- Published:
- Wednesday 9 September 2026
Victoria’s koalas are getting healthier habitat, more of the food they rely on and targeted support to keep populations thriving across the state.
The Carroll Labor Government is investing nearly $2.6 million to restore habitat, support koala populations and back new research into their health and genetics.
Victoria is home to around 225,000 koalas, with populations spread across a wide range of habitats across the state.
At Wilsons Prom, $600,000 is supporting the restoration of manna gum habitat – putting more of an important koala food source back into the landscape.
More than $1 million is supporting koala management on French Island, including on-ground management and work to develop a long-term plan for the island’s koalas.
The work is focused on supporting koala welfare while improving the health of the island’s landscape over time.
At Budj Bim, $250,000 is supporting post-fire recovery, building on $1 million already invested through BushBank to restore koala habitat following the 2019–20 bushfires.
Almost $50,000 is also supporting koala management on Raymond Island.
Funding will also support research into koala health and genetics, strengthening the evidence used to guide conservation and management across Victoria.
The package supports updates to koala welfare protocols to help ensure management is guided by the latest evidence and animal welfare standards.
Together, these projects will help protect the habitat koalas rely on and support healthy populations across Victoria.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Environment Jaclyn Symes
“Victoria is home to a large koala population and we want to keep it that way – with plenty of gum leaves to eat and healthy habitat to call home.”
“From restoring manna gums at Wilsons Prom to supporting koalas on French Island, we’re taking practical action to keep our koala populations healthy.”
“We’re backing our scientists to better understand Victoria’s koalas, so we can target our efforts where they’ll make the biggest difference.”