The Flight Centre Foundation has announced a purpose-driven new partnership with WIRES, Australia’s largest wildlife rescue organisation, and launched on World Wildlife Day, March 3, 2023.
Co-funded by The Flight Centre Foundation, WIRES has unveiled a new Wildlife Ambulance taking its Emergency Response fleet to a total of eight dedicated wildlife ambulances across New South Wales, South-East Queensland, and Tasmania.
Over 130,000 orphaned, sick, injured, or displaced native animals were reported to WIRES in 2022, and their Emergency Response Team attended to the most critical of these rescues.
This fully equipped ambulance allows them to respond effectively to natural disasters and play an integral role in assisting impacted wildlife, helping more animals in need, and improving outcomes for native wildlife.
Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG) Head of People and Culture Allisa O’Connell said seeing the tangible impact of the Foundation’s funds encourages FCTG’s people to keep giving.
“The Flight Centre Foundation is incredibly excited to be partnering with WIRES and is thrilled to have been able to assist with the purchase of its eighth Wildlife Ambulance, especially on World Wildlife Day,” Ms O’Connell said.
“Many of our customers travel across the country to see Australia’s unique wildlife, and like them, we believe it is truly something worth protecting.
“Our people understand the urgent need to start living with reciprocity with our planet, ensuring greater care over the land and seas on which we work, live and travel.
“We look forward to continuing our partnership with WIRES, and we’re committed to assisting the organisation in its mission to actively rehabilitate and preserve Australian wildlife while inspiring others to do the same,” she said.
An important step to help growing rescue numbers
Emergency Response Manager for WIRES, Lucy Clark said last year’s rescue numbers demonstrated a need for WIRES to expand its fleet in 2023.
“WIRES is committed to expanding our Emergency Response Team, so we have the capacity to respond to the increasing and ongoing demand for wildlife rescue assistance across Australia,” Ms Clark said.
“Thanks to Flight Centre Foundation’s support, we now have an additional and much-needed Wildlife Ambulance to add to our fleet, which will allow us to help more animals in need and improve outcomes for our native wildlife.
“This fully equipped ambulance will also allow us to effectively respond to the ever-increasing natural disasters that we are facing and play an integral role in assisting wildlife that is impacted by these emergency events,” she said.
Flight Centre this week also announced a new three-year partnership to swap the red and white for green and gold, with the Aussie travel retailer signing on to support Netball Australia, the Origin Australian Diamonds and Suncorp Super Netball League.
For more, head to: www.fcfoundation.org.au or www.wires.org.au