The economic impact of wildlife care

The work of Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital, and the wildlife care sector generally has clear environmental benefits, helping to protect biodiversity and see threatened species on track to be released into the wild. It has social benefits too, by providing expert advice, support and empathy to wildlife carers who undertake emotionally and psychologically draining work on a voluntary basis.

Less is known about the economic benefits of wildlife care, so Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital commissioned Lawrence Consulting to undertake an assessment of the economic impact of the organisation’s operations in 2021/22, and forecast the value of its future operations based on supplied budgets for 2023-24. 

Based on supplied audited financial statements for 2021-22, BBWH has a net regional impact of $3.2 million in direct, indirect and consumption-related outputs for the Northern Rivers region, and $4.3 million for the state of NSW. BBWH provides approximately 7.0 direct full-time equivalent (FTE) employment positions, with an estimated additional 8.7 employment positions supported indirectly through other industries and household consumption for a total employment impact of 15.7 FTEs in the Northern Rivers, and 19.1 FTEs across NSW. 

The impact assessment also estimates that BBWH’s operations have a net industry value-added impact of $1.7 million in the Northern Rivers, and $2.3 million across NSW. 

Based on supplied budget forecasts for 2023-24, BBWH’s future annual operations are forecast to contribute $4.6 million p.a. in direct, indirect and consumption-related outputs for the Northern Rivers region, and $6.1 million p.a. for the state of NSW. Forecasts indicate that BBWH will support approximately 18.2 FTEs in the Northern Rivers and supporting 22.6 FTEs across NSW. 

An estimated contribution to GRP of $1.1 million from direct effects, a further flow on impact of $1.2 million through other industries, and an additional $0.7 million attributed to consumption- induced effects indicates that BBWH’s operations will have a net industry value added impact of $3.0 million in the Northern Rivers, and $4.1 million across NSW. 

Please contact us if you would like more detail on the report.