Who We Are
The Wombat Awareness Organisation (WAO) is a non-profit charity specialising in the rescue, rehabilitation and advocacy of the unique, amazing and gorgeous Southern Hairy-Nosed Wombat. We focus on conserving and protecting wild wombats whilst supporting a 24-hour rescue and rehabilitation centre within the largest and only free-range, cage-free wombat sanctuary.
Based in the Adelaide Hills, WAO was founded and has been proactive in the wombat community since 2006. As an independently funded organisation, WAO relies solely on the kindness of others who wish to join our mission to save the Southern Hairy-Nosed Wombat.
Saved 10,000+
Wombats
We have saved over 10,000 wombats since our commitment to rescuing and rehabilitating these wonderful creatures.
Supporting 1800+
Wombats Per Year
Each year through donations and volunteers, we are able to support over 1800 Southern Hairy-Nose Wombats.
We Care For Up To 90 Wombats At Any One Time
We have the resources and ability to care for up to 90 wombats at one time, providing a safe environment for them.
Revegetation Programs
For Their Survival
Revegetation programs are put in place to ensure the survival and conservation of our wombats and habitat.
Meet Our Wombats
Learn how you can help
Register Your Interest for Our Next Induction Day!
How You Can Help
Find out more about our sanctuary and how we care for these amazing animals!
Our Projects
How We Can All Coexist
Although wombats are native to Australia, the are often referred to as pests by landholders and the farming community due to their burrows. To help ease the conflict between man and wombat, WAO began assisting landholders to establish viable, non lethal management methods. The least invasive the better!Wombats are easy to live with when they […]
Sarcoptic Mange
Sarcoptic mange is a mite that burrows under the skin causing immense irritation. Every single wombat that has mange, will die unless treated. The mite is believed to be introduced to Australia via the European Red Fox however there is no doubt in our minds that wombats succumb to mange only when stressed. We see […]
Drought Relief
The Southern Hairy-nosed Wombat inhabits semi-arid to arid environments almost exclusively in South Australia. They live in some of the driest areas, in the driest state in the driest country in the world. Subsequently, they are sensitive to climate change and any extreme weather patterns. Drought has a catastrophic effect on wombat populations. Overgrazing from […]
Mornings are generally pretty slow for Clare and I as we attempt to recover from a full night of insane wombat activities.
But, this morning we are up bright and early to take Flossy in for a CT.
A CT last year diagnosed her with endometritis. Floss made an amazing recovery after a long course of antibiotics and anti inflammatories. Recently, she's had another flare up and we need to see where we are at now.
The only true fix is for Flossy to be speyed. However, any major abdominal surgery is not tolerated by this species of wombat so, I've been discussing a laproscopic ovariectomy with specialists. As this has never been done before in a wombat, there are still life threatening risks.
For now, we are going to see where we are at and explore all non surgical options first.
Flossy lives a completely normal life, you wouldn't know she had any ailments based off her personality. She lives with me permanently in our special needs sanctuary and I give her great cuddles every night when she comes in from her burrow so I can check for any signs of her being unwell. She's an angel to come to me, always.
I'll pop updates in the comments as she goes through the CT and we get her home safely to the sanctuary.
Please send her your love and well wishes for a safe anaesthetic and a healthy future. This girl is one of my closest wombat companions along with Sue, Beep and Nikerrial ❤️ ... See MoreSee Less
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Home safe and sound ❤️
Through she goes! ❤️
Flossy is under anaesthetic and is having a catheter popped in for the contrast to be administered. Be safe sweetie 🤞❤️
As a human with endometriosis, I feel for her! There’s so much we don’t even know about this disease in humans, let alone wild animals. I’m glad she has great advocates working to find her the best care!
as a human gynaecologist and prev cat owner I know vets used to use low dose progesterone for anxiety A low dose of progesterone may be safe and reduce risk of endometritis
Flossy-Darling, I feel you. ❤️ I can sing my own song about endometriosis and laproscopic surgeries. It will be better after that. You will live! Wishing you all the best! ❤️❤️
Wombat Awareness Organisation dearest Flossie, I had endometriosis as a young woman and it was awful. After a lot of operations rge doctors took my bits away and now I’m pain free. So today I am thinking of you every minute and sending you lots of until you feel better. Lots of kisses too xxxxooooooooooxxxxxxccx Julia
All good wishes and love for Flossy and her amazing carers. I'm a Brit who loves wombats, I was lucky enough to hold one when I visited Australia in 2004
Lots of love and good wishes for Flossy and you for a safe outcome this worrisome day, and hopes that an answer can be found. 🩷
Big healing hugs and love darling Flossy! 🩶😇❣️🤗♥️ xx
Lots of love and prayers for beautiful Flossy🙏💕
Lots of love to you Flossy, and your amazing carers ❤️
As an endometriosis sufferer myself, I can tell you the pain is near unbearable. I really do hope that Floss can be helped.
Sweet Flossy pray for strength and a good outcome from your scan bless you darling love how u love Bridget and come for cuddles such amazing characteristics beautiful wombats just keep amazing me by their sweet loving nature's ❤️
Lots of love flossy and lots of love to your amazing mum x❤️❤️
Ok this is going to sound weird. But I literally just talked to someone who Eats cantaloupe and it helps with the pain! I know crazy. I was a long sufferer of this as well but had surgery and better now. Prayers for sweet girls
Hope the results are good for darling Flossy. She's in my thoughts and prayers
Sending healing wishes to Flossy.Thankyou for all your hard work & dedication.🙏❤️🤗
Not sure, but I think endometritus and endometriosis (as in some of the comments) are different conditions?
Hope they can sort her out and make her life more comfortable 🙏❤️🦔
🙏praying for a successful outcome for beautiful Clare 🥰🙏
This beautiful lady is in my prayers.
Healing vibes and heart felt prayers heading your way sweet gorgeous wombie xoxoxo
Sending big hugs and hope Flossy gets the best possible news 🙏💙
Snuggles and love for healing, little girl….all the way from Las Vegas. 🩷
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Late last year, I was on my way home from another rescue when I got lost, took all the wrong turns and fate led me to find this dear little boy. He looked like a baby rabbit huddled in a ball all alone on the side of the road. He was weak and eating dirt.
I ran across the road, swept him up and he flopped in my arms. I could feel the relief in his body.
He was named Freddie and we have been on quite the roller-coaster over the past 6 months. Like thousands of wombats, Freddie had nothing to eat aside from dirt and toxic weeds which damaged his liver.
We've nursed so many wombats over the years that have been poisoned either intentionally by people or, from eating toxic weeds. If there's significant liver damage, they can recover but one thing that happens is, all their hair falls out during the process.
Freddie has beautiful new hair coming through and he's officially through the toughest part of his recovery. We've just been quietly plodding along rebuilding his life. He's the dearest, shy little man and its been a silent journey of recovery for him but we are coming out the other side!
Freddie is so sweet, he calls to me and talks his little head off when he comes home each night from his burrow. I feel it's his way of letting me know he's ok.
I know we still have a long way to go but all the time, effort and worry is worth it to see him becoming the magnificent wombat he is.
I've had a few people asking why we need a new sanctuary, why can't we just release them and to be honest, I find it hard to write a polite answer. 95% of our rescues are starving wombats. It can take years for them to make a full recovery and I'm yet to find anywhere safe either from people or starvation that they could be released on.
Even the conservation parks are riddled with toxic weeds and rake thin wombats who would love nothing more than to wake up in our sanctuary.
I keep getting anxious that we may fail in this endeavour, that we won't be able to help more wombats. But, look how far we've come, how many beautiful babies like Freddie we have saved over the years! What a ride and what an incredible life you have given them. I just wanted to say the biggest thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you have done for us over the past few decades ❤️ ... See MoreSee Less
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We’d love your support to help us reach our goal of $580,000 so we can bring to life our dream of building a new wombat sanctuary. It’s quick and easy to donate on our website: wombat-awareness-appeal.raiselysite.com/ 🤎
Donated, but so impressed at people from outside Aussie who donate. How amazing are they!
You have not failed!! Just look at precious Freddie and ALL the wombabies you have helped. Your organization is the BEST and you do amazing things. Like I have said before you are their voices!!! I have been sharing your posts and praying to God that ALL your needs will be met!!🙏❤️💙
If everyone just gave a couple of dollars the goal would be met! I’ve donated (under Sheri) and will continue to do so! I’m praying for you and the wombies! ❤️
Fantastic news to hear Freddie is on the way to recovery. Also for him to talk to you when he comes home would be so rewarding to hear him. He knows who has been caring for him and giving his love back in return. How beautiful ♥️♥️
We are all so lucky to have you saving and loving these wonderful animals. I will always donate where I can. Praying you can reach your goal. Freddie is just so gorgeous.
You and Clare perform miracles of love, patience and the best care anyone, wombat or otherwise, could ask for. It’s the least we can do to help you with another sanctuary. All my love (and some more money!) ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
What a beautiful story about Freddie. Do hope he continues to in get better. He is such a gorgeous little boy Do hope you are successful in getting the new sanctuary and you can continue the awesome work you are doing 😊🌺
Thank you for your tireless work, it comforts me that you are helping so many Wombats in need, I will continue to donate as i want your sanctuary to thrive 💕
Donated from the US. Sending love.
People ask the dumbest questions, I’m sorry you have to deal with that! You and your organization are amazing! ❤️
Just love him! Such a dear little face and such a lively soul. It never ceases to amaze me how these babies know you are helping them. How amazing for this little one to talk to you when he comes home. Beautiful ! X😍
Donated again to this wonderful cause 💜 Have you considered a subscription page to help with regular income for day to day costs? I appreciate you may not have the time yourself but maybe someone could support you with this. Sending lots of love from the uk 🇬🇧
Another donation, my land totem are wombats. Such beautiful animals
You are doing a fantastic job, and as hard as it might be, ignore those who are ignorant of your love for these beautiful animals. ❤️❤️❤️
Do you have ideas about how the natural wild environment could be improved for these animals? Does it need government intervention? I find it hard to understand how they are so neglected as one of Australia’s indigenous species?
To the people who suggest releasing them back into the wild, I'd say: they needed rescuing FROM there in the first place. Isn't that a good sign that their former habitat is no longer a safe place for them?
Your country has the sweetest creatures in these wombats! Just out of curiosity does the government help organizations like yours? Freddie is such a lucky guy you got lost and found him. That was pure divine intervention.
It is so good to see how far Freddie has come. It breaks my heart when I read how humans have destroyed and continue to destroy the environment and homes of our fellow creatures. Nobody should be left to die anywhere, eating dirt and toxic weeds or plants! Just hurts my heart. 💜💕😢
What a darling boy. Thank you for your amazing work. I will go and donate now
Another Lovely story just so admire the work you do. Thank you so much. I have made my small donation but pray you reach your goal. Sometimes I'm so stressed thinking of all the wombats battling on their own. But knowing you there for so many helps
You are doing a fantastic job selflessly caring for wombats of all ages.Thank you ❤️
I’m in the US and am just starting to learn about wombats, but wondered why so many of them need rescuing? The noxious weed thing sounds terrible. Are these weeds invasive plant species? Can there be a program to help eradicate them? Thank you so much for helping these wonderful critters. ❤️
What a doll he is❤️ You keep doing what you’re doing- your heart, knowledge & love for these darlings is so obvious❤️
By toxic weeds, do you mean weeds that have been sprayed with poisons, or weeds that are the only things for them to eat and are toxic to wombats? Thanks for the amazing job you are doing for them.
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Attention Facebook community! We need your help!
Here at the Wombat Awareness Organisation we are in desperate need of donations to achieve our goal of moving into a bigger and better sanctuary so we can save more wombats🙏
We have raised $359,000 in 5 weeks which is a truly amazing achievement but we’re still $221,000 short! Without the new sanctuary, we are facing having to turn away or euthanise any further rescues, which we just can’t bring ourselves to do, so I am calling on our amazing Facebook community and followers once again.
Did you know we have 283,000 Facebook followers right now – if everyone donated just $1 we would more than achieve our goal, meaning no wombat would be turned away.
Please help us with a donation – anything over $2 is tax deductible and even $1 each will get us over the line!
You can donate easily and quickly on our website: wombat-awareness-appeal.raiselysite.com/
Please don’t force us to do what we just cannot bring ourselves to accept – we don’t want to euthanise any wombat that comes to us.
This is our last chance – our deadline to raise the whole amount is 30th July.
Please help if you can ❤
PS. Once we reach $400,000, then $500,000, and then finally $580,000, we promise to share some gorgeous thank you videos from the precious wombats we already have in care – they’d love to put on a show for you! ... See MoreSee Less
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Thank you all for your generous support so far! The wombats will be so grateful 🤎
Done. From one sanctuary(orphaned joeys) to another I pray every day you raise the amount you need to secure the property. If you were on the eyre peninsula I would have donated 100 acres of my own native bushland to you. We have no wombats in my area, thanks to farmers, and I would love to change that. Good luck. 💙
Donation from the US, I pray you will be able to raise the funds needed because wombats are precious and the work you do is amazing.
Donated and shared ❤️
Happy to donate to see your amazing work carry on xx
Is joining the wombat adoption club tax deductible in Australia or only donations?
Donated a monthly amount and shared from England Keep doing what you doing You’re amazing 🥰
Can I ask why some of the wombats are not released back into the wild once they have rehabbed with you? What will happen once the new acreage is full or something happens to you ladies... who will own all this land?
We standby ready and willing to assist your fundraising efforts - we already help a number of wildlife rescues to get a regular weekly income and would love to help you too. We have sent you an email with more info. www.clubdraws.com.au
Sent another donation last night from Ohio USA. Come on people, donate to help these darlings!!!
Donation from the US. Thanks for all you do. Praying you raise the needed funds. 🙏❤️
Donated and shared in the United States.
Just donated, hope you get there
Do you have a recycling deposit code?
Donated and shared
Donated and shared
Donated. Agreed-If everyone donates a little, combined it can make it happen!
Donated again. Glad to help.
Donated again. Hoping everyone can chip in a few dollars each again - come on guys, we can do this👏
Done. Love your work.
Donated! Thank you for all you do! ❤️
Donated ❤️
Donated another 5$ Will do my best to do it again before the end of the month.
Donated again as you're so close!!!! 🤩 Keep up the good work and fingers crossed for some good news about the total soon. 🤞🏻 🇬🇧
Donated
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*Update*
Thank you, superheroes have been found 🙏
Talented superheroes needed!
In order for us to reach our July 30th deadline for securing our new sanctuary, we need a team to help us seek and develop our sponsorship opportunities.
This is all new to us and we are forging new ways forward to accomplish our dream to continue to help any wombat in need.
We love and care about them all, deeply.
To bring our vision of the most incredible sanctuary the wombats have ever seen plus a training centre to life, we need an architect and an engineer for these proposals.
If you love wombats and care, if you want to help from anywhere in the world to make a significant difference to the lives of these innocent sweethearts, please email me directly at brigitte@wombatawareness.com
Sharing and commenting also helps us spread the word.
We'd be ever so grateful 🙏
Much love x ... See MoreSee Less
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How about having people adopting a wombat that they send money to each month and they in return get a picture of that wombat, get to name it and get adoption papers for it. They can follow their journey, they can celebrate its adoption day with additional treats
I think the most urgent thing would be to get the Australian government to afford them more protection and set aside sanctuaries for them.
Thank you and I hope you get an architect and engineer on board to assist pro bono. Sorry I can’t help with either but if you need an accountant, well I can assist with that
You work so hard for the wombats, not just physically but with love, kindness & empathy. I admire everything you do & will continue to support you from NZ 💕
Unfortunately the facebook algorithm for posts is very annoying. Not all of your followers will get them, in fact very few. Maybe if someone knows about maximising feed posts? As you have a lot of followers if everyone gave $5 you would meet your target easily.
If there are clever creative young people out there who want to help Aussie wildlife - they are internet and social media savvy - they are the future. A call out to clever children / I don’t have any offspring but I’m sure they will have ideas 💡
Wombat Awareness Organisation I emailed The Today Show a week ago to ask them to get you on their morning show (via video link etc)to get the word out to people about your plight to help raise more money. Unfortunately I haven’t heard back from them as yet 😩 I will send another email 🙏🏼♥️
I would rather adopt one of your that the wombat the Australia Reptile Park did. That poor little man was safe but being used to make them money for commercial gain . Was a little disappointed Would be great Christmas Gift
I love the work that you are doing for the wombabies❤️
Can you get a national newspaper to donate a full- or half-page ad calling on all Australians to chip in to protect a national treasure ? Worth phone calls methinks, aim big!
I have a lot of days where I lose complete faith in humanity. This page, and others like it, are the counterweight. Thank you. All of you 🙏❤️🌏
Do people ever keep them as pets…and are they allowed too.
Reading the posts.. Have you spoken to SA Minister Susan Closes office ( she looks after the Environment & Animals) . She’s a great animal lover and it would make a great photo op for both you & her. I know you have many supporters in the USA & overseas but with your plans to purchase & build a new Wombat Sanctuary not far from Adelaide & Mt Barker as you say you need a bit more ‘local ‘ help, including SA businesses .
Can I move from Canada 🇨🇦 and come work for you?
Praying you get right people you need to put all of your exciting plans into reality love all our wombats and all involved in healing volunteering and work dr Helene you and Clare do bless you all I'm know making monthly payments have wanted too for sometime
Have you thought of doing a Patreon?
Maybe a raffle? Or some art pieces to sell?
Can you register with the S.A. Container deposit scheme? I know in Victoria people can direct their deposit money to go to registered charities
Thank you for all that you do❤️
Probably a silly question - from Canada, we have 70+ protected species, and conservation areas etc. - are there conservation regulations & areas for Wombats? We even have protected wetlands for migratory birds & the law ‘Protected Species Act’. Does the Govt support with protected conservation areas if it doesn’t kick in with $$$ for Wombats ? Thank you for your hard work ❤️
John Creighton, do you think your supporters that are architects, Ed and Sarah, be willing to help?
How about getting someone from advertising on Board, very Australian, very cute and with the right voice would be a winner. Animals sell.
Worth contacting any universities that offer architecture. Some one might be able to complete an assignment helping the sanctuary at the same time.
I can assist with design, graphics and signage. Unfortunately, those are not my areas of expertise and I don't know any. Also, shared just in case I have friends who may know someone. Things can come from unexpected places!
Oh yeh to the update!!!!!
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