Injured koala? Call 1800 775 625 for 24/7 rescue
Saving koalas | New South Wales
Our organisation’s story
From a grassroots rescue group to a leading centre for care, education and research.
From rescues to rehabilitation, releases and awareness raising
30+ years of saving koalas and protecting native wildlife
A local, grassroots beginning
In the late 1980s, local koala populations across the Port Stephens region were losing more and more of their bush home as development slowly changed the landscape around them.
With less connected habitat or wildlife corridors, wild koalas became more exposed to illness, injury, motor vehicle strikes, and other risks.
Seeing this, a small group of Anna Bay locals came together with a shared commitment – to step in when koalas were in need and support their return to the wild wherever possible.
Growing into a koala conservation not-for-profit
What began as a grassroots rescue effort became the Hunter Koala Preservation Society, built on hands-on care, rehabilitation and release.
From the beginning, every koala was carefully recorded – their condition, treatment and outcomes – forming an early database that continues to support care and understanding today.
As the needs of local wildlife grew, so did the organisation. In 2016, we became known as Port Stephens Koalas. We were granted Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status by the Australian Government, allowing donations and adoptions to support our koala conservation work directly.
Make a difference
Ways to support our work
Building a fully accredited Wildlife Hospital
In 2017, our site was a simple demountable shed with four rehabilitation yards, but our vision was a fully integrated hospital and rehabilitation facility where koalas could receive all levels of care in one place.
That vision became reality in 2020 with the construction of a multi-million-dollar-funded purpose-built wildlife hospital and rehabilitation facility. It significantly increased our capacity to respond to emergencies and treat koalas and other native wildlife.
The hospital was expanded in 2024 to include advanced technology such as a CT scanner and fully equipped operating theatre, improving treatment outcomes and enabling leading research on site.
Importantly, it meant koalas no longer needed to be transported to external vet clinics, reducing stress and improving recovery outcomes. A calmer animal has a better chance of returning to their wild koala habitat.
We treat every koala as a wild animal first and foremost. Care is delivered with restraint and respect, always focused on rehabilitation and release. Minimal handling helps ensure they remain as wild as possible when they return to the bush – supporting koala populations.
Education, research and outcomes
Today, alongside emergency response and rehabilitation, our employees and volunteers deliver educational programs for schools and community groups, offer work experience and placements, and help build the next generation of wildlife carers and advocates.
As a wildlife organisation, we’re also investing in advanced medical equipment and leading research to improve diagnosis, treatment and long-term outcomes for sick and injured koalas and other native wildlife.
Research
Every day we are learning more and improving treatment outcomes. That knowledge is driving our growing research focus to better protect koalas and other wildlife across the Hunter region and beyond.
Education
We’re building an engaged local community and the next generation of wildlife advocates with school and group education talks, work experience, university placements, and resources and publications.
Protecting all native wildlife
While koalas – an endangered species – remain at the centre of our focus, our care extends across a wide range of native species, including possums, gliders, birds, reptiles, turtles and more.
With the support of our community, every rescue, every period of care and every release contributes to something bigger – giving native wildlife the best possible chance to recover and return to the bush where they belong.
Together, we’re healing wild lives.
See the impact we’re making
Our impact is measured in many ways, including rescues, recoveries, releases, habitat restoration, community awareness and increased knowledge.
