Partners & Facilities

Australia

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and Currumbin Wildlife Hospital

In 1947, Alex Griffiths (1911-1998), a bee and flower keeper, established the Currumbin Bird Sanctuary which has come to be known as Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. The famous rainbow lorikeet feeding show has been around since the inception of the Sanctuary and initially aimed to combat the declining flower populations that relied on birds due to agricultural developments; however, now, it has become a popular tourist attraction. In 1976, Currumbin Bird Sanctuary was gifted to the National Trust of Australia (Queensland) to further wildlife and environmental protection, wildlife research, and treatment of injured animals.

In 1989, to accommodate for increasing numbers of animals under their care, Currumbin Wildlife Hospital was established. Currumbin Bird Sanctuary was renamed in 1995 to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, and now houses many of Australia’s unique animal species, including koalas and wombats.

The Currumbin Wildlife Hospital was integrated into the sanctuary, with Alex Griffiths hiring veterinarians who have gone on to save countless animals. Now, Currumbin Wildlife Hospital cares for over 10,000 animals per year and has successfully reintroduced 50,000 animals back into the wild since its inception in 1989. The number of animals passing through the hospital is ever-increasing, and what started out as a center for birds such as rainbow lorikeets and pelicans, has expanded to treat koalas, mahogany gliders, reptiles, monotremes and more.

The habitats within the wildlife hospital are enclosed by glass, allowing visitors to observe the animals as they are getting treatment. The hospital has many features that allow it to accommodate many different types of animals and promote earlier release back into the wild.

David Fleays Wildlife Park (DFWP)

Established by Professor David Fleay and now run by the Queensland Government, David Fleay Wildlife Park aims to spread awareness of Australia’s unique wildlife and the importance of its conservation. Many of the animals in the park are unique to Australia and most are endangered species. David Fleay Wildlife Park is one of the AJWCEF placement locations and allows students to observe and partake in the day-to-day care of the park’s animals under the supervision of park rangers, getting exposure to animals rarely seen in Japan, like marsupials and monotremes. The park also engages in captive breeding of endangered species and their reintroduction into the wild.

Animals housed include:

  • cassowary (endangered species)
  • platypus
  • Lumholtz tree kangaroo (vulnerable species)
  • mahogany glider (endangered species)
  • Julia Creek dunnart (endangered species)
  • greater bilby (endangered species)
  • Proserpine rock wallaby (endangered species)
  • koala (reduced numbers in specific regions)
  • dingo
  • freshwater and saltwater crocodiles
  • many reptile species

Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA)

The RSPCA has a long history, first being established in London, UK. It first put down roots in Australia in 1872 and, since then has pushed for improved animal welfare as a not-for-profit organisation. They work to spread awareness of and prevent animal cruelty, lobby for improvements to legislation, and care for and find new homes for animals who no longer have owners.

RSPCA Facilities:

  • adoption center 
  • animal shelter
  • wildlife hospital
  • domestic animal hospital
  • op shop
  • pet superstore ‘World for Pets’
  • 24hr call centre
  • café
  • other (animal cruelty investigation centre, animal ambulance/emergency department, School for Pets, educational mobile unit)

99% of RSPCA’s operating costs comes from public donations and company sponsorships, and all money raised from op shops and pet shops goes to operating the foundation.

Wildlife Rescue Rehabilitation and Education Association

WRREA is located in Murphy’s Creek 120km inland from Brisbane.

For many years, owner Trish Lee-hong has dedicated herself to caring for wild animals without any government support. She is a passionate woman that, in her own time, has devoted herself to studying the ecology of echidnas. Hoping to spread awareness of the current state of wildlife in Australia, she took the initiative to establish WRREA in February 2010, working toward improvements in the care of orphaned animals, ecological and environmental restoration, revitalisation, research and conservation, the relationship between animals and humans, animal health and welfare, and education. Initially beginning with kangaroos, wallabies, and echidnas, she has now expanded to rescue, nurse and rehabilitate bird, reptiles and any orphaned animals.

Bats QLD Inc.

Active mostly in southeast Queensland (Gold Coast and Brisbane), Bats QLD is a not-for-profit organisation made up of volunteers that work to rescue, raise, nurse and rehabilitate micro and mega bats (mostly flying foxes) so that they can be reintroduced into the wild. They host public seminars and events to spread awareness and promote conservation of bat-friendly environments.

The typical breeding season for bats in southeast Queensland is between October and January; as such, the number of orphaned bats rescued increases during this time. These rescued bats are then taken care of and raised by multiple carers for between three to six months. Reintroduction is dependent on climate, temperature, availability of food and water among other things, but most commonly occurs in March, after the peak heat of summer. To prepare the bats for life in the wild, they are all brought together away from people prior to release to re-establish their natural instincts (soft release).

Injured or ill bats are re-released dependent on the temperature and season following treatment.

University of Southern Queensland

The University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) was founded in 1973 and, in 2023, was ranked in the top 301-350 universities in the world, receiving recognition as delivering world-leading education.

Based in Toowoomba (ninety minutes from Brisbane), the university has expanded to include campuses at Springfield and Ipswich, as well as offering online distance education. Initially a university emphasising agricultural and environmental sciences, UniSQ now has 28,800 students studying over 700 courses including arts, sociology, aeronautics, business, teaching, engineering, IT and media studies, law, nursing, psychology, social welfare, town planning, drama, and more.

UniSQ provides a unique opportunity for exchange/international students interested in studying, research or specialisation to enrol while improving their English skills. To accommodate the multitude of backgrounds, they strive to create tailored programs to meet the needs of students.

Institute of Continuing and TESOL Education (University of Queensland)

The University of Queensland (UQ) is Queensland’s oldest university holding a place in the top 50 universities worldwide and boasting a large cohort of 7500 international students from over 120 countries out of a total 38,000 students. Based in Brisbane suburb of St Lucia,  UQ has a beautiful campus. At this St Lucia campus, UQ offers certified highly regarded English language courses (UQ College) and has partnered with AJWCEF to assist students participating in wildlife conservation study tours.

Japan

Nippon Veterinary & Life Science University (NVLU)

Located in Otowa, Bunkyo ward in Tokyo, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University (NVLU) opened its doors to students in 1881 and is Japan’s oldest private veterinary school. It later changed its name to the Nippon Veterinary and Animal Science University and merged with Nippon Medical School. In 2003, it reverted to the name of Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University. Currently, the Faculty of Veterinary Science includes the Department of Veterinary Medicine and the Department of Veterinary Nursing and Technology, while the Faculty of Applied Life Science incorporates the Department of Animal Science and the Department of Food Science and Technology, with each department equipped to provide opportunities for doctoral level studies. . Though NVLU is a small institution, with 150 staff members for their 1500 students and 16,000 alumni, it is a university steeped in tradition. Their educational and research programs have far-reaching connections with multiple overseas universities, securing many exchange opportunities for their students. Their relationship with UQ gives students opportunities for short-term research, study and practical experiences in Australian placement programs. The Japanese branch of AJWCEF, located in the Veterinary Anatomy Building, continues to support our educational endeavors.