The WIRES Organisation
History
WIRES was established in 1985, when an injured Ibis was found in the heart of Sydney, in Hyde Park. No organisation, government or conservation group could take responsibility for its rescue or care.
Other animal groups, such as the RSPCA, are not equipped to rehabilitate native animals. WIRES quickly established a coordinated network of wildlife carers and rescuers. WIRES now works under a license issued by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.
In 1992, over 14,000 rescues were conducted. By June 1997, this grew to 38,000 animal rescues state wide, and in 2004 we received over 100,000 telephone calls. WIRES also responds to requests for help from businesses, the RSPCA, zoos, government departments, local councils, and the police.
WIRES has developed a comprehensive animal database that records information on types of animals, injuries and fates and locations for rescue and release.
Currently there are approximately 2,000 WIRES volunteers authorised to rescue, rehabilitate and release.
Training starts with the compulsory Introductory Training Course, covering policies, licensing, animal identification, rescue and first aid. Experts also provide specialist training courses and set standards of care in areas such as macropods, flying foxes, reptiles, birds of prey (raptors), and possums.
WIRES has become well known in media networks as expert wildlife carers.
Each year WIRES is granted a general license from NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service. An authority is then issued to each volunteer member.
WIRES offers an educational service to the community through talks to schools, community groups, and wildlife forums.
Organisation
WIRES has its head office in Forestville, Sydney with branches across NSW. Representatives from all branches are part of the Management Committee.
State Management Committee
WIRES is governed by a State Management Committee (SMC). The SMC is responsible for coordination of the WIRES organisation, policy matters, financial and legal concerns of WIRES Inc, branch issues, overseeing and employing staff, state wide decisions relating to fundraising, publicity and education and the state wide WIRES committees eg. Animal Care Team.
The committee comprises representatives from each region and non–voting members with specific skills and experience.
Sydney Rescue Office
The Sydney Rescue Office (SRO), is the central rescue call centre for the Sydney metropolitan area. The smooth operation of the rescue office is in the hands of a very professional and dedicated team composed of full time staff and invaluable volunteers, many of whom are also active WIRES carers.
The SRO receives over 100,000 calls every year and provides a vital link between WIRES and the public. The team in the SRO are responsible for coordinating rescues around the Sydney region and provide an informed educational service on living with wildlife in an urban environment.
Head Office
The WIRES Head Office (together with the Sydney Rescue Office), is located in Forestville, Sydney. Head Office operates as the administrative centre for WIRES. A full–time CEO, Accounts officer, Training officer and Fundraising officer are supported by an administration assistant and volunteers.
Head Office is responsible for fundraising, state–wide publicity campaigns, education, management of compliance with policy and licence requirements, production of our quarterly newsletter LiveWIRES, organising membership communication with branches and liaising with government and non–government organisations.
Branches
WIRES operates 30 branches in NSW 7 in the Sydney metropolitan area and 23 country branches. The branches are each responsible for providing a rescue call line and rescues in their branch area. They are also responsible for animal care, fundraising, publicity and keeping up–to–date records of all animals that come into care.
On a local level they also work to educate the community on important issues effecting wildlife in addition to working on research and projects relevant to the wildlife in their local area.
Contact us for more information.