The Wombat Guy

We are addressing the lack of critical wildlife rescue, response, and rehabilitation in Australia, and how every Australian has a role to play in preserving and protecting wildlife whether on the ground or through activism.
The series also addresses cultural representation gaps in Australian media while delivering measurable conservation outcomes.
Josh Neille has an unusual background as an electrician at a regional gas plant, and challenges traditional environmentalist stereotypes. He creates authentic connections with audiences typically disengaged from conservation messaging, bridging divides between country and city, farmer and greenie, miner and conservationist, hunter and wildlife protector.

We envision Josh Neille becomes a significant voice for Wildlife in Australia, and his online popularity propels his conservation message to inspire action and change both locally and internationally.

Raise awareness around the key issues affecting wildlife such as 35% wildlife injuries due to vehicle collision, 10% wildlife injuries due to Dogs and Cats, 100 million estimated wildlife loss due to habitat destruction.

Raise awareness that volunteer wildlife rescuers draw on their own funds to spend, in some cases, tens of thousands of dollars every year on the rescue and rehabilitation of injured native animals. We are losing responders, not due to lack of compassion but burnout and financial ruin. Calling for the government to consider providing recurrent funding and reimburse volunteers for costs incurred during rescues.

Advocate for mental health assistance to all wildlife rescuers, carers, veterinary professionals and researchers through times of illness, injury, or crisis. and ensure a network of counselling professionals are available 24/7 and free of charge.

Josh is not your typical wildlife conservationist. Raised in a timber-town with a deeply connected community built on tree-logging, mining, and farming, Josh is a shift working sparkie at the local gas plant. Josh is a unifying force in the community – inspiring locals (and beyond) to care for our wildlife, whose habitats are under ever-increasing stress from human activity and a changing climate.
As previously stated, Josh’s authentic and humorous approach is a unifying forces across social divides.
Josh is a part of much wider national network of volunteer wildlife rescuers and carers whose work is rarely recognised. Through his genuine warmth, infectious energy, and determination Josh is using his online platforms to highlight the dedication of these invisible hero’s to the wider world.

Donations
Signing Petitions
Volunteering
Registering to become a carer
Awareness around wildlife roadstrike
Learn how to check a pouch