Responsibilities of a WIRES Member

As a member you do not necessarily have to be involved in the rescue and rehabilitation of animals. Members who fundraise, conduct branch administration and assist in training and community education are also essential to the organisation.

The aim of your work as a WIRES volunteer is the rehabilitation and release of animals that are 100% fit for unassisted survival in the wild and all rescue and rehabilitation activities should be carried out with this in mind.

In NSW, fauna rescue and rehabilitation is governed by the OEH Code of Practice for Injured, Sick and Orphaned Fauna. The Code contains both standards and guidelines for best practice care of protected fauna and it is imperative that you familiarise yourself with these documents before beginning to rehabilitate native fauna.

The Codes of Practice for Injured, Sick and Orphaned Protected Fauna can be found here

The following list is not exhaustive but outlines general rules applicable to WIRES members:

• Your duties as a WIRES member do not mean you are able to trespass, if you are asked to leave by the property owner, you must do so immediately

• If you become aware of a native animal in a difficult or threatened situation, you should discuss this with your Species Coordinator(s) who will report it to the WIRES Rescue Office Manager. The WRO manager will then notify the appropriate authorities

• While WIRES cares for injured and orphaned native fauna, it does not authorise its members to hold native animals in permanent care. If an animal cannot be released into the wild, seek advice from your Species Coordinator

• In rescue, rehabilitation and release of native animals, euthanasia is an acceptable outcome

• No person under 18 is permitted to handle WIRES animals and legal liability prevents you from allowing a non-WIRES person to assist in handling or rescuing animals

• All costs involved with the rescue, care and rehabilitation of animals are the primary responsibility of the member, although branches have different subsidies available to assist with these costs

• Respect the role played by vets. Many veterinarians provide consultations free of charge; however, the member may incur the cost of medication. Depending on branch finances, these costs may be claimable

• Make sure you have access to your electronic WIRES ID card and your current WIRES authorisation when attending rescues (log in to Tall Emu and download to your device)

• Do not engage in climbing activities other than a ladder less than two metres high in accordance with current WHS guidelines

• All rescues must have a callsheet assigned to them

• Facilities must be available for inspection

• Husbandry standards should be high and provided in accordance with the Code of Practice

• No member may carry dual authorisation by WIRES and another rehabilitation organisation that carries out similar work

• It is a legal requirement of the WIRES authority to lodge data pertaining to rescued and rehabilitated animals and it is the responsibility of individual members to ensure this information is recorded and up to date. The information you collect is important for a number of reasons:

1. To alert Wildlife Health Australia, WIRES Head Office and the Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline of possible disease outbreak
2. To collect information on threatened species and species distribution
3. For the buddying up of animals as many animals do better in care when they are buddied with the same
species of similar age and weights
4. To identify areas of high risk e.g. road kill data. This can assist in decisions such as where to place wildlife
warning signs

• Regular contact between members, specifically the Species Coordinator is important