Wildlife Health and Conservation Hospital

13/03/2025

We’re proud to share our strong performance in the 2025 QS Top Universities World University Rankings by Subject! 🎉

🐾 #1 in Australia for Veterinary Science
🌏 21st globally (Veterinary Science)

The rankings also put The University of Sydney first in Australia in nine disciplines and overall, 20 subjects improved their global ranking. 🏆

These rankings assess universities across 55 subject areas, considering academic and employer reputation, research excellence, and citations. 📚

Check out the full results here: tinyurl.com/topunirankings25

Faculty of Science, University of Sydney

13/03/2025

In recent news, you may have seen footage of a U.S. influencer handling a young wild wombat in a manner resulting in significant distress to both the joey and the mother.

Wild animals deserve our respect. A wombat joey belongs with its mother. Separating them is harmful to their welfare and can even lead to life-threatening consequences.

Wildlife laws exist to protect these animals. Let’s admire wildlife from a distance and respect their natural way of life. Every animal, regardless of species, deserves to be treated as an individual, with compassion, dignity and respect.

📞 Found injured wildlife?

Our Wildlife Health and Conservation Hospital is located at our Camden Campus and is open 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, Monday - Friday. You can reach us at 02 4655 0798 for advice.

If you outside of our opening hours, please contact a local wildlife group such as WIRES (1300 094 737) or Sydney Wildlife (Sydney Metropolitan Wildlife Services – 9413 4300), or visit a nearby vet. If you see a joey alone, don’t assume it’s abandoned. Call our hospital or a wildlife rescue group for advice before intervening.

Find out more about our hospital and ways to donate: https://www.sydney.edu.au/science/schools/sydney-school-of-veterinary-science/wildlife-hospital.html

07/03/2025

Celebrating Women in Veterinary Medicine 💜

This International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating the incredible women in the veterinary field, especially our team of dedicated students and staff at the Sydney School of Veterinary Science and the Wildlife Health and Conservation Hospital, Camden. Their passion, expertise, and dedication are shaping the future of animal care by making a real difference in animals’ lives every day.

On this day of celebration, Professor Jacqui Norris, Head of School and Dean shared:

"So wonderful to celebrate the amazing women who make our veterinary profession so productive and diverse. There is such a rich history of wonderful women from our veterinary school from Virginia Osbourne one of the first female registered veterinary surgeons in NSW, to the amazing veterinary virologist Margaret Sabine (remembered as the Cat virus Kingpin to Daria Love who transformed our understanding of many veterinary infectious diseases; to our first female Dean of Veterinary Science, Rosanne Taylor. Wishing all the members of our profession and genders within, a happy women’s day."

💬 Who's a woman in the vet industry that inspires you? Tag them below! ⬇️

03/03/2025

Today, on World Wildlife Day, we proudly recognise the incredible work of our Wildlife Health and Conservation Hospital teams who go above and beyond for our wildlife 🐾

Our teaching hospital, led by Associate Professor Annabelle Olsson, and located at our Camden campus, is a vital hub for conservation, research, teaching and collaboration.

Our hospital recently expanded its capacity, thanks to a $4.5 million grant from the NSW Government. This funding allows us to focus more on koala and native species conservation, providing specialist care for Australian native wildlife 🐨

Our team collaborates with various partners, such as wildlife rescue groups, councils, individuals and community partners to ensure that injured, sick, orphaned, and displaced wildlife receive quality care and the chance to be released back into their natural habitats ⛑

If you find injured wildlife:
✅ Keep it in a warm, quiet, dark place.
❌ Don’t feed it—this can do more harm than good.
⚠️ Never handle bats or snakes—call trained rescuers.
🚗 Be mindful of busy roads—only approach if it’s safe to do so.
📞 Our Wildlife Health and Conservation Hospital is located at our Camden Campus and is open 8:30am - 4:30pm Monday - Friday. You can reach us at 02 4655 0798.

If you find injured wildlife outside our opening hours, please contact a local wildlife group such as WIRES or Sydney Wildlife (Sydney Metropolitan Wildlife Services), or visit a nearby vet.

Find out more about our hospital and ways to donate: https://go.sydney.edu.au/DCSds7

03/02/2025

When a sick or injured koala comes into care, quality vet treatment can save their life—but recovery doesn’t stop when they're off the treatment table. Stress is one of the biggest barriers to healing, and for a koala too weak to climb, being stuck on the enclosure floor—away from the safety of the trees—only makes things harder.

That’s why tree forks are essential. These simple structures give koalas a safe, familiar place to rest, keeping them off the ground and easing their stress.

They also help our clinical team monitor patients in a more natural position, making it easier to provide the right care without unnecessary handling. And with fresh eucalyptus always within reach, koalas can regain their strength at their own pace. 🍃

This wouldn’t be possible without Nepean Men's Shed and Friendly Freds Tree Services. The Men’s Shed crew built six solid timber bases, and Shane and Caroline from Friendly Fred’s sourced, cut, and attached real tree forks—creating a setup that works for both the koalas and our team. And already, they’re making a difference (just look at those happy faces! 🐨).

For the koalas, these forks mean comfort. For our team, they mean better care. And for Shane from Friendly Fred’s? “Seeing the koalas in the forks makes me smile.” (Same here! 💚)

Wildlife rehabilitation is always a team effort, and we’re so grateful to everyone who helps create the best possible environment for these animals to heal.

09/01/2025

We’re back in action!

After a well-deserved break, our wildlife team is ready to provide specialised care to all Australian wildlife in need – reptiles, birds, mammals, we’ve got it covered.

We’re also excited to welcome back our final-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students, who gain valuable hands-on experience through clinical exposure, training, and mentorship with our experienced team.

Save our number: (02) 4655 0798 in case of a wildlife emergency! We're here to support our native wildlife and their carers when they need us most.

07/01/2025

STOLEN: A koala tree fork stand has gone missing!

An important piece of bush habitat was taken from the back of the Wildlife Health and Conservation Hospital on the afternoon of 20/12/24. This isn’t just any tree fork—it’s vital for helping our sick and injured koalas feel at home while they recover.

If you’ve seen it or accidentally taken it, please return it to the hospital. You can drop it off at reception or leave it where it was found. No questions asked—just bring it back for the koalas!

Thank you for helping us keep our koala care as stress-free as possible.

10/12/2024

As 2024 comes to a close, please note that our hospital will not be accepting new patients without prior arrangement after Friday, 13th December.

We’ll be taking a short break from Friday, 20th December, and will reopen on Monday, 6th January.

During this time, please contact the following hospitals for urgent care:
• ARH Wollongong
• ARH Homebush
• SASH North Ryde
• SASH Western Sydney
• Taronga Wildlife Hospital Sydney

Thank you for caring for our wildlife this year. We wish you a safe, happy, and relaxing holiday season! 🎄

10/11/2024

We are hiring! More about the available roles: https://usyd.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/USYD_EXTERNAL_CAREER_SITE/job/Brownlow-Hill/Veterinary-Nurse---Wildlife_0125536-1?fbclid=IwY2xjawGfWRZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHdbLcFlAg9LyqK3gYDgsopaJ59KnBzQtOXeLhVSvCRFOTpkDHyu38fQ6IA_aem_7P2_6IrxzEsMWuwh56ld8Q

These veterinary nursing roles will provide essential nursing care and support with administrative duties for a wide range of wildlife species.

10/11/2024

Our team is expanding!

We’re excited to announce two part-time, continuing employment opportunities for Wildlife Veterinary Nurses to join our Wildlife Hospital team in Camden. These roles will provide essential nursing care and support with administrative duties for a wide range of wildlife species.

For more information and how to apply:

We invite you to become a valued member of our Wildlife Hospital team to take your veterinary nursing career to the next level! X2 Part-time, continuing employment opportunities*. Located at the Wildlife Health and Conservation Hospital on the Camden Campus of the University of Sydney Exciting oppor...

22/10/2024

Happy World Wombat Day! 🌎

Today we celebrate the incredible recovery of Stevie Jax, a male bare-nosed wombat who was treated at the Wildlife Health and Conservation Hospital and successfully released 6 months later.

Stevie presented with severe lacerations to the dorsum and neck with multiple foreign body bony fragments and secondary bacterial infections leading to a non-healing wound ❤️‍🩹

Wombats can be challenging to treat and medicate due to their tough skin and their even tougher demeanour, but after surgery, medical management and excellent care in hospital and with the wildlife carer, Stevie’s wounds healed and he was successfully released six months later 🌳

He is now thriving back in the wild and has been seen on occasion wombatting about happily ✨

📸: Mel Johnstone. Slide 1: Wombat proof enclosure for recovery. Slide 2: After soft release visiting the carer.

17/10/2024

It’s the week to celebrate all things wild and avian! Why not celebrate like us by participating in the ?

Yesterday our WHCH team spent their lunch break logging a count. Associate Professor Michelle spotted a pair of black-faced cuckoo shrikes just outside the hospital on our Camden campus!

Discover which birds are living in your garden, local park or nature spot… All you need is 20 minutes and the app, available at https://aussiebirdcount.org.au/, to record and submit your count.

Spring is a busy time inside our hospital too. Avian species in our caseload so far this week include: Australian king parrot, galah, little corella, white-faced heron, Australian white ibis, Australian magpie, magpie-lark, and Pacific black duck.

What birds live in your neighbourhood?

15/10/2024

We’re open and ready to help—Monday to Friday, 8:30am - 4:30pm!

For any assistance outside these hours or on weekends, please contact licensed wildlife rescue organisations like WIRES or Sydney Wildlife.

Thank you for helping us protect and care for our wildlife!

02/10/2024

The University of Sydney has announced its Camden wildlife care facility has been renamed as the Wildlife Health and Conservation Hospital 🐨

The facility has been operating since 2007 and previously treated exotic species and other pets, has transitioned to focus exclusively on native Australian wildlife 🇦🇺

The recent $4.5 million grant from the NSW Government will allow the hospital to expand and focus on its core purpose – wildlife conservation.

“Our staff will work closely with wildlife carers and rescue organisations to return animals back to their natural habitat after they recover,” said Associate Professor Annabelle Olsson, Director of the Wildlife Hospital.

Read more: https://tinyurl.com/3c322n8t

27/09/2024

Today is Save the Koala Day, but at the Wildlife Health and Conservation Hospital, every day is a call to action.

From habitat loss to road accidents, koalas face constant threats. That’s why we're dedicated to not only treating sick and injured koalas but also advancing research and rehabilitation to support their recovery. However, we can't do it alone.

As you go about your day, please drive carefully and stay alert for koalas. Every small action makes a big difference.

Join us in recognising Save the Koala Day, and take a moment to reflect on how we can all contribute to their survival. Learn more about our work with koalas and other native wildlife:

The University of Sydney has expanded its facility to treat native animals. The Wildlife Health and Conservation Hospital in Camden will focus on koalas and other Australian species in its animal care and conservation mission.

26/09/2024

Missed it? Watch Associate Professor Annabelle Olsson’s feature on 7News and hear all about the important work being done at our hospital.

18/09/2024

08/08/2024

We have teamed up with Greater Sydney Landcare to create a wildlife food forest. This project will support wildlife patients at the Wildlife Health and Conservation Hospital, providing food for koalas, possums, glossy black cockatoos, wombats, and more!

We would be delighted for you to join us at the planting.

Time: 9am to 1pm
Date: Saturday, 17th August
Where: Behind Café 104 and the Wildlife Health and Conservation Hospital, 415 Werombi Road, Camden
RSVP: Thursday 15th August

Please register - we look forward to seeing you there!

Join Greater Sydney Landcare and Sydney University Wildlife Clinic to plant trees for feed, shade and habitat