Australian Wildlife Society

The Australian Wildlife Society is a national Australian not-for-profit conservation organisation whose roots extend to the establishment of the Wildlife Preservation Society of Australia in Sydney in May 1909. It was created to encourage the protection of Australian flora and fauna and to cultivate public interest in the country’s wildlife. The society’s founding president was The Hon. Frederick Earle Winchcombe MLC, while David Stead served as one of four vice presidents and became an active figure in the organisation’s early development. For much of its history, the organisation operated under the Wildlife Preservation Society of Australia name. Its work has included wildlife advocacy, environmental education, community participation, support for conservation science, and recognition of individuals who contribute to conservation outside conventional professional roles. The society’s national remit covers Australian wildlife and habitats rather than a commercial product category, and its activities are delivered through public education, campaigns, grants, awards, publications, and local or community-based conservation initiatives. The organisation marked its centenary in 2009. In 2013, it adopted the Australian Wildlife Society name as part of a rebranding intended to present a clearer national identity. Its activities during the 2010s and 2020s included maintaining conservation education and advocacy programs, supporting university research, and recognising practical wildlife rescue and habitat-protection work. In 2019, the society celebrated its 110th birthday and produced a commemorative video with Design Centre Enmore TAFE New South Wales. That year it also appointed its first paid employee, a National Office Manager, marking a change in its administrative structure. The society established a new national head office in Hurstville, New South Wales, in 2020. In 2021, it launched Snip Rings for Wildlife, a public-awareness campaign encouraging people to cut plastic rings, rubber bands, hair ties, face-mask loops, and similar looped or dome-shaped items completely before disposal, reducing the risk of wildlife entanglement or ingestion. Its support for conservation research expanded in 2022, when the annual University Research Grants program was increased to ten grants of $3,000 each, for a total annual allocation of $30,000. In 2024, the board purchased and established a new National Office and Education Centre at 9/121 Queen Street, Campbelltown, New South Wales. The facility was officially opened on 20 August 2024 by Gregory Warren MP, Member for Campbelltown. The move gave the organisation a permanent national office and an education-focused base for its continuing conservation work. The Australian Wildlife Society is also associated with the Serventy Conservation Medal, an award created to recognise unpaid or largely non-professional contributions to wildlife conservation. The medal commemorates the conservation work of Lucy, Dominic, and Vincent Serventy. Award recipients have included wildlife rescuers, habitat protectors, environmental campaigners, educators, scientists, and people involved in species-specific conservation, reflecting the society’s emphasis on practical public service and community stewardship. Overall, the organisation’s positioning combines long institutional continuity with grassroots conservation, seeking to connect scientific knowledge, public education, advocacy, and direct community action in support of Australian biodiversity.

The Australian Wildlife Society was founded in Sydney in May 1909 as the Wildlife Preservation Society of Australia. Its original purpose was to encourage protection of Australian flora and fauna and to build public interest in wildlife. Frederick Earle Winchcombe was the founding president, and David Stead was among the organisation’s vice presidents and active early founders. The society developed as a national, not-for-profit conservation body rather than a commercial enterprise. Its work has combined environmental education, wildlife advocacy, community involvement, support for conservation research, and recognition of people undertaking practical conservation. The organisation’s long history reflects changing approaches to Australian environmental protection, from early efforts to cultivate public interest in native species to later programs involving research funding, public campaigns, education centres, and community-based wildlife care. The organisation celebrated its centenary in 2009. In 2013, it rebranded as the Australian Wildlife Society, replacing the longer Wildlife Preservation Society of Australia name in its public identity. The society celebrated its 110th birthday in 2019 and released a commemorative video produced in collaboration with Design Centre Enmore TAFE New South Wales. In the same year, its board engaged its first paid employee, a National Office Manager, representing a significant step in the formal development of its administration. A new national head office was established in Hurstville, New South Wales, in 2020. In 2021, the society created Snip Rings for Wildlife, an awareness initiative designed to reduce risks caused by discarded loops and similar items. The campaign asks people to cut plastic rings, rubber bands, hair ties, face-mask loops, and related objects completely before disposal. In 2022, the society expanded its University Research Grants program to ten annual grants worth $3,000 each, providing a total of $30,000 in yearly support for conservation research. The society’s institutional base changed again in 2024 when its board purchased and established a National Office and Education Centre at 9/121 Queen Street, Campbelltown, New South Wales. The facility opened on 20 August 2024, with Gregory Warren MP, Member for Campbelltown, performing the official opening. The centre provides a permanent base for administration and conservation education. The Australian Wildlife Society also administers or is associated with the Serventy Conservation Medal. Inaugurated in the late 1990s to commemorate the conservation work of Lucy, Dominic, and Vincent Serventy, the medal recognises conservation achievements carried out from personal commitment rather than as part of a paid professional career. Recipients have included people involved in habitat protection, native-animal welfare, seabird and marine-turtle rescue, koala and Tasmanian devil conservation, wildlife education, environmental campaigning, and conservation science. The award illustrates the society’s emphasis on practical service and community participation alongside formal research and advocacy. The organisation remains an Australian conservation society focused on native wildlife and ecosystems. Its contemporary model combines public education, advocacy, grants, awards, campaigns, and community engagement, while its name and institutional history connect current activities with more than a century of wildlife-conservation work.

• 2024

  Campbelltown National Office and Education Centre opened

  [1]Australian Wildlife Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The society opened its new facility at 9/121 Queen Street, Campbelltown, New South Wales, on 20 August.

• 2022

  University Research Grants expanded

  [1]Australian Wildlife Societyen.wikipedia.org

  Annual support increased to ten $3,000 grants, totalling $30,000 each year.

• 2021

  Snip Rings for Wildlife introduced

  [1]Australian Wildlife Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The society launched a public campaign to reduce wildlife injuries caused by discarded loops and similar objects.

• 2020

  National head office established in Hurstville

  [1]Australian Wildlife Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The society established a new national head office in Hurstville, New South Wales.

• 2019

  110th birthday and first paid employee

  [1]Australian Wildlife Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The society marked its 110th birthday and engaged its first paid employee, a National Office Manager.

• 2013

  Rebranded as the Australian Wildlife Society

  [1]Australian Wildlife Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The Wildlife Preservation Society of Australia adopted the Australian Wildlife Society name.

• 2009

  Centenary of wildlife conservation activity

  [1]Australian Wildlife Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The organisation celebrated 100 years since its establishment.

• 1999

  Serventy Conservation Medal formally inaugurated

  [1]Australian Wildlife Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The medal was established to honour conservation contributions made through personal commitment rather than paid professional work.

• 1998

  First Serventy Conservation Medal awarded

  [1]Australian Wildlife Societyen.wikipedia.org

  Margaret Thorsborne received the first medal for conservation work involving fruit pigeons, cassowaries, and environmental protection around Mission Beach, Queensland.

• 1909

  Wildlife Preservation Society of Australia established

  [1]Australian Wildlife Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The society was founded in Sydney in May 1909 to promote protection of Australian flora and fauna and public interest in wildlife.

A long-established, national, community-oriented Australian wildlife conservation society focused on protecting native flora and fauna through education, advocacy, research support, public campaigns, and recognition of practical conservation service.

• Research funding

  University Research Grants

  A grant program supporting university-based wildlife and conservation research. From 2022, the program provided ten annual grants of $3,000 each, representing a total annual allocation of $30,000.

• Conservation recognition · 1998

  Serventy Conservation Medal

  An award recognising significant conservation work undertaken through personal commitment rather than as part of a paid professional career. Its recipients have represented wildlife rescue, habitat protection, species conservation, education, campaigning, and conservation science.

• Education and advocacy · 1909

  National Environmental Education and Advocacy

  The society’s continuing suite of public education, environmental advocacy, and community-involvement activities focused on Australian wildlife, native flora, fauna, and habitat conservation.

• 2021Snip Rings for Wildlife

  Australia

  A public-awareness campaign encouraging people to cut plastic rings, rubber bands, hair ties, face-mask loops, and plastic dome-shaped lids completely before throwing them away, helping prevent wildlife entanglement and related injuries.

  Source

• 2024

  Established a permanent National Office and Education CentreOther

  Background

  The society sought a permanent base for its national administration and education activities.

  Action taken

  The board purchased and established a facility at 9/121 Queen Street, Campbelltown, New South Wales, officially opened on 20 August 2024.

  Source

• 2022

  Increased annual university research supportStrategy

  Background

  The society used research grants to support university conservation work.

  Action taken

  It increased the program to ten grants of $3,000 each, totalling $30,000 annually.

  Annual University Research Grants allocation. $30,000 (2022 onward)

  Source

• 2019

  Expanded formal administration with first paid employeeStrategy

  Background

  The society had operated for more than a century before establishing a paid staff position.

  Action taken

  The board engaged a National Office Manager as its first paid employee.

  Aftermath

  The appointment marked a more formal administrative structure for the national organisation.

  Source

• 2013

  Adopted the Australian Wildlife Society nameStrategy

  Background

  The organisation had operated since 1909 under the Wildlife Preservation Society of Australia name.

  Action taken

  It rebranded as the Australian Wildlife Society.

  Aftermath

  The shorter name became the organisation’s contemporary public identity.

  Source

• 2024

  Australian Wildlife Society opens National Office and Education Centre in Campbelltown[1]Australian Wildlife Societyen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The society officially opened its new facility at 9/121 Queen Street, Campbelltown, New South Wales, on 20 August 2024.

• 2022

  University Research Grants program expands[1]Australian Wildlife Societyen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The society increased its annual university research support to ten grants of $3,000 each, totalling $30,000 per year.

• 2021

  Australian Wildlife Society launches Snip Rings for Wildlife[1]Australian Wildlife Societyen.wikipedia.org

  Campaign

  The campaign encouraged the public to cut looped plastic and rubber items completely before disposal to reduce wildlife entanglement and related hazards.

• 2020

  Australian Wildlife Society establishes new national head office[1]Australian Wildlife Societyen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The society established a new national head office in Hurstville, New South Wales.

• 2019

  Australian Wildlife Society appoints its first paid employee[1]Australian Wildlife Societyen.wikipedia.org

  Leadership change

  During its 110th-birthday year, the board engaged its first paid employee, a National Office Manager.

• 2013

  Wildlife Preservation Society of Australia adopts Australian Wildlife Society name[1]Australian Wildlife Societyen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The organisation rebranded as the Australian Wildlife Society, establishing the name used for its contemporary national activities.

• 2009

  Wildlife Preservation Society of Australia celebrates its centenary[1]Australian Wildlife Societyen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The society marked 100 years of wildlife conservation activity since its establishment in Sydney in 1909.

1. 1Australian Wildlife Societyen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Wildlife Preservation Society of Australia official websitewpsa.org.au