Preventing harm through engagement and partnerships

Engagement

Illegal firewood Crime Stoppers campaign

We have strengthened our partnership with Crime Stoppers Victoria, expanding community reporting pathways beyond wildlife crime to include forest offences.

For a number of years we have been working with Crime Stoppers Victoria on wildlife crime initiatives, including our wildlife crime campaigns, and we’re now able to x this to other parts of our work.

Together we launched a new illegal firewood campaign, Illegal firewood: the cost is wild, in June 2026. The campaign aims to encourage Victorians to check their firewood has been legally sourced and report suspicious activity.

If you wish to report suspected forest crime or wildlife crime, please report to Crime Stoppers Victoria, online or by phone. We will continue to accept reports through DEECA Customer Contact Centre on 136 186 as well.

Report wildlife crime

Call Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000
Visit Crime Stoppers(opens in a new window)

Community events

We attended a number of community events this year, to engage with, and educate the public on what they can do to comply with the law and also how to report forest and wildlife crime. We engaged with over 7,500 people at these events.

Phillip Island Whale Festival and Melbourne Boat Show

We engaged with visitors of all ages at the Phillip Island Whale Festival in July and the Melbourne Boat Show in October through an interactive display stall, using educational resources and merchandise to promote awareness of laws that protect marine wildlife. Officers also delivered presentations on marine mammal regulations, our work through Operation Save Our Hooded Plovers Operation, and career pathways with the Conservation Regulator.

Both events provided valuable opportunities to connect with community members and partner organisations who share an interest in protecting Victoria’s marine environment. The strong level of engagement highlighted the community’s enthusiasm for marine wildlife conservation and responsible wildlife interactions.

Geelong Outdoor Living Expo

With more than 120 exhibitors and visitors attending from across Victoria, the event provided an excellent opportunity to connect with people who enjoy the outdoors and the natural environments. We welcomed questions, provided advice and discussed a range of topics including wildlife protection, public land use and responsible recreation.

The event generated strong community interest and valuable conversations about environmental stewardship and our role as a regulator.

Victorian Herpetological Reptile and Amphibian Expo

We attended the Victorian Herpetological Society Reptile and Amphibian Expo at Caulfield Racecourse in March, engaging with reptile and amphibian enthusiasts from across Victoria.

Officers answered questions throughout the day about wildlife licensing, licence upgrades and animal care requirements. We also provided information about legal obligations associated with keeping native reptiles and amphibians.

The event offered an excellent opportunity to engage directly with members of the wildlife-keeping community, support compliance through education, and raise awareness of our role in protecting Victoria’s wildlife.

Shepparton Bird Expo and Sale

At the Shepparton Bird Expo and Sale in May, we spoke with community members about legally acquiring native birds, licensing requirements and responsibilities, and the importance of providing appropriate care for captive wildlife. We answered questions about our role and responsibilities, generating valuable discussions about wildlife protection and responsible wildlife ownership.

The event demonstrated strong community interest in bird keeping and wildlife conservation, providing an opportunity to support compliance through education and build positive connections with attendees who share a passion for Victoria’s native wildlife.

Event schedule

2025

July

• Phillip Island Whale Festival, Gippsland
• Lardner Park Careers Expo, Gippsland

August

• Koroit Primary School, Barwon South West
• Ballarat Bird Expo, Grampians
• Goolum Goolum Pathways Expo, Grampians
• Swan Hill South Kindergarten, Loddon Mallee
• Birdlife Australia Presentation, Port Phillip, September
• Hope And Action school education day, Loddon Mallee, October
• Melbourne Boat Show, Port Phillip
• Stockman’s Rally, Hume

November

• 4WD Victoria Clean Up Mt Disappointment Day, Hume
• Sawmill Rally, Hume

December

• Sharing Our Shores, Gippsland

2026

January

• Geelong Outdoor Living and Caravan Expo, Barwon South West
• Hooked On Portland, Barwon South West

March

• Mitta Mitta Car/Trailbike Rally, Hume
• Licola Open Roads Rally, Gippsland
• Victorian Herpetological Society Reptile & Amphibian Expo, Port Phillip
• Wimmera Machinery Field Days, Grampians
• Bendigo Sustainability Festival, Loddon Mallee

May

• Birdlife Australia National Beach-nesting Birds Conference, South Australia
• Shepparton Bird Show, Hume
• Illegal Waste Dumping EPA and council forums, Various locations

June

• Hattah Desert Race, Loddon Mallee
• Templestowe Park Primary School, Port Phillip

Education resources online

Helping everyone understand the rules and why they matter is an important part of protecting Victoria’s landscapes, plants and wildlife. This year we made it easier to access and share information by launching a new Education Resources webpage, with materials for schools, community groups and the wider public.

In one easy to navigate section the page includes:

• Our Focus Species program for children aged 5–8.
• Curriculum-linked lesson plans for primary and secondary teachers.
• A wildlife crime education video explaining what wildlife crime is, how to report it, and how crimes are investigated.
• Downloadable resources for education and outreach, including brochures and children’s activities.

Explore our Education Resources page, download what you need, and share it with your school, workplace or community group. Together, we can help protect Victoria’s landscapes, plants and wildlife.

Visit Education resources(opens in a new window)
Visit Focus species program(opens in a new window)
Visit Resources for teachers(opens in a new window)
Visit Wildlife crime education video(opens in a new window)

Focus species program

This year, our Focus Species Program continues to promote wildlife protection by spotlighting key native species such as the bearded dragon, brush tailed phascogale, and hooded plover. The program shows how everyday actions, like responsible firewood collection and safer campfire behaviour directly influence the wellbeing of Victoria’s native animals.

Since the launch of the program in 2024, the program now features our curriculum linked lesson plans which help young people learn why wildlife protection rules exist and encourages lifelong conservation habits. New schools across the state continue to access these lesson plans, and since their launch in August 2024 they have been downloaded 652 times by 110 educators.

Explore our Focus Species resources, print them out or share them with your community, and play your part in ensuring these native species can thrive for generations to come.

Visit Focus species program(opens in a new window)

Wildlife dealers Christmas outreach

To support responsible pet ownership and protect animal welfare, we ran a targeted campaign for licensed wildlife dealers to help customers understand the rules, the long-term commitment and the care requirements involved in keeping native animals.

This campaign helps people make informed decisions before buying wildlife as a pet, reducing the risk of impulse purchases, poor housing or diet, and illegal actions such as taking animals from the wild or releasing pets.

Tertiary student engagement

Our partnership with the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) continues to deliver practical, research-driven insights while supporting the next generation of environmental professionals.

This year, RMIT students were able to contribute to the Conservation Regulator’s goals through developing public-facing communications on the topic of campfire safety and exploring community perceptions of possums, aiming to address misconceptions, reinforce their status as protected wildlife, and identify improved ways to engage the community on wildlife cruelty issues.

This collaboration highlighted the value of tertiary partnerships in strengthening evidence-based approaches and delivering meaningful outcomes for both students and the Conservation Regulator.