Fundraise for the Otways
Your friends and family could be part of helping vulnerable wildlife and habitat in the Otways.
We are raising funds for the critical recovery project after the devastating January 2026 bushfires in the Carlisle Heath.
Your fundraiser will support the:
Otways Bushfire Wildlife and Habitat Recovery Fund.
About the Otways Bushfire Wildlife and Habitat Recovery Fund.
The recent bushfires have torn through the Carlisle Heathlands in the Otways - a landscape of exceptional ecological importance.
This area supports some of the highest recorded densities of small mammals in south-west Victoria and is widely recognised as a critical stronghold for species that have declined dramatically elsewhere.
Our researchers have spent much of the past 10 years studying the Carlisle Heathlands, including the unique flora this area supports and the small mammals, such as the Long-nosed Potoroo who live there. And more recently, working with Traditional Owners to develop a vision for the biocultural management of this “Ground Parrot Country”.
While the full impact of this fire on wildlife and habitat will not be known for some time, this fund will support urgent action to protect surviving wildlife and fund research to inform the long-term recovery of the Carlisle Heathlands and surrounding habitats.
There are 2 easy options to set up your fundraiser:
Fundraise on FundraiseUP - This option will guide you through steps to create a fundraising page in the FundraiseUP platform, At the end, you will be emailed a link to your fundraising page. You can share this link with your friends and family over message, WhatsApp, Messenger, email, Facebook, anywhere you can post a link!
Fundraise on Facebook - If you have a Facebook account and your connections are also on Facebook, this is a good choice.
How to set up your fundraiser with FundraiseUP
(you will get emailed a link to your fundraising page)
Step 1. Click this button to start your fundraiser →
Step 2.
Enter what you want the name of your fundraiser to be. Add a image and a description (or keep the one there). If you want to add a goal amount and end date - click Add goal. Enter the amount and date and click Continue.
Step 3.
Enter your email address then Continue
Enter the verification code that was sent to your email.
Add your first and last name, then click Start Fundraising
Step 4.
Your fundraising page is complete! To share your fundraiser with your friends and family, just copy the link and paste it in a message, an email, on Facebook, on WhatsApp…anywhere!
You will also be emailed this information so it’s easy to find later.
Step 5.
This is what your fundraising dashboard looks like. Here is where you will see when donations start to come in.
How to set up your fundraiser on Facebook:
Step 1.
Log into your Facebook account and Tap the search icon (top right) and start typing Fundraisers then tap ‘Fundraisers’
Step 2.
Tap, Create fundraiser.
Start typing Conservation Ecology Centre in the search box, then tap when it appears.
Step 3.
You need to enter a title and description for your fundraiser. You can use your own words, or you’re welcome to use ours - just scroll below.
Step 4.
Choose a goal amount and tap Create!
Text and photos you are welcome to use for your fundraiser
If you are on a computer - right click on the photo and click save.
If you are on a smartphone (iPhone or Android)- tap and hold the photo and select ‘Save image in…’
FAQ
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No. All donations are done online (not cash), so this is all managed automatically between Facebook or FundraiseUP & us, the Conservation Ecology Centre.
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All donations over $2 are tax deductible. The CEC is an ACNC-registered charity. You don’t need to keep any records or do anything around this - but it’s good to know incase any of your lovely donors ask if their donation is tax deductible.
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This is handled automatically between Facebook or FundraiseUP and us, the Conservation Ecology Centre.
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All donations will go into our Otways Bushfire Wildlife and Habitat Recovery Fund. We are developing our response and recovery options now, alongside local agencies.
As soon as it is safe to do so we will act.
Actions may include:
Provision of habitat pod structures to provide refuge for small mammals.
Informing immediate predator control to protect surviving wildlife.
Installation of remote monitoring cameras so we can assess impacts on small mammal populations, monitor their responses and keep an eye out for predators.
Habitat restoration to prevent permanent loss of unique flora and rehabilitate critical small mammal habitat.
Vital research to build and share knowledge of how to effectively protect and restore these precious heathlands.
Long-term planning and advocacy to support ongoing recovery and ensure we are ready to respond to future events.
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If you want to run a Facebook Fundraiser then yes, you need a Facebook account. Otherwise you can fundraise through our fundraising platform, FundraiseUP. Instructions for both are on this page.
