Growing Food for Wildlife: A Community Effort to Support Koalas in Care 

In Macarthur, a unique and often overlooked challenge is gaining attention. How to reliably supply food for the animals in care, particularly our iconic koalas. Thanks to a growing collaboration between Landcare, local councils, and community partners, innovative solutions are beginning to take shape. 

Koalas are famously selective eaters, and this becomes even more pronounced when they are sick or injured. Each koala in care requires a daily supply of fresh browse, made up of carefully selected branches of eucalypt leaves. Sourcing this food is no small task. Wildlife carers often spend hours driving across the region in search of suitable trees, balancing species preference, leaf freshness, and accessibility. And it’s carried out beyond their normal working hours, as wildlife carers are all volunteers. 

This challenge is becoming more complex as land use changes. In the Campbelltown area, a significant tract of land previously available for browse collection will soon be protected within a new national park. This is an important and welcome step for conserving Campbelltown’s disease-free koala population, but it also means carers will need to look elsewhere for reliable food sources. 

Recognising this need, Campbelltown Council has been leading the way for five years by establishing dedicated “carer forests”— plantations of Native plants specifically grown to supply browse. Wollondilly Shire has also joined the effort in recent years, alongside Greater Sydney Landcare through the Southwest Sydney Koala Project. Landcare has now established key carer plantations at the Australian Wildlife Sanctuary at Bargo, the University of Sydney’s Wildlife Hospital at Cobbitty, and the Macarthur Motorcycle Club at Appin. 

Public land must serve many community needs and cannot be dedicated solely to browse production. This has led to a promising new opportunity: engaging private landholders. By allowing carers to collect browse, or even planting dedicated “carer forests” on private property. Landholders could play a vital role in supporting wildlife rehabilitation with the right support structure built around them. 

Looking ahead, the task is not just about planting more trees but planting the right trees in the right places. Effective browse forests must reflect the diversity of local soil types and include a broad range of eucalypt species to meet the dietary preferences of koalas. Beyond koalas, these plantings can also support other native animals that come into care, making them valuable hubs of biodiversity. 

This concept has the potential to become a strong example of community-led conservation in action.  With thoughtful planning and collaboration, Macarthur can build a sustainable network of food forests, supporting wildlife carers, protecting vulnerable species, and strengthening our collective responsibility for the natural world. 

Volunteer for Bushcare in Campbelltown

If you’d like to contribute to environmental efforts in the Campbelltown LGA, you can become a Bushcare volunteer and regenerate bushland. No experience is necessary as training is provided.

Corporate Volunteering with Greater Sydney Landcare

Find out more about Corporate Volunteering with Greater Sydney Landcare here. Be sure to download our Corporate Volunteering Info Pack.