A Sanctuary With Heart
Kangaroo Haven is a registered wildlife sanctuary based in the East Kimberley region of Western Australia. Their mission is to rescue, rehabilitate, and release orphaned and injured wildlife — primarily kangaroos, but also birds of prey, parrots, and other native species.
Over the past 20 years, they have successfully released 853 kangaroos back into the wild, alongside a number of other native animals. The organization’s goal is always release, but in cases where an animal cannot safely return to the wild due to injury or imprinting, they provide these animals with a lifelong home where they help educate and inspire others.
The sanctuary operates seven days a week with the help of dedicated local volunteers, who arrive each morning between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. to assist with feeding, cleaning, and animal care. After the morning routine, founder Mandy Watson goes to work at the local high school, where she supports at-risk Indigenous teenagers, helping them re-engage with education and community life.
Volunteer Power: The Core of Kangaroo Haven
Kangaroo Haven is driven by volunteers. Every morning, local community members arrive — rain, shine, or wet season storm — to help feed, clean, and check on animals in care. Most volunteers have full-time jobs or other responsibilities, yet they start their day at 5 a.m. without fail. They assist with everything from bottle-feeding joeys and changing pouch bedding to cleaning bird cages and preparing food for birds of prey. This kind of commitment is what allows Kangaroo Haven to run without regular government funding.
“I’ve watched so many joeys come in broken and leave bounding with strength. That’s why I come back every morning. We’re not just helping animals — we’re healing them.”
– Long-time volunteer
Youth Engagement Program
Kangaroo Haven created their Youth Engagement and Volunteer Development Program to support young Aboriginal people in the East Kimberley who are facing challenges, including disconnection from school or involvement with the justice system. The program offers a safe, welcoming space where youth can build trust, feel valued, and experience the healing presence of animals. Through hands-on activities like feeding joeys, cleaning enclosures, and learning about wildlife care, participants begin to develop a sense of responsibility, empathy, and belonging.
The impact has already been powerful. Many young people are returning regularly, growing in confidence and finding a renewed sense of purpose. Kangaroo Haven believes that when youth are given the chance to care for something — and see that they are needed — they begin to see their own worth more clearly. By offering meaningful connection with animals and community, the program aims to reduce youth disengagement from education and offer positive, restorative pathways forward.
“When kids realize that these animals rely on them for survival, it softens something in them. It’s awesome to watch.”
– Luke Hatchman, Volunteer at Kangaroo Haven
Partnership With CAF America
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kangaroo Haven faced significant financial strain. With tourism halted and local fundraising efforts paused, their ability to source essential supplies was severely limited. At that time, the organization received two grants totaling $1,222 in 2019 and 2020 through CAF America, which came at a moment of urgent need.
The grants allowed Kangaroo Haven to purchase two bags of Wombaroo kangaroo milk, a specialized formula critical to the survival of orphaned joeys. Each bag costs just over $600, making them difficult to afford without external support. That milk fed several joeys who had recently come into the organization’s care, many of them found on roadsides next to their deceased mothers. Without that grant, they said they would have had to make heartbreaking decisions about which animals they could afford to keep alive, and that CAF America’s donors’ timely support helped them continue their life-saving work.
“CAF America’s support helped us keep going when things were really tough. It fed joeys when we had no other options. We’ll never forget it.”
– Mandy Watson, Founder, Kangaroo Haven
A Message from Kangaroo Haven
Kangaroo Haven is a small, community-powered sanctuary that operates without regular government funding or salaried staff. Their work is sustained by dedicated volunteers, local contributions, and occasional grants.
Driven by passion, purpose, and a strong sense of community, Kangaroo Haven provides essential care for joeys, maintains clean and safe enclosures, and fosters the next generation of carers and conservationists. The sanctuary also serves as a calm, welcoming space for young people — offering a sense of value, purpose, and belonging.
With additional resources, Kangaroo Haven hopes to:
- Expand and improve animal care facilities
- Improve access to the property to ensure animals in need can reach them promptly even in adverse weather
- Improve amenities for youth volunteers and visitors (donations from visitors contribute to a large part of their fundraising)
- Grow their Youth Engagement and Volunteer Development Program
- Strengthen community outreach to reduce local wildlife-related trauma and promote conservation
Though small in scale, Kangaroo Haven’s impact is deeply felt — by the animals they rescue, the young people they empower, the volunteers they inspire, and the community that sees them as a place of hope and healing.
“Working with CAF America has been a genuinely positive and encouraging experience. As a small sanctuary in one of Australia’s most remote areas, funding can be incredibly hard to come by. The support we received from CAF America during the COVID-19 pandemic was more than just financial – it was a reminder that our work matters to people far beyond our own region.
The grant process was clear and donor-focused, and we were trusted to put funds where they were most urgently needed. That grant, while modest in dollar value, meant survival for multiple animals in care.”
– Mandy Watson, Founder, Kangaroo Haven
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