creating koala habitat. This is a ticketed event.
Lunch will be provided.
May
24
SCHOOL EVENT
Koala Planting with Barkers Vale Public School
Where: Barkers Vale Public School
Border Ranges Richmond Valley Landcare Volunteers and students and teachers from Barkers Vale Public School will be planting over 300 trees to extend Koala habitat on a private property close to the school grounds.
May
23
INVITATION ONLY
Land for Wildlife: Stories of Restoring Koala Habitat
Where: Uralba Eco Cottages, Homeleigh
This event is open to current Land for Wildlife members in the Kyogle, Richmond Valley Council and Lismore areas to swap stories, experiences and lessons learned through habitat restoration activities.
May
31
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Koala Habitat Restoration -A Field Day for Bush Regenerators working in the Northern Rivers
Where: Cudgen Nature Reserve
Restoration practitioners in the Northern Rivers are invited to visit an iconic Tweed Coast Koala habitat restoration site. Learn about maintenance techniques on a challenging site over the last 20 years.
Download the full event program.
Koala Conversations Forum
June 1st - Southern Cross University
The Koala Conversations Forum brings together experts working in the field of koala conservation in the Northern Rivers. Topics will focus on protecting, restoring and creating koala habitat. Topics include:
- Koala Habitat Mapping
- Chlamydial Vaccines
- Population Monitoring
- Habitat Restoration
- Koalas, Fire and Rainforest
- A Regional Approach to Koala Conservation
Forum - Event Topics & Times
June 1st - Southern Cross University
9am-5pm
MC Cate McQuillen
9.00 Arrival. Tea and coffee available.
9.30 Welcome to Country - Ashley Moran
9.45-10.15
AM
Koala Monitoring - Snapshots of Local Activity in a Regional Context
Caitlin Weatherstone - Byron Shire Council, Hannah Rice-Hayes - Lismore City Council, Marama Hopkins - Tweed Shire Council
10.25-10.40
AM
Koalas, Fire and Rainforest
Andy Baker - Southern Cross University
10.50-11.05
AM
Protecting koala habitat in the northern rivers through private land conservation agreements
Fiona Dawson and Georgina Jones - Envite
11.15-11.30
AM
Chlamydial Vaccine
Sam Phillips -University of Sunshine Coast and Jodie Wakeman - Friends of the Koala
11.40-11.55
AM
The Northern Rivers Koalas – A State Perspective
Dan Lunney - University of Sydney
12.05-12.20
PM
Caring for Country along the Boorabee (koala) songline across the Northern Rivers region
Tristan Evans - Jagun Aboriginal Alliance
12.20-1.20
PM
Lunch
Enjoy some food and network!
1.20-1.35
PM
Habitat restoration Cudge Northern Rivers - 25 years on... What have we learnt?
Jo Green - Tweed Shire Council
Rhonda James - Bushland Restoration Services
1.45-2.00
PM
Key Lessons Learnt from Surveys of 2022 Flood-Impacted Koala Restoration Sites
Jane Wickers - Eathscapes
2.05-2.20
PM
Understanding Koalas on Ngunya Jargoon IPA to Inform Management
Maria Matthes - International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)
2.35-2.50
PM
The Regional Koala Strategy – Development and outcomes
Angie Brace - Friends of the Koala
3:00-3.15
PM
Creating A Regional Approach: How far have we come since 2012
Scott Benitez Hetherington - Tweed Shire Council
Clive McAlpine - University of Queensland
3.25-3.40
PM
Documenting Past and Current Koala Habitat Restoration Activities in the Northern RIvers
Peggy Eby - Griffith University
3.50-4.05
PM
Multi-year Monitoring of the Koala in the Richmond Range
Ross Goldingay - Southern Cross University
4.10-4.40
PM
How can the Northern Rivers Save their Koalas Collectively?
Panel Discussion
Supporters
Proudly delivered by the Northern Rivers Koala Partnership (made up of six councils and Friends of the Koala), and supported by the NSW Government, this initiative aims to unite communities in safeguarding koalas and their habitats.
Koala Conversations is the brainchild of the Northern Rivers Koala Network. Northern Rivers Koala Network is a collective of practitioners working on Bundjalung, Yaegl & Gumbaynggirr country across the Northern Rivers to protect, restore and create healthy koala populations. Our wide network of agencies, community organisations, Traditional Owners, and practitioners work on rescue and rehabilitation, community education and awareness, koala habitat restoration and management, research, and advocacy. Together we aim to be strategic and collaborative across our region for the benefit of koalas.
