Meet Matilda: Supporting regional resilience through wildlife care

19 Feb 26 | Articles

Matilda, Australia’s only mobile wildlife hospital, is bringing life-saving veterinary care directly to communities across NSW and the ACT as part of a national awareness tour in March and April.

Operated by Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital and now part of Wildlife Recovery Australia, Matilda plays a critical role in strengthening regional resilience by delivering rapid response care for injured and displaced native animals — particularly following natural disasters and extreme weather events.

For regional communities, protecting biodiversity and supporting environmental recovery is essential to long-term economic, social and community wellbeing. Mobile services like Matilda help ensure that specialist wildlife care is accessible where and when it is needed most.

National Tour: Dates and Locations

Community members, stakeholders and partners are encouraged to visit Matilda at the following locations:

  • 3 March – Byron Bay – Byron Wildlife Sanctuary

  • 4 March – Coffs Harbour – Coffs Coast Wildlife Sanctuary

  • 5–6 March – Blue Mountains – Secret Creek Sanctuary

  • 7–8 March – Southern Highlands (Bundanoon) – Southern Highlands Wildlife Sanctuary

  • 10–12 March – Canberra – Parliament House

  • 7–8 April – Sydney – Centennial Park

  • 9 April – Port Stephens – Port Stephens Koala Centre.

Why This Matters for Regional Australia

Strong regional economies depend on healthy natural environments. Wildlife hospitals like Matilda contribute to community recovery, tourism resilience and long-term environmental sustainability by providing expert care close to where it is needed.

Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital operates primarily through grants and donations and continues to rely on community, industry and government support to sustain this vital service.

How You Can Support

RDA NSW & ACT encourages our network, partners and community members to visit Matilda during the tour, meet the dedicated team behind this important work, and learn more about how mobile wildlife care supports regional communities.

Attendance, advocacy and community engagement all play a role in ensuring services like Matilda can continue to protect Australia’s native wildlife and support resilient regions.

For more information, visit Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital.

Images: Courtesy Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital