Hugh Jackman has backed a major Australian wildlife conservation campaign after making a surprise video appearance at the inaugural Koala Gala organised by the Southern Highlands Wildlife Sanctuary(SHWS). The event marked the public launch of a fundraising drive focused on protecting wildlife habitat, expanding research and creating new conservation facilities in Bundanoon. The campaign comes as the sanctuary highlights the growing pressure on koalas and other native species from habitat loss and extinction risks. The gala also brought together conservation advocates, scientists, philanthropists, business leaders and members of the local community around a shared plan for long-term wildlife protection.
Hugh Jackman-backed koala campaign addressing habitat loss in Australia
The Southern Highlands Wildlife Sanctuary launched its public crowdfunding campaign at the Koala Gala on 16 May 2026 in Bowral. According to the sanctuary’s Koala Gala report, the event raised more than $120,000, giving the campaign an early boost as it seeks to turn community support into practical conservation work.The fundraising effort is centred on several connected goals. These include securing land for long-term habitat protection, expanding scientific research and developing conservation infrastructure in the Southern Highlands. The sanctuary says the campaign is intended to bring together community members, educators, scientists, wildlife carers, families, businesses and supporters from across Australia and beyond.
Koala. Image Credit: Southern Highlands Wildlife Sanctuary
Hugh Jackman helped bring wider attention to the conservation effort
Jackman’s involvement came through a surprise video message shown during the Koala Gala. The sanctuary identifies his message as a show of support for the organisation and its conservation vision.The actor was one of several notable figures connected with the evening. Australian performer Marcia Hines also featured at the event, while Southern Highlands Wildlife Sanctuary Executive Chair Peter Lewis addressed attendees about the urgency of protecting native wildlife.The sanctuary was intended to act as a rallying point for a wider discussion about wildlife extinction, habitat loss and the need for action. Jackman’s appearance helped add a national profile to an initiative that is rooted in the Southern Highlands.
What will the fundraising campaign build in the Southern Highlands
A major part of the campaign is the proposed SHWS Education Centre in Bundanoon. The fundraising campaign website explains that the centre is planned as a permanent conservation learning hub where students and members of the community can engage directly with wildlife science, habitat restoration and environmental education.The initial crowdfunding target for this part of the project is $500,000. The sanctuary says reaching that figure would help it break ground on the centre and establish a place where young people can learn about wildlife through practical experiences.The centre is expected to engage more than 1,000 students each year. The sanctuary also says the project could serve a wider region containing approximately 375,000 young people within reach of the Southern Highlands.Education is presented as an important part of the sanctuary’s wider conservation model. Research can help protect wildlife and rescue work can save individual animals, while education can influence how future generations understand and care for the natural environment.
The campaign also supports wildlife research and rehabilitation
The fundraising plans extend beyond education. The SHWS website explains that the sanctuary also wants to develop a dedicated wildlife research and rehabilitation facility.The proposed centre would support wildlife assessment, treatment, rehabilitation and monitored release programmes. Stage One is expected to require approximately $3.5 million, with the sanctuary intending to use the facility for threatened species, including koalas.The organisation says long-term koala conservation requires more than rescuing individual animals. Its plans include research, health screening, disease management and carefully monitored preparation before animals are released back into the wild. This approach is designed so that rehabilitation can contribute to healthier populations instead of focusing only on individual rescues.
The campaign aims to turn concern into long-term action
The SHWS says its campaign has been created at a time when Australians are increasingly hearing warnings about wildlife extinction and habitat loss. Its leadership has stressed that these problems should be addressed through practical action rather than treated as distant threats. With Jackman adding his public support through the Koala Gala, the campaign has gained a world famous prominent voice.