2025 Impact Partner
This year’s FACTS Impact Partner (charity partner) is Southern Highlands Wildlife Sanctuary (SHWS). We will be raising much-needed funds for this worthy cause during the FACTS event.​​​
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​Southern Highlands Wildlife Sanctuary's Mission ​
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At present, our core focus is the rescue, treatment, and rehabilitation of injured wombats in the Southern Highlands, with a particular emphasis on combating mange - a debilitating condition threatening local populations.
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Looking ahead, we are building on this foundation to create long-term, science-led change. Through the establishment of a dedicated sanctuary in Bundanoon, we will create a national centre of excellence for wildlife rescue, research, habitat renewal, and environmental education. Our integrated approach combines frontline care with genetic and disease research, rewilding initiatives, and community engagement. Together, these efforts aim to deliver lasting ecological impact, strengthen biodiversity, and establish a model of conservation that is both locally grounded and globally relevant.​
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The Urgency
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The situation is critical. In 1900, there were an estimated two million koalas across New South Wales. Today, that number has plummeted to between 95,000 and 238,000, with very few remaining in Morton National Park. Even more concerning, around 80% of the population is affected by disease.
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If current trends continue, experts warn that koalas could be extinct in the wild in NSW by 2050. The loss would be devastating — not only for Australia’s biodiversity and natural heritage, but also for the generations who may never experience koalas outside of captivity.
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Join us in making an impact and supporting change.
