Raelene Braithwaite has played mum to over 20 joeys during her time as a wildlife carer.

Raelene, who works at the Dampier Post Office, has been a wildlife carer for around six years. She is also involved with the St John Ambulance volunteers in Karratha.

The injured or orphaned joeys are cared for at Raelene’s home and she even takes them to work with her if they are very young. When the joeys have reached around 14-18 months of age and are independent enough, Raelene returns them to the wild.

There are a small group of dedicated wildlife carers around Karratha who join Raelene in taking on sick, orphaned and injured animals. The carers, who have formed a tight but informal network, are also helped by local vets and wildlife specialists.

For Raelene, the biggest reward is successfully nursing sick or very young joeys back to health, and watching each of their different personalities develop. When asked about the joeys she has raised, Raelene remarks, “they just love you to death”.