AFTER A bewildering encounter with an unwell wallaby joey, Caren Sutch’s curiosity led her to join a wildlife rescue team.
The Redlands After-hours Wildlife Ambulance (RAWA) plays an integral role in the broader wildlife rescue service supported by Redland City Council.
Since 1985, RAWA has been responding to calls for sick, injured and orphaned native animals in need of urgent assistance because of habitat loss and fragmentation, disease, vehicle collisions, feral and domestic animals and extreme weather events.
RAWA operates from 5pm to 8am every day and is staffed by volunteers, providing essential services like a 24/7 hotline, transportation, and care network.
Redlands Wildlife Care Network volunteer Caren Sutch was drawn to join the team after encountering a sick wallaby joey at her home.
“I wasn’t sure what I could do to help it and wanted to know more,” she said.
A Redland City Council spokesperson said the invaluable assistance of volunteers ensured that numerous native animals received crucial transport to hospitals, rehabilitation, and eventual release back into their natural habitats.
“The volunteers are trained to rescue everything from possums, wallabies, echidnas and koalas to birds, frogs, turtles, lizards and snakes,” a spokesperson said.
“They are unable to handle bats and venomous snakes as they require specialist knowledge and training.”
Caren recounted her most unforgettable experience: rescuing a koala joey trapped in a car grille after its mother was struck.
“We managed to free him, and he was then transported to RSPCA and then onto a carer,” she said.
“We named him Hugo and I got to release him back into the wild months later when he was a big boy.”
Ms Sutch expressed her delight in volunteering, highlighting the camaraderie with fellow volunteers and caregivers, the chance to exchange knowledge, and the fascinating insights gained into wildlife.
“I would say to anyone willing to volunteer their time that it is certainly a worthwhile venture and you will learn a great deal,” she said.
A Redland City spokesperson said Council was actively seeking more RAWA volunteers, emphasising the importance of individuals committed to wildlife welfare, conservation, and teamwork.
“No prior qualifications or experience are needed as Council provides free training and full support,” the spokesperson said.
For more information, including details of the next training session and how to apply, visit Council’s website.
