Koala Hospital
Join us in supporting the Koala Hospital's next chapter
Help us support the Aussie family who've devoted their lives to rescuing, treating, and protecting North Queensland's largest wild koala population.
Make a DonationIntroducing The Signet Koala Hospital
At Signet, we're proud to recognise and support everyday Aussies striving to achieve the extraordinary. This year, we've partnered with the not-for-profit Koala Hospital on Magnetic Island, North Queensland, and the Aussie family who work tirelessly to keep it running.
Australia's unique wildlife is a vital part of our national identity, yet many species, like the beloved koala, are under threat. Since 2005, the Koala Hospital on Magnetic Island has been the sole provider for the care and treatment of the largest known colony of koalas in Northern Australia. Wildlife Veterinarian Dr. Ali Bee, along with her husband Tim and daughter Izzy, devote their time, personal finances, and even their own home to keep the hospital running.
If someone spots a sick or injured koala on Magnetic Island, they can always reach out to the Bee family for help. "We will arrange a rescue, diagnose, rehabilitate and then release the koala back to the wild, which is always the goal... to get them back out there. We don't get paid to do it. It's just something we think that needs to be done." says Dr Ali Bee, founder and Head Veterinarian.
Our Partnership
As the hospital relies entirely on donations, Ali and her family can only do so much. With a constant influx of koalas requiring care and an urgent need to expand operations, it's crucial that we do everything we can to help. That's why Signet has assisted the hospital with significant facility upgrades, ensuring every koala receives the critical care it needs.
"We had a very unexpected phone call from Signet, it was just this amazing offer of supporting us to be able to be here and do our work. It gives us the ability to fundraise and time to build our clinic up. We can now do sterile surgery and also any required X-rays right here in the new Signet Koala Hospital as opposed to having to travel back to the mainland. We couldn't have done it by ourselves. There was no way that we could have actually achieved this. So, that one phone call has been a life-changer for not only us but the thousands of koalas we will save over the coming years. It's just incredible." said Dr Ali Bee.
Our Mission
Our goal is to create a future where koalas are safe, thriving, and cared for when needed. Whether it's urgent medical treatment, habitat protection, or community education, we're doing everything we can to make that a reality.
Help Make A Difference
Your support helps the Bee Family and the Signet Koala Hospital rescue and rehabilitate sick, orphaned and injured koalas. Every donation provides essential medical care, food, medicine and shelter — giving these Aussie icons the best chance of returning to the wild.
Your contribution also supports vital research that will have long-lasting impacts on koala health and conservation across Australia. Donate today to help protect Australia’s koalas for generations to come.
Common Injuries & The Need For Care
Sadly, the koalas face a wide range of threats, including bushfires, car accidents, attacks from domestic pets, heatwaves, deforestation, tropical storms, green ant attacks, and the growing effects of climate change. Their need for specialised care is just as diverse, with koalas suffering from burns, cuts, infections, starvation, blindness, dehydration, fractures and broken limbs. At any given time, the Koala Hospital may be housing and caring for up to 20 koalas, each facing its own unique set of challenges and treatments.
Joeys
Orphaned joeys (baby koalas) are often found abandoned after losing their Mum and are too young to survive on their own. They require round-the-clock care until they are strong enough to be safely re-released into the wild. Sadly, there is a constant stream of the furry little babies being admitted to the Signet Koala Hospital. Although they are cute, it's a full-time job raising baby koalas. Without their Mums they can be a little clingy, attaching themselves to stuffed toys, each other and even Dr Ali.
“When a joey first comes into care, we will normally take them into the house and bottle-feed them every four hours, until they reach two kilos in weight. After that, we'll wean them off the milk and we'll move them out here into the koala kindergarten. It normally takes the joeys about four or five months to reach that final weight and also get to a confidence stage where they're able to climb trees and find leaf properly.”
The Eucalyptus Plantation
It's hard to imagine there would be a shortage of eucalyptus trees in Australia, but due to the fussy eating habits of the rescued koalas, the hospital is always chasing fresh leaves. A few years ago, Dr Ali Bee arranged a dedicated plot of land to create their own eucalyptus tree plantation, serving as the primary food source for the hospital to supply their hungry little patients. Unfortunately, it's still not enough food, and regular donations are needed to feed the koalas in rehabilitation.
About Magnetic Island
Off the coast of Townsville, within the UNESCO listed Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area in tropical North Queensland, lies Magnetic Island – lovingly referred to by locals as "Maggie." Covering 5,184 hectares and home to just 2,300 residents, the island is a sanctuary where 78% of the land is protected as national and conservation parks.
