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Save Our Wildlife Foundation Inc. Member Update |
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Hi <<First Name>>,
We’re excited that our training for 2024 has begun with the first Introduction to SOWFI webinar this past week. We had good attendance; the delivery was by Samantha Wilkinson (Membership Officer) and there was good engagement. Alida Parente (Marketing Officer) has started Facebook ads and bookings are starting to flow in. We’ve also done our first promo to vet clinics and delivering posters for the Dr. Anne Fowler courses. Make sure you don’t miss out by getting your bookings in – refer to our last member update for discount code if you are refreshing on previous training.
The Introduction to Bird Care course is being delivered by Rena Robinson with the practical in Goolwa at the Wildlife Welfare Organisation (WWO) Rehabilitation Centre. This is a rare treat as this centre is not open to the public. The courses are limited to 10 because of space and what we really want is more active bird carers. Birds can be a great option for people that work full-time but have an aviary – share this with your wildlife loving friends.
Below our Chairperson Sophie Porter is extending an invitation to come to a board meeting – a great opportunity to meet the board, see what we get up to and see if you may be interested in nominating in August for a position. Refreshing leadership positions is essential to the ongoing health of SOWFI and you can be part of the decision making and direction. We would love you to consider it.
For our wildlife!
Warm regards,
Marian
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Wildlife Training
Introduction to Bird Care: 25th February
This practical course by Wildlife Welfare Organisation (WWO) followed by an online live webinar is ideal for carers interested in upskilling their knowledge on the rehabilitation of birds. Courses are free to prior attendees.
Register Here
Wildlife Rescue 101 Practical: 2nd March
This practical course by is perfect for refreshing or upskilling your rescue techniques. This course is also for people interested in volunteering in the wildlife ambulance. Courses free to prior attendees.
Register Here
Introduction to Possum Care: 23rd March
We are excited to offer this brand new course for 2024 which includes a field practical followed by an online live webinar by our team of trainers and species specialists. Courses are free to prior attendees.
Register Here
Introduction to Duckling Care: 4th May
Leonie has had many years of experience and is extremely knowledgeable in the rescue and rehabilitation of ducklings. Rehabilitating ducklings is a great way to start as a wildlife carer. Course is free to prior attendees.
Register Here |
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Casual Ambulance Shifts
We are now recruiting drivers and co-drivers on a casual basis for weekends. If you think you would like to be a main driver or accompany another driver and can commit to a casual weekend shift, please complete the Expression of Interest survey by clicking on the image below.
Our new Ambulance Roster Co-ordinator, Eric Fu, will be in touch and will provide you with access to the roster, where you will be able to fill in your availability. We ask that all drivers and co-drivers have completed the Wildlife 101 Online and Practical Workshop or have registered for a future course.
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Photo credit: Jacques Klop
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WIRES National Lizard and Turtle Care CourseWIRES has released a newly developed course for wildlife rehabilitators to support them in providing high-quality care for lizards and freshwater turtles undergoing rehabilitation. The WIRES National Lizard and Turtle Care Course covers important practices for the rescue and rehabilitation of Australian lizards and freshwater turtles including ID, Anatomy and Physiology, Rescue Scenarios, Common Injuries and Disease, Examination and Treatment, Intensive Care, Behaviour, Diet and Release. The course is expected to take roughly 6-8 hours to complete and is delivered 100% online. This course does contain some references to NSW specific processes however the material will still be of great value for those located in other states. As a previous or current WIRES National Training Grant recipient, WIRES has offered our organisation free access to this course under a grant as per the benefits of signing up to the WIRES National Training Grant Program. This offer is only valid until Wed 21st Feb 2024, 12:00pm ACDT after which the course will be available at a low fee of $40 per person. Please note, students are not expected to complete the course within 30 days, the enrolment period for this course is 4 months. If you wish to accept this offer of free access to the WIRES National Lizard and Turtle Care Course, please add your name to the linked spreadsheet below or email Bridget Jane Logan (bridgetlogan@saveourwildlife.org.au).
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Come and See What goes on at Board MeetingsThe current SOWFI Board would like to invite you to come along to a Board Meeting (3rd Wednesday of each month in Norwood) to see the types of things we discuss and how the meetings are run. Our Board is structured to ensure that key roles which ensure good governance (Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership and Marketing) have people with qualifications and skills to do their best for SOWFI. The 3 x General positions do not require any specific qualifications, but we often find people want to share their expertise - Karen Darling for example who initiated and coordinated our Wellbeing Program. Ideally, 4 of the roles will be filled with people that are currently working as a wildlife volunteer in rescue or rehabilitation (including phones and ambulance). At our next AGM a number of roles are coming up for renewal (they are 2-year terms) and we want to encourage our active wildlife volunteers to consider nominating. If you think you think you may be interested in contributing to the decisions and direction SOWFI will take as an organisation please come along to meet the current Board by sending your expression of interest to Sophie Porter at sophieporter@saveourwildlife.org.au.
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Positions Vacant Please visit our positions vacant page on the website to see where we need extra hands. We are currently looking for some assistance from people with skills in the following areas: • Wildlife Ambulance drivers/ co-drivers
• Roster co-ordinator for ambulance crew
• Box installation team
• Membership administrator
If you have some extra hours and experience, please contact Anastasia Conway to find out more: membership@saveourwildlife.org.au |
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Animal Currently in Care and Subsidy Points Reports
Please find the linked reports for Subsidy Points and Animal Currently in Care last updated on 14/02/2024. Should carers find Subsidy Care Points Earned appears fewer that of the previous month's one, it has most likely resulted from the updates of animal records in the Animal Currency in Care Report.
If any animal rescue record updates are required, please enter them by clicking on the link in the email you received when you entered the animal record; or alternatively, contact a district co-ordinator with the outcome details and we will do the updates for you.
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Bunnings Sausage Sizzle FundraiserWe're planning another Bunnings Fundraising Sausage Sizzle, and we could use your help to make it another sizzling success! Our last Bunnings Sausage Sizzle raised $2500 so definitely worth doing again, not to mention the great publicity for SOWFI volunteering. Event Details: Bunnings Sausage Sizzle Date: 17th March 2024, 8:30am - 12:30pm Location: Bunnings Mile End To achieve this, we need 3-4 volunteers for each shift (8:30am to 12:30pm and 12:30pm to 4:30pm). By volunteering, you not only help make the event a success, but you also get a chance to connect with fellow members. Please let us know if you can spare some time by contacting Alida Parente at partnerships@saveourwildlife.org.au. Your support, whether for a single shift or the whole day. is always greatly appreciated.
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Photo credit: Marian MacLucas
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Diary Markers and Events
Feed and Merchandise Orders: deadline 21st February
Don't forget to get your food orders in by 12pm 21st February.SOWFI Volunteer Week Picnic: 25th May
Let's celebrate our efforts during Volunteer Week and get together at our annual picnic in Belair. Please bring your family, enjoy a meal, activities, and Years of Service award presentations.
Happy Valley Harvest Site Planting: 23rd June
The Onkaparinga Council have approved a site in Dawson Avenue Reserve, Happy Valley! This a great news for our Southern carers who will have the opportunity harvest from this site in the next 12 months or so.
SOWFI Spring Fling and AGM: 10th August
Mark this date in your diary - if you haven't been it's a morning of interesting discussions, program solving and your chance to get involved in some decision making to solve gaps or issues the organisation faces.
Walk4Wildlife Challenge: 12th-21st August
Help us help them - participants commit to raising funds for Save Our Wildlife Foundation Inc. by walking, running, cycling or wheeling 24kms. Choose to smash the challenge in one day, over a weekend or 10-days. Will you join us?
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Wildlife Volunteers Personal Safety Reminder
We want to keep all our volunteers safe so please remember: • Get a regular Tetanus vaccine booster • Wear your hi-vis vest when on a rescue or collecting browse• Utilize our Wildlife Box Installation Team rather than put up your own boxes
• Do not park on the side of a Highway or Freeway without calling Traffic Management to slow traffic 1800 018 313 |
Reminder for Feed and Merchandise Orders
Set dates for feed and merchandise orders can be found on the volunteers' section of the website. Stock will also be ordered then for anyone who has redeemed stock using subsidy points.
Subsidised stock is only valid from the 'Volunteer Subsidy Program Shop' and other feed and merchandise orders will require you to have transferred money to the SOWFI bank account before your order may be processed.
Please note that prices may change bi-monthly, so pricelists will be removed and updated to reflect these changes.
Orders: 21 Feb | 21 Apr | 21 Jun | 21 Aug | 21 Oct | 15 Dec |
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Your mental health and wellbeing are important, and we acknowledge that what you do is not always sunshine and roses. You will see some things that are confronting and upsetting, and you will lose animals. We strongly encourage supporting each other through chatting, catching up, and sharing concerns as well as happy stories. However, sometimes it is also important to talk to someone who is trained to help people through challenging experiences.
WildTalk has been set up to help people working with
Australian wildlife in a volunteer or paid capacity.
It is designed to provide an assistance program to all rescuers, carers, veterinary professionals and researchers through times of illness, injury, or crisis that have an impact on mental health. Established in 2019, WildTalk recognises a need to support the wildlife rescue and rehabilitation workers in unique ways. As such, our service is provided independently of any wildlife organisation, giving our clients confidence to be open and candid. Working with wildlife is a rewarding path in life. WildTalk recognises that caring about wildlife comes with a variety of unique challenges and we are here to help. |
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Wildlife Rescue 24/7 Phone Service (08) 7120 6610
You can also find us on:
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How did we go? Click on the link below to let us know of your experience with us. Thank you for your time.
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Copyright © 2023 Save Our Wildlife Foundation Inc. All rights reserved.
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Save Our Wildlife Foundation Inc.
PO Box 1158
Mount Barker, South Australia, 5251
Australia
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