About Us

The South Oakleigh Wildlife Shelter is the largest shelter in the Melbourne Metropolitan area. Our rescue activities cover a vast region - all across the city and the south eastern suburbs. We travel hundreds of kilometres weekly rescuing injured and orphaned wildlife.

The South Oakleigh Wildlife Shelter is a voluntary non-profit organisation that rescues, rehabilitates and releases native wildlife, such as:

- Flying foxes and microbats
- Possums
- Magpies, Lorikeets, Cockatoos, Galahs, Corellas, Owls and other wild birds
- Lizards
- Turtles
- All other wildlife except snakes (this requires a registered snake handler)

The South Oakleigh Wildlife Shelter also helps to educate schools and the public in learning about our wildlife and what to do when they find injured wildlife.

The South Oakleigh Wildlife Shelter also operates an Emergency Response Unit which is available for bush fires, oil spills and other emergencies. We are contactable 24/7. ***Please never put human lives at risk, call experienced personnel at all times.

Michele's Wildlife Journey (Shelter Manager)

When Michele started an animal shelter a quarter of a century ago she had no idea what a wild ride she was in for. Since then, the dedicated rescuer has saved everything from tiny baby possums and kangaroo joeys to magpies, lizards and turtles. She has rescued, rehabilitated and released more than 20,000 injured and orphaned native animals in Melbourne's east — and she's never been busier and her unpaid duties never end.

Michele also spends her days at primary and secondary schools, teaching kids the importance of caring for wildlife and simple steps they can take to protect our animals.

For her dedication to animals and education, Michele was awarded with Order of Australia (OAM) in 2019 and was nominated for the 2018 Pride of Australia Award.

"Michele is a voice for those who don't have a voice in our suburbs, our native wildlife. And that is of tremendous value"