Volunteer Induction Day: 9am Saturday 9 May at Redlands IndigiScapes Centre, register to attend on 3824 8611.
The Redlands Afterhours Wildlife Ambulance (RAWA) urgently needs more helping hands, currently running at only around 50% of its ideal volunteer numbers.
The RAWA service provides emergency rescue and transport for sick, injured and orphaned native animals in Redland City.
Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said that while Council coordinates and funds the service, it relied on a dedicated base of volunteers to operate effectively.
“This service saves the lives of hundreds of injured and orphaned wildlife each year but its volunteer numbers are getting lower than what we’d like to see,” Cr Williams said.
“RAWA currently has 15 dedicated volunteers but it’s a big city for such a small number of volunteers to cover, so ideally the service needs 25 – 30 people on its roster.
Redland City Council’s environmental spokesperson Cr Lance Hewlett said the service averaged between five and 10 calls per night, with more than half of those calls requiring the wildlife ambulance to attend.
“It’s important that this workload is shared to ensure the program’s ongoing success,” he said.
“RAWA does an excellent job of helping wildlife in our community and it is having its next volunteer induction 9am on Saturday 9 May at Redlands IndigiScapes Centre.
“If you’ve ever wanted to volunteer in your community and with wildlife, this is a great way to make a difference and I encourage you to attend.”
RAWA is a volunteer-based, Council-operated service. Volunteers work in teams of three, on call from 5pm – 8am one week in every five-six weeks.
To help, you need to be over 18, live in Redlands and have a current open or probationary driver’s licence.
To join this passionate team of wildlife rescuers, register for the induction through IndigiScapes on 3824 8611.
