Project Hope Horse began 50 years ago back in 1973 when Val Collingwood wrote into RIDER magazine about the number of neglected horses in Australia and a way to help them. Her idea was to co-ordinate the rescue and rehabilitation of horses subjected to maltreatment or abuse.

Val’s letter resonated with RIDER's readers and the scheme was organised with Val leading the charge. The scheme took off and in 1993 became a registered charity with the name Project Hope Horse Welfare Victoria.

Horse welfare is on the forefront of a lot of Victorians minds. And to me personally, these gentle, kind animals have a special place in my heart. That’s why this year I have asked the government to allocate some money in this year’s state budget to support the vital work of Project Hope. Listen in to hear what this money would mean for Project Hope Horse Welfare and for improving horse welfare throughout Victoria.

Tonight, I’m chatting with Dr Jacquie Rand. Dr Rand is Emeritus Professor of Companion Animal Health at The University of Queensland (UQ) and Executive Director and Chief Scientist for the Australian Pet Welfare Foundation. The Australian Pet Welfare Foundation is the peak research body and advocate for pet welfare in Australia. As a not-for-profit organisation, it specialises in evidence-based solutions for reducing euthanasia in animal welfare shelters and local government facilities. Professor Rand has an outstanding research career in veterinary science spanning 45 years and is recognised as an international leader in two research fields - companion animal health and shelter medicine. She has worked extensively in shelter research, including collaborative studies over 14 years with the RSPCA, Animal Welfare League and local governments.

Tonight I’m speaking with Dr Elaine Ong, Veterinarian and Founder of Vets for Compassion.

Elaine has been the Principal surgeon and owner of the Balwyn Central Vet Hospital since 1995. She is the Founder of Vets For Compassion, a charity that sends vets and vet nurses to volunteer in underdeveloped countries in Asia. Teaching Vets to perform cat/dog birth control surgery, antirabies vaccinations and delivers animal welfare education. As well as being the Principal Trainer of the Train the Trainers Project in Asia.

As you all know we recently took some really positive steps forward for wildlife in parliament. After I introduced a bill to establish a new authority for wildlife rescue, modelled off other emergency services, like the SES and CFA - the government came to the table and agreed to work with me to fix wildlife rescue in Victoria. This new authority we’ve named Wildlife Rescue Victoria couldn’t have happened without people like Elaine providing me with advice and information around the changes we need. As a vet on the front line of the Victorian Bushfires, Elaine shares her thoughts on this new model and how she believes it will benefit wildlife.

Many of you know about the Kinley kangaroos, a kangaroo mob landlocked in the Kinley development site in Lilydale. You would also know that I have been doing everything in my power to save these kangaroos. What you may not know is all the work that goes on behind the scenes and all the incredible work happening around the clock by many people to ensure a positive outcome is reached for these kangaroos.

Today I’m talking to veterinarian Dr Natasha Bassett, a companion animal vet who volunteers her time in wildlife rescue and rehabilitation. She has been the triage vet for duck rescue since 2015 and worked in fireground search and rescue and triage, most recently in the Black Summer fires in NSW.

As both a vet and a passionate local Tash got involved very early on with the bid to save the Kinley roos. As an experienced vet working around the clock Tash shares her experience of working on the frontline to save the mob.