DELWP Wildlife incident and emergency tool
A tool created to assist the public with wounded or deceased wildlife
Executive Summary
Victoria faces a significant challenge with wildlife injuries and emergencies, with the ever looming impacts of climate change partnered with injuries from vehicle collisions, introduced species and a range of natural causes, Victoria faces an uphill battle to keep our precious fauna safe. Currently, there is no single, unified phone number for reporting these incidents; calls are fragmented across 000 and various wildlife groups, or individual local carers.
Further complicating this landscape are strained relationships between the Department and independent wildlife groups. These groups often operate territorially and express a significant lack of trust in the Department’s strategic direction and operational delivery. Additionally, the current registration process for new wildlife carers is a major barrier, hindering the growth of much-needed support.
To address these challenges, the Department of Environment, Land, Wildlife and Planning (DELWP) partnered with Code for Australia. Our three-person team, embedded within DELWP’s Wildlife team, embarked on a discovery phase to leverage technology for solutions.
The team built out an interactive map which would collect data of the encounter (where the animal was, the issue, what animal) and then supply a map of local carers as well as general first aid information.
To ensure comprehensive coverage, we also developed a second prototype for wildlife centers. This system enables them to easily register and create detailed profiles, including their operating hours, service area, and specific species expertise, thereby facilitating their integration into the new response network.
Accomplishments
Problem Solving and Innovation
Connected Users to Carers/Shelters: The web app effectively connects people with over 500 wildlife carers and shelters across Victoria, enabling greater services which helps Australia’s wildlife. These concepts have been used to educate other states and territories in Australia, as well as internationally in New Zealand and Canada
Iterative Designs Aimed At The End Users
Assisted Public with Wounded/Deceased Wildlife: The tool successfully helps the public report and get assistance for wounded or deceased wildlife incidents, using GEO location for easier access, as well as general first aid advice when dealing with Australia’s fauna.
Stakeholder Management & Onboarding Success
Improved Shelter Uptake and DELWP Relationship: The live web app has led to improved shelter uptake and response times, fostering a better relationship with DELWP (Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning).
1. Discovery
Our initial phase focused on deep immersion and understanding the complex landscape of wildlife rescue and rehabilitation in Victoria. With no prior domain knowledge, it was critical to gain a holistic perspective from all stakeholders. We achieved this through extensive fieldwork and qualitative research:
- Stakeholder Engagements: We attended multiple wildlife conventions and conducted on-site visits to various wildlife shelters, organisations, Parks Victoria, and Zoos Victoria. These engagements provided invaluable insights into operational workflows, existing challenges, and the intricate network of individuals and groups involved.
- Community Immersion: A cornerstone of Code for Australia’s methodology is fostering change through engagement. We traveled across the state, speaking directly with numerous volunteers and established wildlife organisations.
- Addressing Historical Tensions: A significant challenge identified early on was the strained relationship between the Department (DELWP) and independent wildlife organisations and shelters. For years, these groups felt unheard and unsupported. This historical distrust became evident during initial brainstorming sessions, which frequently transformed into forums for airing grievances about past departmental inaction. Navigating these deeply rooted frustrations required sensitivity and a persistent focus on demonstrating a new approach.
- Deconstructing Current Operations: By collaborating closely with key shelter networks, we documented their individual call-out and rescue protocols. This process made clear the fragmented and often inefficient nature of the current system.
2. Ideation
Our ideation phase was directly informed by the critical insights gathered during discovery, particularly the identified pain points of fragmented communication, lack of trust, and inefficient rescue coordination. We aimed to leverage technology to bridge these gaps and empower both the public and wildlife carers.
- Problem Framing
- Solution Brainstorming & Prioritisation
- Concept Development – Interactive Mapping Application
- Concept Development – Carer Onboarding and Profile Management
- Agile and Disruptive Approach
We continuously iterated on concepts, embraced rapid prototyping, and challenged existing assumptions within the Department. Our aim was not just to deliver a product, but to embed a more user-centered and iterative approach to problem-solving within DELWP’s future strategies for wildlife management.
3. Prototype
Our prototyping process was highly iterative and collaborative:
- Wireframing and Initial Prototype: Based on these initial visualisations, I developed detailed wireframes before moving into Sketch to create our first interactive prototype.
- Iterative User Testing and Redesign: We conducted multiple distinct stages of user testing and redesign. Each round provided invaluable feedback, leading to significant refinements in the tool’s functionality and interactivity. This iterative loop was vital in ensuring the final product was intuitive and highly usable for our diverse audience.
A critical aspect of the project involved integrating and structuring complex data sets:
- First Aid Database: We had to integrate a comprehensive first aid database covering over 100 different animal species, with the added complexity of adapting guidance based on over six potential outcomes (e.g., severe injury, minor injury, orphaned). This required careful information architecture to ensure users could quickly find relevant and accurate advice.
- Wildlife Shelter Database: Concurrently, we designed and defined the structure of our wildlife shelter database. This included determining the essential information each individual shelter or carer would need to provide upon sign-up, ensuring the data was robust enough to power the mapping and referral system accurately.
Development & Technical Considerations
With a robust data model and a growing database of wildlife carers and first aid information, our focus shifted to the development of the application. A key technical decision point arose when the Department was unwilling to permit development within their existing mapping infrastructure.
This led us to strategically pivot and leverage the Google Maps API for our application’s mapping functionality. This decision ensured flexibility and a familiar user experience for our target audience. The application’s core architecture is intentionally streamlined, relying on straightforward JavaScript and HTML. This approach facilitated rapid development and ensures maintainability for future iterations.
Release and Impact
Our release strategy was multifaceted, emphasising direct engagement and community buy in. We dedicated a full month to conducting six regional workshop days specifically for wildlife shelters. The primary goal of these sessions was hands-on support for onboarding, guiding shelters through the sign-up process and helping them establish their profiles within the new system.
Following these intensive regional workshops and extensive promotion within Victoria’s wildlife communities, the web application has now officially gone live and is accessible to all users. This marks a significant milestone as the tool enters its first iteration. The Department is committed to continuous improvement, with plans to release further updates and enhancements in the coming months.
The initial impact has been highly encouraging, demonstrating the power of a user-centered approach in fostering collaboration and efficiency. This early feedback validates our approach and underscores the positive shift in operational dynamics and inter-organizational trust.
“We are already seeing a difference in the shelters uptake and response, as well as a much better relationship with DELWP.” – Manager Biodiversity Regulation.
