❓ Details the support provided by the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) to registered and volunteer wildlife rehabilitators in WA, including training, insurance, funding, and other resources.
AnsweredQoN 5707Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) What support does the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) provide to registered wildlife rehabilitators and centres in terms of —
(a) training;
(b) insurance (eg workers compensation);
(c) joint projects (eg research);
(d) funding/grants;
(e) reimbursement of expenses incurred;
(f) discounts on DEC products (eg national park access, Landscope magazine); and
(g) other support?
(2) What support does the DEC provide to volunteer wildlife rehabilitators in terms of —
(a) training;
(b) insurance (eg accident/injury/illness insurance);
(c) joint projects (eg research);
(d) funding/grants;
(e) reimbursement of expenses incurred;
(f) discounts on DEC products (eg national park access, Landscope magazine); and
(g) other support?
(a) training;
(b) insurance (eg workers compensation);
(c) joint projects (eg research);
(d) funding/grants;
(e) reimbursement of expenses incurred;
(f) discounts on DEC products (eg national park access, Landscope magazine); and
(g) other support?
(2) What support does the DEC provide to volunteer wildlife rehabilitators in terms of —
(a) training;
(b) insurance (eg accident/injury/illness insurance);
(c) joint projects (eg research);
(d) funding/grants;
(e) reimbursement of expenses incurred;
(f) discounts on DEC products (eg national park access, Landscope magazine); and
(g) other support?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 August 2012
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health representing the Minister for Environment
Response time
62 days
(1)(a) DEC offers a two-day basic Wildlife Rehabilitators Training course four times annually in the metropolitan area and may deliver the course in regional centres one or two times annually. Registered rehabilitators access the course for free. Special and advanced topic workshops are offered three or four times annually. DEC also provides a midweek two-day training course "Working with Volunteers in DEC".
(b) DEC provides insurance cover through RiskCover for volunteers, which may be applied once other provisions have been exhausted. No wages are paid to volunteers, therefore workers compensation is not applicable.
(c) DEC convenes the Wildlife Rehabilitators Consultative Committee with rehabilitator representatives drawn from around the state. Projects have included the minimum standards for wildlife rehabilitation guidelines. DEC has also supported research projects, particularly those related to threatened fauna. In-kind support has included participation and guidance from DEC research personnel and grant application support.
(d) Grant funding has been provided within the 'rescue and rehabilitation of injured or incapacitated fauna' category of the Environmental Community Grants Program. A total of $139,035.15 has been allocated in the three years 2009 to 2011 ($32 679.50 in 2009; $56 854.04 in 2010 and $49 501.61 in 2011). Grants range from $500 to $5000. Support in the form of information and advice in applying for external grant funding is also given.
(e) Generally wildlife rehabilitators meet their own expenses although grant funding can be used for rehabilitation expenses.
(f) DEC provides a comprehensive "rewards" system for its registered volunteers, based on hours completed. From 1 July 2012, these rewards are:
· 20 hours: 20 per cent discount voucher (one-off) for DEC outlets;
· 50 hours: 12 month DEC Volunteer park pass;
· 150 hours: Limited edition pin badge featuring WA native wildlife;
· 300 hours: DEC Voucher ($30 - $40 value); and
· 500+ hours: 12-month DEC Volunteer park pass and 12-month subscription to
Landscope
magazine (one subscription per household).
DEC volunteer passes provide free access to all DEC-managed lands for which there is an entry fee, and also a 20 per cent discount at DEC outlets on most products.
(g) DEC provides mentoring and advice to support registered wildlife rehabilitators and centres. Written guidelines have been published to assist rehabilitators in achieving best practice. DEC also houses and manages the Wildcare Helpline and maintains the wildlife rehabilitator's directory.
(2)(a) In accordance with the
Wildlife Conservation Regulations 1970
, people can temporarily care for sick or injured fauna at home or volunteer their time at a rehabilitation centre without becoming a registered volunteer. DEC encourages such volunteers to become registered and to participate in training, however this is not mandatory. Anyone can undertake the basic Wildlife Rehabilitators Training course for a fee of $240. A volunteer who works at a registered centre can receive a discount for this training.
(b) A volunteer working at a registered centre is covered by virtue of the fact that the centre is registered. A rehabilitator who is not registered as a DEC volunteer or working at a registered wildlife rehabilitation centre is not covered by DEC's insurance.
(c) Unregistered rehabilitators who are known by DEC to possess particular expertise in a subject area pertinent to a research proposal may be invited to participate in a joint research project.
(d) Unregistered rehabilitators may apply for funding as individuals for grants where they meet the advertised application criteria. The Environmental Community Grants program for rescue and rehabilitation of injured or incapacitated fauna is limited to registered rehabilitators.
(e) Generally wildlife rehabilitators meet their own expenses, although they may also receive donations and sponsorships.
(f) Unregistered rehabilitators do not have access to discounts on DEC products.
(g) Unregistered rehabilitators can obtain the minimum standards for wildlife rehabilitation guidelines from DEC and are encouraged to register so that they become eligible for support from DEC.
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(b) DEC provides insurance cover through RiskCover for volunteers, which may be applied once other provisions have been exhausted. No wages are paid to volunteers, therefore workers compensation is not applicable.
(c) DEC convenes the Wildlife Rehabilitators Consultative Committee with rehabilitator representatives drawn from around the state. Projects have included the minimum standards for wildlife rehabilitation guidelines. DEC has also supported research projects, particularly those related to threatened fauna. In-kind support has included participation and guidance from DEC research personnel and grant application support.
(d) Grant funding has been provided within the 'rescue and rehabilitation of injured or incapacitated fauna' category of the Environmental Community Grants Program. A total of $139,035.15 has been allocated in the three years 2009 to 2011 ($32 679.50 in 2009; $56 854.04 in 2010 and $49 501.61 in 2011). Grants range from $500 to $5000. Support in the form of information and advice in applying for external grant funding is also given.
(e) Generally wildlife rehabilitators meet their own expenses although grant funding can be used for rehabilitation expenses.
(f) DEC provides a comprehensive "rewards" system for its registered volunteers, based on hours completed. From 1 July 2012, these rewards are:
· 20 hours: 20 per cent discount voucher (one-off) for DEC outlets;
· 50 hours: 12 month DEC Volunteer park pass;
· 150 hours: Limited edition pin badge featuring WA native wildlife;
· 300 hours: DEC Voucher ($30 - $40 value); and
· 500+ hours: 12-month DEC Volunteer park pass and 12-month subscription to
Landscope
magazine (one subscription per household).
DEC volunteer passes provide free access to all DEC-managed lands for which there is an entry fee, and also a 20 per cent discount at DEC outlets on most products.
(g) DEC provides mentoring and advice to support registered wildlife rehabilitators and centres. Written guidelines have been published to assist rehabilitators in achieving best practice. DEC also houses and manages the Wildcare Helpline and maintains the wildlife rehabilitator's directory.
(2)(a) In accordance with the
Wildlife Conservation Regulations 1970
, people can temporarily care for sick or injured fauna at home or volunteer their time at a rehabilitation centre without becoming a registered volunteer. DEC encourages such volunteers to become registered and to participate in training, however this is not mandatory. Anyone can undertake the basic Wildlife Rehabilitators Training course for a fee of $240. A volunteer who works at a registered centre can receive a discount for this training.
(b) A volunteer working at a registered centre is covered by virtue of the fact that the centre is registered. A rehabilitator who is not registered as a DEC volunteer or working at a registered wildlife rehabilitation centre is not covered by DEC's insurance.
(c) Unregistered rehabilitators who are known by DEC to possess particular expertise in a subject area pertinent to a research proposal may be invited to participate in a joint research project.
(d) Unregistered rehabilitators may apply for funding as individuals for grants where they meet the advertised application criteria. The Environmental Community Grants program for rescue and rehabilitation of injured or incapacitated fauna is limited to registered rehabilitators.
(e) Generally wildlife rehabilitators meet their own expenses, although they may also receive donations and sponsorships.
(f) Unregistered rehabilitators do not have access to discounts on DEC products.
(g) Unregistered rehabilitators can obtain the minimum standards for wildlife rehabilitation guidelines from DEC and are encouraged to register so that they become eligible for support from DEC.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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