Southern Koala and Echidna Rescue

What Southern Koala and Echidna Rescue does

Southern Koala and Echidna Rescue (SKER) is a registered Australian charity (ABN 76639222585) headquartered at 102 Kimbley Road, Onkaparinga Hills, South Australia, where it operates a 22-acre purpose-built rehabilitation facility and South Australia's only full-time dedicated wildlife veterinary clinic. Founded as a volunteer-led initiative and operationalised with the opening of the rehabilitation centre in October 2022, SKER provides 24/7 wildlife rescue, triage, veterinary treatment, and rehabilitation services focused on koalas and echidnas but covering more than 70 native species. Core technical infrastructure includes an on-site clinic with x-ray, ultrasound, blood testing, and surgical capability; a WIRES-funded Intensive Care Unit delivering oxygen therapy, precise temperature control, and continuous monitoring; a Koala Kindy staged joey-rehabilitation system; pre-release enclosures featuring large eucalyptus trees; an Embarr automated bushfire sprinkler protection system; and a browse-collection programme harvesting approximately 10 eucalyptus species from up to 60 locations across southern Adelaide with GARDENA-donated cutting equipment.

The organisation is entirely donation-funded for its rescue and rehabilitation work and does not receive government funding for these activities, although the City of Onkaparinga began providing small ongoing support for the vet centre in March 2026. Revenue is generated through suggested-tier individual donations (A$30, A$70, A$150, A$250), A$50 animal sponsorships, corporate sponsorship tiers (Silver, Bronze, Friend), grants from foundations such as WIRES, Alinta Energy, Foundation SA, Green Adelaide, Australian Wildlife Society, Wild Country Fund, Awesome Foundation Fleurieu, and Human Kind Studios, merchandise sales through a Square-hosted 'Koala-ty' storefront, community fundraising events (quiz nights, market stalls, festival appearances), cause-marketing partnerships with Dinki Co and About a Dog, cryptocurrency donations, and international giving via GlobalGiving. Operational delivery is overwhelmingly volunteer-driven, with the volunteer base contributing more than 7,000 hours in FY25 and a full-time wildlife veterinarian added in 2024 as the only paid clinical staff member.

SKER's go-to-market is community-led and grassroots, relying on social media, earned media (7 News, The Dodo, That's Life Magazine, Australian Wildlife Society Journal), educational resources distributed for free download, highway signage on the Southern Expressway prompting recall of the 0435 056 252 rescue hotline, and event participation. Strategic partnerships extend its reach into research through the Jo Griffith Research Initiative and collaborations with the University of Adelaide and other Australian universities, into advocacy through a 2025 partnership with the Department for Infrastructure and Transport to trial 'Green Fencing' on the Southern Expressway, and into habitat restoration through an ongoing three-year planting partnership with Biodiversity McLaren Vale and the Green Adelaide Grassroots Grants programme. Reported cumulative impact includes more than 4,700 hotline calls answered, over 2,300 rescues attended, more than 500 animals rehabilitated and released, and over 2,000 endemic native plants established on-site since 2021.

Name

Southern Koala and Echidna Rescue

Legal name

Southern Koala and Echidna Rescue Ltd

Website

https://sker.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Southern Koala and Echidna Rescue is a South Australian registered charity operating the state's only full-time wildlife veterinary clinic and 22-acre rehabilitation centre, providing 24/7 rescue and rehabilitation for koalas, echidnas, and other native wildlife, funded by donations and volunteers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Services

NAICS

Veterinary Services (54194), Support Activities for Animal Production (115210)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation & Release (BPAGAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Veterinary Charity Clinics & Medical Aid (BPAGAIAD), Sanctuaries & Long-Term Care (Farm, Equine, Exotic) (BPAGAIAH)

Keywords

• Wildlife rescue services
• Koala rehabilitation care
• Echidna conservation
• Native animal veterinary care
• Habitat revegetation

Headquarters

HQ city

Green Hills

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Sponsorship: SKER is entirely donation-funded and does not receive government funding. Sources include one-time and recurring donations from the public, corporate sponsorships at Silver, Bronze, and Friend tiers, and animal sponsorship programs where sponsors contribute $50 per animal.
2. Wildlife Rehabilitation Services: SKER provides free 24/7 wildlife rescue and rehabilitation services to the community, funded entirely by donations. The organisation operates SA's only dedicated full-time wildlife vet clinic.
3. Merchandise Sales: SKER sells koala-themed merchandise including the Koala-ty wine range, calendars, Christmas merchandise, and branded items through its online shop and at community events and market stalls.
4. Fundraising Events: SKER organises quiz nights, market stalls, and community fundraising events. Corporate partners and local businesses donate prizes for raffles and auctions.
5. Cryptocurrency Donations: SKER accepts Ethereum and Bitcoin donations via published wallet addresses, and is registered with GlobalGiving to allow US and UK donors to make tax-deductible donations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SKER provides free 24/7 wildlife rescue, on-site veterinary treatment, and rehabilitation for sick, injured, and orphaned koalas, echidnas, and other native animals across South Australia from its 22-acre rehabilitation centre in Onkaparinga Hills. The service spans rescue hotline response, full-time wildlife veterinary clinic (x-ray, ultrasound, blood testing, ICU, surgery), staged rehabilitation in purpose-built enclosures, and release back into revegetated habitat.

Product overview

Southern Koala and Echidna Rescue (SKER) is a registered charity providing wildlife rescue and rehabilitation services as a unified service rather than a platform. The core offering centers on a 24/7 wildlife rescue hotline (0435 056 252) connected to SA's only full-time wildlife veterinary clinic and 22-acre rehabilitation centre opened in 2022. Supporting services include a wildlife sponsorship program ($50 per animal), Koala-ty merchandise shop, donation processing (PayPal, bank transfer, cryptocurrency, Global Giving), educational resources for download, the Jo Griffith Research Initiative for wildlife studies, and a revegetation program. Additional engagement pathways include corporate sponsorship through Benevity and 1% for the Planet, volunteer program, fundraising support, and legacy giving. The organization does not receive government funding for rescue and rehabilitation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Jo Griffith Research Initiative: Research initiative developed to honour Dr Joanna Griffith's life's work and passion for wildlife, supporting and developing research across Australia for the betterment of Australian native species with a focus on koalas and echidnas

Products and services

• 24/7 Wildlife Rescue Hotline Round-the-clock emergency rescue hotline (0435 056 252) staffed by trained volunteers for sick or injured koalas and echidnas in South Australia.
• On-Site Wildlife Veterinary Clinic South Australia's only full-time wildlife veterinary clinic providing immediate treatment 24/7, including x-ray, ultrasound, blood testing, ICU, and surgery for rescued koalas, echidnas, and other native wildlife.
• Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre 22-acre purpose-built rehabilitation facility with indoor hospital pens, outdoor enclosures, pre-release yards, Koala Kindy joey facility, dedicated echidna recovery areas, and Embarr automated bushfire sprinkler protection.
• Wildlife Sponsorship Program Program allowing supporters to sponsor animals currently in care at $50 each, receiving a digital certificate and contributing to ongoing care costs.
• Koala-ty Merchandise Shop Online and event-based retail shop selling koala-themed merchandise including the SKER Koala and Echidna Wine range, calendars, Christmas merchandise, and other branded goods, with all proceeds supporting wildlife rescue.
• Jo Griffith Research Initiative Research program honouring Dr Joanna Griffith that supports wildlife studies across Australia with a focus on koalas and echidnas, providing biological samples and data for ethically approved university research projects.
• Donation Processing Service Donation processing service offering one-time, weekly, and monthly recurring donations via PayPal, bank transfer, cryptocurrency (Bitcoin and Ethereum), and GlobalGiving, with optional processing-fee coverage to ensure SKER receives the full amount.
• Educational Resources Free downloadable educational resources covering wildlife contact information, koala and echidna handling guidance, bushfire preparedness, pool safety, and community fundraising materials.
• Revegetation and Habitat Restoration Program Habitat restoration initiative planting endemic native vegetation on SKER's property to provide food and shelter for koalas, echidnas, and other native wildlife, with over 2,000 native plants established since 2021.
• Legacy Giving Program Bequest program allowing supporters to leave a gift to SKER in their will, providing long-term funding for wildlife conservation and rehabilitation operations.

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• SASH Small Animal Specialist HospitalminorOthersProvides goods and services pro-bono or at greatly reduced rates, enabling SKER to allocate more resources to direct animal care.
• EdenhillsminorOthersProvides goods and services pro-bono or at greatly reduced rates to support SKER's operations.
• The Woohoo Co.minorOthersProvides goods and services pro-bono or at greatly reduced rates, helping SKER reduce operational costs.
• Repco MarionminorOthersDonates a portion of product sales proceeds to SKER, supporting wildlife rescue through everyday purchases.
• MedVet ConceptscoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides servicing for SKER's on-site x-ray machine and donated an autoclave for sterilising surgical instruments. Their expertise and prompt response times are invaluable for accurate wildlife diagnosis and treatment.
• GardenaminorOthersDonated cutting equipment (telescopic tree pruning loppers) to SKER, making browse collection safer and more efficient for collecting eucalyptus feed for koalas in care.
• 1% for the PlanetminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSKER is a vetted Environmental Partner of 1% for the Planet, connecting the organisation with businesses and consumers committed to environmental giving.
• Biodiversity McLaren ValecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConducts annual field days and working bees at SKER's 22-acre property with 40-100 volunteers to remove invasive vegetation, nurture past revegetation, and plant endemic species. Three-year planting partnership ongoing.
• Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnering with SKER to trial the innovative 'Green Fencing' concept along the Southern Expressway as part of the Majors Road Upgrade, planting dense native hedging to create natural wildlife barriers and reduce road strike fatalities.
• Main & CherryminorOthersPromotes and supports SKER's fundraising events in the Adelaide Hills community.
• Raine & Horne MorphettvaleminorOthersSupports and promotes SKER's fundraising events.
• Dinki CominorOthersManufacturer of Koala Farts eucalyptus disinfectant spray, donating 50% of profits to SKER. Cross-promotional partnership spanning five years, with both organisations supporting native wildlife conservation.
• BenevityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSKER is registered on the Benevity platform, enabling corporate employees to make workplace donations to SKER through employee giving programmes.
• Little PhilminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSKER is registered on the Little Phil platform, facilitating donations from supporters.
• Beyond BankminorOthersCommunity savings account option where customers can direct savings support to SKER at no cost, earning donations for the organisation while saving.
• University of Adelaide (WESIG)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSKER is a 2022 Gold Sponsor of the Wildlife and Exotics Special Interest Group at the University of Adelaide, supporting future generations of wildlife veterinarians, technicians, and animal scientists.
• Various Australian UniversitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSKER collaborates with universities across Australia and internationally, providing biological samples and data for ethically approved research projects focused on koalas and echidnas, supporting the Jo Griffith Research Initiative.
• About a DogminorOthersAustralian manufacturer of recycled toilet paper that donates 50% of profits to SKER when customers select SKER as their charity at checkout.
• Entertainment BookminorOthersSKER receives fundraising support through the Entertainment Book fundraising programme, where purchases of memberships generate donations for SKER.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• WWF-Australia: Major environmental and species conservation NGO active in koala habitat protection and policy advocacy. Comparable to SKER in advocacy (e.g., Green Fencing) and revegetation goals, but operates nationally with corporate partnerships at scale.
• RSPCA Australia: National animal welfare charity providing rescue, rehabilitation, and veterinary services across Australia. Overlaps with SKER in animal welfare mission and donation-based funding but operates across species and states at much larger scale.
• WIRES: Australia's largest wildlife rescue organisation, operating across NSW and nationally. Directly comparable to SKER as a donation-funded wildlife rescue and rehabilitation charity; WIRES also funds SKER's ICU via its National Grants Program, establishing SKER as a downstream partner rather than pure competitor.
• Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors: Large conservation charity associated with Australia Zoo, funding wildlife rescue, research, and habitat protection nationally. Comparable mission to SKER but with vastly greater brand, scale, and corporate fundraising capacity.

Direct peers

• Port Macquarie Koala Hospital: Australia's first koala hospital, operating a full-time veterinary clinic and hospital dedicated to koala rescue, treatment, and rehabilitation in NSW. Directly comparable to SKER's on-site vet clinic and Koala Kindy model — the closest functional peer in purpose-built koala veterinary infrastructure.
• Koala Conservation Australia (previously Koala Hospital): Rehabilitation, research, and conservation body focused on koala care in NSW and QLD. Comparable to SKER in mission, vet clinic operations, and university research partnerships, though at larger scale.
• Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital: Not-for-profit purpose-built wildlife hospital on the NSW far north coast offering full-time veterinary care to native wildlife. Closest direct peer to SKER's SA vet clinic model in terms of facility design and free-to-public wildlife services.
• Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary: Tasmanian wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and sanctuary operating 24/7 with an on-site vet and education programs. Directly comparable to SKER in operating model, volunteer dependence, and small-team wildlife hospital structure.

Regional players

• Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park / KI Wildlife Rescue: Wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and tourism operation in South Australia serving koalas and other native wildlife. Regional peer operating in the same state and species focus, sharing donor overlap and bushfire-response context with SKER.
• Wildlife Victoria: State-wide wildlife rescue network in Victoria offering 24/7 rescue hotline and volunteer-based rehabilitation. Directly comparable business model (donation-funded, volunteer-led, hotline-driven) but operating in a different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCdX
• Facebookfacebook.com/SouthernKoalaAndEchidnaRescue
• Instagraminstagram.com/southernkoalaandechidnarescue
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/southern-koala-and-echidna-rescue

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Southern Koala and Echidna Rescue