25 June 2025
As winter school holidays begin across New South Wales and Australia wide, the NSW Wildlife Council (NWC) is ramping up its Wildlife Friendly Roads campaign.
Protecting Wildlife, Making Roads Safer Across NSW
As winter school holidays begin across New South Wales, the NSW Wildlife Council
(NWC) is ramping up its Wildlife Friendly Roads campaign—a statewide effort to
reduce wildlife collisions and make travel safer for both animals and people.
"School holidays are a peak time for regional travel—and tragically, for wildlife road
deaths,” said Sonja Elwood, Acting Chair of NWC.“ By simply driving with more awareness, we can save lives and ease the strain on wildlife rescuers and carers.”
Drive Wildlife Aware This Winter:
Every year, over 50,000 native animals are rescued on NSW roads, with collisions
rising significantly during holiday travel—especially at dawn and dusk, when many
species like kangaroos, wombats, and koalas are most active. This can be particularly
devastating during the shorter winter days.
Simple ways to stay wildlife aware:
Expect wildlife, especially in rural areas, near bushland, waterholes, or where signs
are posted
Slow down—especially at dawn, dusk, and in wildlife zones
Stay alert and scan roadsides for movement
Use high beams where safe
If safe, brake—don’t swerve
Report injured wildlife via the IFAW Wildlife Rescue App
Joey Survival Tips:
Tip 1: If you hit an animal or can safely stop to check a hit animal, check for a joey—pouch young often survive
Tip 2: Don’t separate a live joey from its mother unless advised—call a wildlife rescue group first
Youth Education: Make It a Wildlife-Friendly Holiday
To help families connect with the issue and drive change, NWC has launched wildlife
education packs available for download from the instagram link-in-bio at @NSWwildlifecouncil
Printable activity and colouring sheets with safety tips and QR links to the IFAW app and KangaZoo game
DIY wildlife sign and art project to help kids learn about local species and road safety
Less Collisions, More Connection: Join the Movement
This winter, whether you’re heading out bush, up the coast, or through the
mountains—take a moment to drive with wildlife in mind.
Follow and share @nswwildlifecouncil on Instagram
Access free resources to help spread the word: posters, activity packs, and social
media posts.
About NSW Wildlife Council (NWC) Founded in 2005, NWC is the peak body for
wildlife rescue and care across NSW. Representing 29 member groups and 68% of
licensed volunteers under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016, NWC advocates for
best-practice rescue, care, rehabilitation, and release of Australia’s native wildlife.