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 Hair-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 …
When Clare and I first started leasing this property, we had no running water, no septic, no power. We literally had a roof over our head and little else.
We would wash all of the wombats bedding at our local laundromat that has pet friendly machines but we ourselves had nowhere to bathe.
We met a local couple who gave us the keys to their house so we could have showers. We were total strangers but they showed us such trust, kindness and compassion. We are still so grateful for what they did for us.
We are still friends today!
I have met the worst and the very best of people and Kym and his wonderful partner Rose are some of the greatest people we have met.
Today is Kym's birthday and I wanted to wish him the happiest day and send him loads of love and wellness for the future 💗 ... See MoreSee Less
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What wonderful neighbours! I bet they're chuffed with what you girls have achieved since those early days!💕
Thank you Brigitte & Clare for your birthday wishes 😊 they are muchly appreciated, and to everyone else also for your kind words and birthday wishes We were luck enough to be in the right place at the right time and in a position to be able to help a little bit to make two lovely ladies lives a little easier while they throw their all into helping the Wombats Rose & Kym
Happy birthday Kym🎂. Thank you and Rose for being the kind people you are in helping these angels 💙
Wishing you the happiest of birthdays Kym. You are one of the best humans, something we all should strive to be
It is amazing how The Creator puts the right people in the right place at the right time. Blessings to all of you for the wonderful work that you do.
Happy birthday Kym 🎉
How wonderful that good people help good people And you are able to save and protect all the beautiful Wombies xxx 💖🤗
Wishing you all the very best for your birthday, Kym. And ongoing as well. Thank you so much for helping the Girls and the wombats💝
Happy birthday, Kym!!! Wishing you all the best 🎂🎈 It's people like you that the world needs so much, thank you!!!!
Oh the kindness of strangers! Many happy returns, Kym, and May you be abundantly blessed for your kindness.
Bad people make a lasting impression on us but good people make a lasting impression on our hearts. Happy Birthday Kym, may you have many more happy, healthy ones with your partner Rose.
What a lovely story and kind people. Happy birthday, Kym.
Happy Birthday Kym. Thank you for everything you and Rose did to help the wombats. Truly, you two are heroes.
Happy Birthday Kym and to all those who care for our native fauna and flora these creatures all Thankyou if you listen one creature at a time.
Happy Birthday🎂🎉🎈Kym. enjoy your special day. Would also like to thank you for the amazing help you have given the best Wombat lovers ever. .😇😍
Happy Birthday Kym!!! You guys do an amazing job xo 💞
Best wishes Kym. 😍
Happy Birthday Kym ! Thank you for all your kindness and also loving our beautiful wombats
Best Birthday Wishes, Kym! May you be blessed with health and harmony for many many years to come! 🎂🎁🎈🥂♥️
Such wonderful people💞l wish you the happiest of birthdays Kym. And the rest of you folks a wonderful day too
Happy Birthday, Kym!🎂🎈 Kym and Rose, thank you for your kindness!
Happy birthday to an amazing human. Hope you had a very special day 🎂🎉
Happy birthday, Kym! You and Rose show us there are angels among us. Thank you for what you have done for our favorite wombat saviors and their furry kids! 🎉🎶🎂🐾❤️
Best wishes to you both!
Happy Belated Birthday Kym - hope it was as special as you are!! 🎉🎉. Also so many thanks to you and Rose for helping these amazing girls and the beautiful Wombats. You're all living proof that, despite all the cruelty in this World of ours, Angels really do walk amongst us ❤❤❤❤.
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After the Murray River floods subsided and our work helping stranded wombats was done, we had two great boats sitting idle at the sanctuary.
I hope to never see a flood like that again in my lifetime and we decided to sell the boats and put the money back into the wombats we saved.
We have three projects for this, one is a kilometre of fencing for the majority of adults saved, then a burrow top temperature controlled room for the Mumma's and bubs and this shelter. It is the biggest we have ever had to build and will keep our 3 special needs river babies along with 11 other special needs wombats safe from our Winter weather.
All of these structures will be here forever to continue to provide all of those we saved with a safe, lifelong home.
They are also built in honour of the thousands of wombats who lost their lives. Thank you once again to everyone that supported us, you are incredible ❤️ 🙏 ... See MoreSee Less
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You ladies are just...AMAZING. The way you go above and beyond for these amazing wombats. I have nothing but admiration and respect for you. Breaks my heart that the government won't do more. Looks wonderful and the wombats will appreciate it 🩷💙
Wow - well done everyone! Fabulous projects for the good of your gorgeous wombats! And hopefully to make life a little easier for you too.💕
How exciting! Thank you for doing everything you do. I can’t imagine what would happen if there weren’t people like you💕💖.
would u install sprinklers to replicate rain so the animals can experience that?
You are such kind amazing people, thank you for caring for these beautiful precious wombats and for everything you do for them 💕💕💕
You are leaving an incredible legacy ❤️
Thank you for your passionate work! 💙
Wow Just when I thought I couldn't love and respect you any more than I already do... boom!! Next level love and respect to you both xx
You are the incredible ones! Fabulous work.
Bonito trabajo , gracias por rescatar y cuidar esos animalitos tan hermosos !!!!
So fantastic you are able to do this ❤️💕
Your care and love is simply out of this world. Where would the wombats be without you?❤️🙏
Just amazing!! ❤
Incredible! ❤️❤️❤️
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Oh my goodness! I have had my hands so full with Lola, I am losing days.
I picked up Lola on Monday from Eyre Peninsula after a wonderful woman took her in as an orphan from a community. Lola was a firecracker when I first met her and I was hoping she may calm down a little but, no. She is a wombat with an extroverted personality.
I think she is way too active for her size but nothing slows her down, I have tried every trick. She is the complete opposite to Beeper who is quiet and calm.
Lola is so busy at night, I have had to move into another house in the sanctuary so she can get her beans out in safety from all of the larger wombats that normally live with me.
I really don't know how someone so cute can be so naughty 😍 ... See MoreSee Less
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To be honest, she's showing you the greatest complement. She is LOVING LIFE and already living it to the fullest. She's just awesome!!!! She must feel pretty safe with you to be so outgoing. What an Angel. Thank you. 🙂
What a cutie, but so active! She’s a burrower, that’s for sure. You certainly have your hands full! Good thing she’s cute…. 😉🐾❤️❤️❤️
Oh my gosh. She's so active. She's still settling. She has some healing to do in her heart I think. She's in the right place xx Her ears are amazing💖💖
Absolutely precious! I know it’s late there. And she does this to u. I’m going to have a talk with her she needs to leave her momma alone. She needs her sleep silly wombat be good lola ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Absolutely precious! Hope she calms down soon!
Shes hysterical good luck
She’s a little imp of a wombat—so adorable! ❤️❤️❤️
رافعاً إليك صوت قلبي قبل يدى ؛ فاستجب يا الله
Those ears!! 😍 do you think she’ll grow into them eventually? 🤣🤣
She’s clearly part Staffy, If I lived nearby I’d suggest a play date with my staffy pup 😂
Oh my goodness she is so cute but so very energetic and cheeky! Good luck. Hope you get some sleep! Bless her little wombieness. Such a cute little face and nose and look at those zoomies.
What a cutie. Love her ears. ❤️❤️❤️
She is adorable! Those ears 😍
So adorable!❤️It’s like she is Hyperactive 😂Beautiful baby Lola 🥰
Oh, she’s just lovely. Thank you so much for taking care of her
She is gorgeous
Such a cutie!! Keeping you on your toes. And those ears !!😍😍🥰
So adorable!❤️ the silly girl
so you are trying to sleep but Miss Lola is not having any of that?
She is so beautiful and full of personality. 🥰❤️
She is adorable I so love watching wombat zoomies. 💜🐾
What a precious sweetheart ❤️❤️❤️
She certainly looks a lovely handful
She is so adorable!! 😍
A dedicated burrower! So wombatty! 😍
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Yesterday I drove 10 hours to pick up this little girl named Lola from Eyre Peninsula ❤️
Lola was in a community on the West Coast of SA and was given to a wonderfully caring woman who kept her safe and well.
Lola was very reactive last night but has softened very quickly and is drinking like a dream.
Welcome darling girl ❤️ ... See MoreSee Less
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Such a sweet, sweet girl! And so lucky to have come to your wombat paradise. She was probably won over by the gourmet carrot soup!🐾❤️
What a sweetheart! ♥️ Thank you for driving so far to collect her! She's gorgeous!
Long drive for such a special package. Welcome, little Lola. Thank you, Wombat Awareness.
Dear little Lola, all the best to you 💕🐾🍀. Believe me, you are loved 💞💖 and everything is done to make your pain of losing your mom lessen every day. There is also a Lola tattooed on my arm 💕🐾💓. Lola digs a lot with me in the garden 💕🌿. You will also dig a lot.
Awwwww she’s just adorable. Get better real soon & gain your strength whilst being cared for by the amazing Volunteers. Looking forward to following your progress Lola. Xx 💕💕
I think one of the hardest things you have to do is those long drives. How on earth do you do it? Music. Audible? Coffee?
Good luck for this little girl... And for you and your wonderful work....❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
So adorable!❤️ I'm sure u will win her over with your magic carrot soup. 10hr drive ..wow I have great respect and admiration for all of u Wombat Warriors
You are so loved, bless you.
Not sure why but I saw her image and immediately the vision of a little goddess came to mind. Innocent and perfect- and left on gods care for what ever reason- and here she is with you. There clearly is something shining for this little ones survival 😘
Oh look at those beautiful little whiskers 😍 you are safe now baby girl, sleep well.
She is a darling. Who could resist her? Thank you for saving her.
Welcome baby Lola💕 And thanks to all involved in her rescue. X
Absolutely precious! Lucky Lola to be with these wonderful caring people.❤
She is so lucky to be in your care! Thank you for all you do to help these sweet animals!❤️❤️❤️
How scary it must be for them. I am so thankful you show them love and kindness. They are just the cutest!
What a sweet precious girl and thank you for being such a wonderful caring person. Lola is a lucky girl to be in your care. ❤️❤️❤️
Hi Lola!! You're in good hands!!
So beautiful..thank you for caring for these wonderful animals…
Absolutely precious!What a gorgeous baby girl ,she looks so peaceful love her ❤️💚❤️💚
So adorable!❤️ Stay safe and healthy little one
Thank you for caring so much for wombats. 🥰 Lola is in good hands, what a gorgeous girl she is. 🥰❤️❤️❤️🤗
She is a beautiful creature and deserves all the care in the world!! Sending healing thoughts to you little one 😘🙏😘❤️
Sleeping safe and sound with you now.💕💕
Absolutely precious! Another one saved…you’re fantastic 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
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