Get Involved
CVA Updates

5 Ways You Can Help the Bandicoot Right Now

Australia’s Eastern Barred Bandicoot made conservation history when in 2021 it moved from being classified as extinct in the wild in Victoria, to endangered. CVA is proud to have worked collaboratively with dedicated partner organisations, to significantly improve the population numbers of this rare marsupial.

From just 150 Eastern Barred Bandicoots in Australia in 2013 – there are now over 1500 bandicoots at breeding and conservation sites such as Woodlands Historic Park.

Our ambitious goal is to take this incredible and iconic Australian animal from its current endangered status – to thriving. We’re inviting everyone to get involved in taking tangible action to make a difference!

Below are 5 ways that you can get involved right now.

#1: Give the Gift of Conservation This Christmas 🎄

Celebrate the festive season by giving the ultimate sustainable gift: donate $25 or more to our Safeguard a Bandicoot campaign and receive an exclusive Eastern Barred Bandicoot-themed Christmas card which you can gift to someone special.

If you’re struggling to think of a unique and eco-conscious Christmas gift for a family member, friend, co-worker, or teacher this year – consider the gift of conservation.

A donation to support a charitable cause, like the recovery of the Eastern Barred Bandicoot, is a meaningful way to share your values with loved ones. And at the same time, you can support critical habitat protection for one of Australia’s most loved and endangered marsupials.

You can celebrate Christmas as a time to make a lasting contribution for nature, while helping to reduce consumerism.

🎄Give the gift of conservation this Christmas 🎄

#2: Volunteer at Woodlands Historic Park

Did you know that you can gain hands-on conservation experience at a bandicoot sanctuary, while learning more about these endangered animals? Join Travis Scicchitano, CVA’s Threatened Species Officer, and dedicated volunteers at the Woodlands Historic Park near Melbourne, Victoria.

At this Woodlands bandicoot sanctuary you can get involved in a range of meaningful activities to protect bandicoots and their habitat. This includes helping to maintain predator exclusion fencing, removing invasive weeds, monitoring bandicoot populations, and restoring the native grassland habitat.

As a volunteer you’ll be part of this historic conservation success story – Australia’s first species recovery of this kind. Volunteering at the Woodlands bandicoot sanctuary is suitable for all skill levels and is a great way to create a connection with a community of nature and conservation supporters.

👭 Volunteer to save bandicoots at Woodlands Historic Park 👭

#3: Take Action For Bandicoots with the CVA App

Wherever you live in Australia – even if you’re far away from the Woodlands Historic Park, you can get involved in helping these animals to bounce back from being endangered.

You can do this from the comfort of your own home by downloading the CVA App and learning about conservation volunteering events near your city. The App also empowers you to start your very own Nature Block, which is an area of native plants that can be as small as a pot plant or as large as an expansive frog bog.

Nature Blocks come in many sizes, making them perfect for renters, home owners and anyone who wants to support biodiversity and reduce the impacts of climate change. You can even get your local community involved in establishing a much larger Nature Block.

By growing your own Nature Block and planting climate-resilient native species in your backyard or on your balcony – you also help to provide important habitat corridors for wildlife. Habitat connectivity helps threatened species like bandicoots find places to take shelter, breed, and live.

One example of a type of Nature Block you can create is a Pollinator Garden, which supports a variety of bees, wasps, and other insects that help plants and crops to grow.

🪻Download the CVA App and start your own Nature Block today! 🪻

#4: Spread Awareness and Share the Story

You can help protect bandicoots by sharing their unique conservation story. Here are a few ways to raise awareness and encourage your friends and family to take action for bandicoots:

  • Tell your friends and family about the incredible, world-first conservation success achieved in Australia with the Eastern Barred Bandicoot.
  • Encourage your friends and family to share CVA’s bandicoot campaign content on social media and tag us in your social media posts about bandicoots. Here are the links to our Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram
  • Find out more about bandicoots and the threats they face: read this informational booklet to learn more about the Eastern Barred Bandicoot and the Woodlands Sanctuary.
  • Volunteer with CVA and learn hands-on about conservation work and how to prevent habitat loss, or start your own Nature Block to help support our incredible wildlife and biodiversity.
  • Raise awareness and learn about the importance of native grasslands for wildlife and biodiversity.
  • Sign up to our monthly newsletter to keep up-to-date about the latest conservation news in Australia.

#5: Support CVA’s Ongoing Conservation Work

Conservation Volunteers Australia has a long history of creating conservation impact and success in Australia. Founded in 1982, we’ve been working collaboratively with communities, volunteers and a range of partners to support and conserve biodiversity and threatened species across Australia.

Generous donations from our supporters is what helps to power the work that we do. We have an ambitious goal of another million actions for nature by 2030 and we need your help to achieve this.

In addition to our goal of raising $150,000 for bandicoot conservation this year, you can also support our other conservation activities by making a once-off or recurring monthly donation.

Donations to CVA help power our volunteer coordination at projects across the country, enable us to employ staff like Travis, and to work on collaborative conservation partnerships with organisations like Parks Victoria, Zoos Victoria, and others.

Our sincere gratitude to everyone who has supported our conservation efforts for over 40 years – we couldn’t do this with you.