Saving koalas

Queensland Koala Society Inc
Dedicated. Caring. Compassionate.

Angela Christodoulou has been known to camp under a tree for three days to rescue a koala and her joey.

As a co-founder of the Queensland Koala Society, she gives it her all to protect the local south-east Brisbane koala population, which has been displaced by urban sprawl.

Angela has rescued more than 505 koalas over the years and has recruited local volunteers to help.

"We ensure they get medical treatment and care they need until they can be released back into their natural habitat," Angela says.

Community education is a crucial part of the society's work. "We encourage people to keep their dogs in at night and to drive carefully."

An essential part of community engagement is to invite people to come along whenever the society releases a rescued koala.

"That's when I get a lot of interest from people wanting to volunteer," Angela says. "Community involvement is vital. People are surprised by the number of koalas we have in this immediate area."

Angela always makes sure people who call the society's rescue hotline can follow the koalas on their road to recovery.

"Collectively as a community we need to get involved with trying to save this precious species," she says.

Westfield Local Heroes are nominated and voted for by their communities, with the three top finalists per Westfield centre each awarded a $10,000 grant for their affiliated organisation. The Queensland Koala Society will use its grant to build a larger rehabilitation facility.

For further information on the Westfield Local Heroes program, click here