On 20 February 2026, Southern New England Landcare (SNEL) proudly took part in the UNE Lifesaver Day (O’s Day), delivering a vibrant Koala Education Stall led by Koala Conservation Officer Thaw Zaw, with support from Janeen Robb, Landholder Management Agreement Officer.
Throughout the afternoon, the stall attracted strong interest from students, particularly those studying education and environmental fields.
We shared a wide range of koala conservation and SNEL educational materials, including:
- Koala habitat restoration and tree-planting information
- I Spy Koala resources and Koala Smart education materials
- Key planting dates for koala habitat establishment
- Updates on the Northern Tablelands Partnership – NSW Koala Strategy
- SNEL information packs, highlighting our Landcare programs, volunteer opportunities, and ways to get involved
Students enjoyed hands-on learning experiences, including viewing a koala taxidermy specimen and koala fur, which sparked many great conversations about koala biology, habitat needs, and conservation challenges.
A fun koala photo frame also proved popular and helped create an engaging, welcoming space for discussion.
The stall ran from 3:00 - 6:00 pm and was busy throughout the afternoon.
Eighteen students signed up to stay involved in future SNEL and koala volunteer activities, including tree planting and conservation projects, and several expressed interest in reporting koala sightings on the UNE campus.
Overall, the event was a highly successful outreach activity, strengthening connections with university students, promoting SNEL’s work across the region, and building the next generation of koala champions.
All photos were taken with participant consent and may be shared on SNEL’s website and social media.
