Interactions between people and animals on our coasts are growing. Often these animals are in trouble - but the wrong help can cause greater distress.

ORCCA (the Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia) has been operating for 37 years and has a proven approach to successful whale, dolphin, seal and dugong rescue.

ORCCA is 100% volunteer-led and is licensed for marine mammal rescue, rehabilitation and release. After a training pilot programme they are now expanding their volunteer recruitment with traditional owners and in areas where they have less geographic coverage.

Training funds, ORCCA. $2,000 August 2026

Learn more at https://www.orrca.org.au/

Environmental support rarely reaches far north Queensland. This is despite the many land-based environmental needs.

Cape York Weeds and Ferals seeks to address this. Their environmental work has a rich history, is awarded and directly supports ongoing traditional land owners management of healthy country.

They operate with 4 key strategies. Protecting and rehabilitating Cape York Peninsula’s unique biodiversity, mentoring and capacity building to residents , supporting landholders to develop and review pest and weed management plans and finally advocacy and educating the community about how to protect the environment.

Capability building , Cape York Weeds and Ferals. $4,000, August 2026.

Learn more at https://cywafa.com.au/

How can a community respond when pressures increase on local wildlife?

Northern Rivers Wildlife Hospital is a community-owned, state-of-the-art, all-species wildlife hospital. They rescue, treat and rehabilitate sick, injured, and orphaned native animals across the Northern Rivers of NSW.

Treatment at the hospital is free for all animals, but they rely on government funding, grants, fundraising, and sponsorship to continue their work.

Core funding, Northern Rivers Wildlife Hospital. $2,000 July 2026

Learn more at https://nrwh.com.au/

How do your address the increasing pressures on Australia’s stunning flora?

The Australian Seed Bank Partnership has already been working on this problem for 15 years. Across Australia, a network of seed banks, botanic gardens and conservation organisations have been collecting, researching and safeguarding native seeds. These conservation collections hold more than 18,000 native species, including nearly 1,000 plants threatened with extinction.

These seed banks represent preventative conservation in action, creating opportunities for species and ecosystems to recover tomorrow.

Core funding, The Australian Seed Bank Partnership. $5,000, July 2026.

Learn more at https://www.seedpartnership.org.au/