This month as part of our ‘Meet the People’ series, we are pleased to introduce you to our Regional Koala Officer Angie Brace, giving you an insight into her role here at Friends of the Koala.
Angie provides on-the-ground support for koala conservation projects, working closely with partners, stakeholders and community members.
Her role was created to assist Friends of the Koala and the six Northern Rivers regional councils (Ballina, Byron, Kyogle, Lismore, Richmond Valley, and Tweed) in implementing koala conservation initiatives across the region. This position was developed collaboratively with regional partners and is funded by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water through the NSW Koala Strategy. The Northern Rivers is recognised as a region of significant ecological importance, which attracts ongoing support through the Koala Strategy to deliver tangible conservation actions, such as habitat restoration, population monitoring, and community outreach.
Some highlights of Angie’s role over the past twelve months:
- Facilitated the Northern Rivers Koala Conversations event in May, featuring over 20 activities such as tree planting, koala hospital tours, and a conservation-focused bike ride, attracting more than 550 participants across seven Local Government Areas (LGAs). The event culminated in a forum at Southern Cross University, where over 100 attendees discussed key conservation issues, driving community and industry engagement in koala protection.
- Initiated the Northern Rivers Koala Count across six LGAs to enhance citizen science efforts and improve koala sighting data.
- Supported koala education and awareness initiatives, including the delivery of presentations to over 100 students and collaborating with the organiser Border Ranges Richmond Valley Landcare Network, as well as local artists and Indigenous elders, to create a community-driven koala sculptures in 3 schools.
- Collaborated with organisations dedicated to koala conservation in the region, fostering a unified and strategic approach to protecting the species.
- Provided support for the allocation of more than $150,000 towards habitat restoration projects across the Lismore, Ballina, and Kyogle LGAs.
- Assisted with the purchase and strategic deployment of six Variable Message Signs (VMS) across three LGAs to reduce vehicle strikes and protect koalas in the Northern Rivers region.
Angie is currently leading a project called Koala Tracks: Linking Northern River Landscapes, which focuses on engaging local landholders to restore koala habitat on private land. This project targets priority areas like Mt. Burrell, Lillian Rock, and Blue Knob, which form critical links between Mebbin and Nightcap National Parks. The project aims to enhance over 120 hectares of koala habitat in this incredibly biodiverse landscape.
To further guide regional conservation efforts, a Northern Rivers Koala Conservation Strategy has been developed in collaboration with regional partners. You can learn more about the strategy here: Regional Koala Conservation Strategy.
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