To be clear, a company’s HR department should have a solid onboarding process in place, and managers should put energy into making new hires feel welcome. But what if your company doesn’t yet have an HR department? Or what if your manager is less than forthcoming?

Even if you do start on the wrong foot (it happens!), if you continually challenge that initial experience in multiple different settings, your colleagues may eventually change their mind about you.

You need to ensure your own first-week success. I spoke with HR professionals, career coaches, and executives to get their best tips for new hires who want to start on the right foot, and this is what they said.

Why is your first week on the job crucial for long-term success?

First impressions only happen once, and they can last a lifetime. No pressure, right? But just how important are first impressions to the long-term success of your career? Let’s see what the research suggests about your initial period on a new job.

• The majority of executives give new hires less than three months to prove themselves. A 2016 Robert Half study found that 63% of CFOs allow a new employee less than three months to show their value—and 9% give them less than a month.
• Ninety-one percent of employees consider quitting a job within the first month. That’s just one of the findings from a 2018 Robert Half study of 9,000 job seekers in 11 countries. Poor management, inconsistency between how a job was advertised and how it plays out in real life, failure to fit in with corporate culture, and a poor onboarding experience were all reasons that might send a new hire packing. How you start a job has a huge impact on how things go long-term.
• Science suggests that first impressions are annoyingly persistent. According to a 2010 University of Western Ontario study, even if you later present yourself in ways that challenge a person’s first impression of you, their initial judgment tends to linger—especially within the same context in which they first met you.

“Imagine you have a new colleague at work and your impression of that person is not very favorable,” says the study’s lead author, Bertram Gawronski. “A few weeks later, you meet your colleague at a party and you realize he is actually a very nice guy. Although you know your first impression was wrong, your gut response to your new colleague will be influenced by your new experience only in contexts that are similar to the party. However, your first impression will still dominate in all other contexts.”

63% of CFOs allow a new employee less than three months to show their value—and 9% give them less than a month.

The good news? Even if you do start on the wrong foot (it happens!), if you continually challenge that initial experience in multiple different settings, your colleagues may eventually change their mind about you.

1. One week before you start: Do your research

Before your first day, experts recommend you research the company. Check out social media posts to get a feel for the office culture and appropriate attire.

“If the hiring manager didn’t provide you with a first-day checklist, reach out a few days prior and ask if there’s anything they’d like you to bring or prepare,” suggests Jon Hill, chairman and CEO of recruiting firm The Energists. “Get a copy of the employee handbook before your first day so you can review it and know what questions you have in advance.”

Depending on your role, it may also help to

• Research your company’s competitors.
• Test out the software you’ll be using on the job.
• Look up your colleagues’ LinkedIn profiles.

2. One week before you start: Test run everything

If you’ll be working on-site, test your commute. If you’ll be working from home, test your internet connection, computer, software, and other equipment you’ll need for the job. Know that everything works smoothly to help you relax for the big day.

“Demonstrating a desire to be proactive and prepared will make a great impression and show your employer that you want to have the best start possible and be effective from day one.”

– Christa Juenger, VP of Strategy and Coaching Services, Intoo USA

3. Three days ahead: Make contact with your manager

Your manager chose you, and they want you to succeed. Before day one, send them an email or a Slack message to check in.

“Ask about how people in the office generally dress for work (even when working from home!), whether there is anything specific that would be helpful to know on your first day, if you’ll need to bring or prepare anything special with you that day, and what might be expected of you in your first week,” recommends Christa Juenger, VP of Strategy and Coaching Services at Intoo USA. “Demonstrating a desire to be proactive and prepared will make a great impression and show your employer that you want to have the best start possible and be effective from day one.”

4. The day before you start: Confirm your schedule

Don’t assume you know what time to show up or when your lunch break is. Even if it’s in the job description, there might be important details missing. That’s what happened to Jack Zmudzinski, a Senior Associate at software development company Future Processing. 

“I once started a job and turned up for the first day at 9 a.m. as per the job description. When I arrived, the whole team was already there finishing up with chatting over breakfast,” recalls  Zmudzinski. “Nobody had thought to tell me that this was the routine, and I ended up feeling awkward.”

To avoid a mishap like this, ask about schedules and routines ahead of time. What time will you be expected to arrive? What time does everyone usually leave? When is your lunch break and for how long?

5. On your first day: Introduce yourself to the team—virtually or in person

Your arrival on-site (or online) should never be a surprise to the rest of the company. HR or your boss will usually introduce you to the team before you start. But if they don’t, take the initiative to do so yourself. Ask your boss if you can send an email or a Slack message to let your team know who you are and what you do.

6. On your first day: Arrive early

To show up late at work, especially during your first week, is never a good signal. Plan your commute to account for traffic jams, getting lost, and parking. Zoë Morris, president of Frank Recruitment Group, recommends getting to your job 30 to 40 minutes earlier than you normally would.

“If there are delays getting there, then it should still leave you more than enough of a buffer to arrive on time without feeling panicked,” she explains. “And if there are no disasters, then it gives you a chance to go and grab a coffee and relax for half an hour before getting to work. It’s a win-win situation and puts you in the best possible position to avoid being late on your first day.”

What if your company doesn’t yet have an HR department? Or what if your manager is less than forthcoming? You need to ensure your own first-week success.

7. In your first week: Find a buddy

Some workplaces pair every new hire with an onboarding buddy or mentor. If you aren’t so lucky, find one yourself. Your LinkedIn research will come in handy to help you identify potential work friends and their interests to help you start a conversation.

Worried about lunch alone? Don’t wait for an invite. Be the person who invites someone to lunch. “You don’t have to gregariously go over to everyone’s desk, hug, and shake their hand on the first day, but don’t be a snob either,” says Paul French, managing director of Intrinsic Executive Search.” It helps to be friendly to your coworkers from day one.

French recommends introducing yourself to your teammates and offering to treat them to lunch.

“Show that you are happy to be part of the team and that you are looking forward to building a great working relationship with everyone.”

If you’re on a remote team, schedule virtual coffee chats with your new teammates to have one-on-one time with each person. This will go a long way toward building rapport.

8. In your first week: Meet with your manager one-on-one

Microsoft analyzed the early behaviors of about 3,000 new hires. It found that when new employees met with their manager one-on-one during their first week, they benefited in three ways:

• They had a larger internal network, which boosted feelings of belonging and increased their chances of staying longer.
• They had better meetings.
• They spent more time collaborating with their team than those who failed to have the one-on-one.

Make time to check in with your manager during your first week. It can pay dividends in the long run.

9. Every day: Don’t be afraid to ask questions

When you’re a new hire, you want to appear capable and confident to prove your value. But don’t be afraid to ask questions—especially if you’re remote.

“One thing people misunderstand about remote-first impressions is confusing asking questions to clarify tasks with pestering or being in the way,” says Tony Giacobbe, HR leader at Amica Senior Lifestyles. “It is incredibly rare for a manager to get annoyed if an employee clarifies a task to perform it better.”

Giacobbe suggests pinging your manager on Slack and being specific and unobtrusive about your request. Something as simple as, “Can you spare two minutes to hop on a call about XYZ?” is fine. 

And if you’re trying to strike up a conversation to get to know your coworkers, asking lots of questions is favorable. According to research from Harvard University, asking follow-up questions makes people like you more. A follow-up question is one in which you touch on a topic that your conversation partner already mentioned, typically immediately preceding your question. A follow-up question might go something like this:

You: “So what do you do?”

Colleague: “I lead the content marketing team.”

You: “Oh, nice! I love reading the company blog. How do you come up with those article ideas?”

The worst type of question you can ask? A full switch. This is when you completely change the topic. An example of a full switch would be:

You: “So what do you do?”

Colleague: “I lead the content marketing team.”

You: “Cool. What are some of your hobbies?”

In the Harvard study, full-switch questions were rated by coders as being the least responsive. They change topics and signal to your partner that you weren’t listening.

10. Every day: Practice extra self-care

“You will most likely have the first-week jitters and some level of stress regardless of how much experience you have,” says career coach Lesli Smith. “Always go back to the basics of self-care when you’re stressed, such as sleep, hydration, and nutrition.” 

Beyond that, Smith recommends anything that can help calm you, including meditation, journaling, breathing exercises, physical exercise, or simply making a list of things you’re grateful for.

Parting words: Relax, they already like you

To feel nervous before your start date is completely normal. Just remember that if the company didn’t wholeheartedly believe you were the right person, they wouldn’t have chosen you. Armed with these tips, you can prove that their decision was correct.

If you’re still losing sleep over your first week at work, take solace in this piece of advice from Kuldeep Andhare, a Manager and Solution Architect who frequently hires for his software consulting firm: “Always remember they hired you because they liked you,” he says. “It was not just your talent and experience that they liked, but it was something more than that.”

This article ‘10 expert tips for starting a new job to ensure success‘ was first featured on A Blog for Team by Trello by Amy Rigby

The post 10 expert tips for starting a new job to ensure success appeared first on Coastbeat.

Dwindling Numbers 

There is every chance the coastal emu – cut off from its more numerous relatives across the Great Dividing Range – never had a huge population, although early Europeans recorded them as being plentiful along the coast before going into rapid decline during the next century. Numbers are now so small they are difficult to count or estimate.

The sparse remaining groups live in areas between Diggers Camp, near Wooli on the Clarence Coast, in the south and Bungawalbin, near the Richmond River, in the north and bounded by the Clarence River to the west. According to the Coastal Emus: Sighting Data Analysis, released in July 2020, there could have been as few as 26 adult birds remaining, with a slightly smaller number of juveniles, although the scarcity of the animals and difficulty accessing their home range make getting an accurate count problematic.

Hotspot for Sightings 

It wasn’t too long ago coastal emus were sighted on the Coffs Coast, with a few birds regularly seen between Red Rock and Corindi. Locals say, however, that after a male was killed by dogs about 2005, the remaining emus seemed to leave the area.

With their range contracting, the Coastal Emu Register organised by Clarence Valley Council has been established so people can record when and where the birds are seen. The hotspot for sightings is along Brooms Head Road between Maclean and the coast, with more than 200 seen there in the past two years, although this number will include multiple sightings of the same animals.

This was where Nicky Priest spotted the remarkable sight of a dozen of the emus crossing on May 20 this year.

Threats to Survival

Proximity to vehicles is, however, one of the biggest threats to their survival.

“Vehicle strike continues to be a threat to coastal emus throughout their range,” Coastal Emus: Sighting Data Analysis states. Most recently, a male nurturing five chicks was killed after being hit by a vehicle on Brooms Head Road on February 19 this year.

“NPWS data shows that 74 endangered coastal emus were killed by vehicles since the start of 2000. 

“A study into the frequency and causes of emu-vehicle collisions in the Clarence Valley by Sinclair Knight Merz (2018) found that there is a higher incidence of vehicle strike on roads when the road is within 40 metres of a waterbody, is adjacent to forested areas rather than cleared paddocks, has vegetation greater than two metres high within 10 metres of the road edge, when the roadside is unfenced, or when the fence is within 5 metres from the road edge. 

“This suggests that emus are moving through the landscape and crossing roads for food and water resources, but unable to cross with ease when fences are present. When crossing a road, a coastal emu is more likely to be struck by a vehicle when visibility at the road edge is poor or a fence close to the road edge prevents the emu from leaving the road efficiently when a vehicle is approaching.”

Other threats to the coastal emu’s survival are pigs, wild dogs and foxes preying on eggs and chicks, habitat loss and degradation of ecosystems.

How You Can Help Coastal Emus

• Take care when driving through areas of known habitat to avoid collision with birds and use signage to notify drivers of the presence and risk of harm to emus.
• Control feral predators and restrain domestic dogs.
• Protect known and potential habitat from frequent fires and protect nesting birds from fire.
• Protect areas of known and potential habitat from clearing or development.
• Report records of emus, especially nesting birds or chicks to the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) as well as on the Coastal Emu Register.
• Report illegal killing of emus to the OEH.

The post Trail of Coastal Emus Growing Faint appeared first on Coastbeat.

If you’ve ever come across an injured animal and called WIRES (Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service Inc) for assistance, you’ve probably wondered what happens next. Joan O’Shea is a licensed wildlife carer and active member of Clarence Valley WIRES. For more than 20 years she has volunteered to care for kangaroos, birds, lizards, turtles, frogs and possums around the clock as they recover from trauma, attacks and abandonment. Joan has answered calls for help in the early hours of the morning and woken up to feed 10 needy joeys multiple times through the night. 

“I’ve felt a love for animals my whole life,” Joan reflects as a young butcher bird outside her window sings its song. “My mother was very kind to animals so perhaps I got it from her.”  

Before her local WIRES branch was up and running, Joan had a friend who worked for National Parks who would bring animals in need of care to her. When the organisation was established, she joined and began to help with animal rescues. Joan explains that once collected, the creatures are taken to local vets who assess their injuries and determine whether or not they can be rehabilitated.

“If it’s a kangaroo with a broken leg, that’s not good news; you can’t put it in plaster,” she says. “The young kangaroo I currently have, Sammy, had a nasty wound on his leg but it’s healing well.”

“The vets in our network are very supportive and cover the cost of consultations and x-rays,” Joan continues. “But I pay for the necessary medication.”

WIRES reimburse members who pay for medication, but Joan is happy to use her own money as a way of giving back to the animals. Impressive as that is, her generosity extends far beyond vet bills.   

“Caring for wildlife requires patience, passion and commitment,” Joan says. “All of my days revolve around feeding the animals, cleaning them and attending to their various wounds.” 

Once the wildlife in Joan’s care have grown or healed, they’re either sent to another WIRES carer for the next stage of rehabilitation or released back into their original habitat. 

“It’s important to remember where an animal was found because we try to take them back to that same area,” she explains. “Kangaroos have their local troop and birds stick together too; some aren’t very nice to intruders!” 

Joan says that the most rewarding part of her role is seeing animals progress to the point where they can return to their homes in the bush. She admits it’s hard to let go but knows they belong in the wild. Watching Joan carefully remove a joey from a “pouch” she has sewn herself and gently reassure it, it’s clear that she treats the animals with genuine love and tenderness. 

“The creatures we care for don’t have a choice but we have choices so we should always be kind to them,” she smiles as she adjusts the tiny joey’s heat pad. “We could all use a little more kindness.” 

Read about plans for a dedicated Wildlife Hospital in Byron Bay here.

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The post A Day In The Life…Of A North Coast Wildlife Carer appeared first on Coastbeat.

Did you know that…

There are about 1,700 types of “true blue” bees that are endemic or can only be found in Australia. 

Yes, that’s a lot of bees. But the more bees, the honey-er it gets. These bees may look like a bigger and fuzzier honeybee, but there’s more to them than meets the eye. Some of these bees nest underground. They also create a teeny tiny loose soil door for them to burrow in and out of their nest. 

Other bees nest on creek banks, and even in tiny hollows drilled into timber. The bees in Australia are solitary bees. They just go about their business in collecting pollen and a bit of honey, seal it in with their larvae, and then abandon their nest.

Australian native bees come in many shapes and colours

They can be metallic green, black, yellow, red, or even black with little blue polka dots. They can be fat and furry OR sleek and shiny.

To the untrained eye, they may look like the same old hairy and buzzy, but they’re actually unique in a lot of ways. Some of the native bees might look like a wasp, so please be careful!

Then how do you know whether you’re seeing a bee, a wasp, or a fly? 

Would you like to learn how to make your own Beeswax Wraps? Make sure to check out our recipe.

If the flying friend has a bag of pollen on its back legs or under its abdomen, it’s a bee! Also, check their wings – bees have two sets of wings and two sets of flying patterns. So, the next time you go bee-spotting, make sure to take note of these things. Don’t you mix them up with the wanna-bees.

Australia is home to the smallest native bee, which is less than 2 mm long

This bee can be found in Cape York. 

We also house the Great Carpenter Bee of the tropical north and northern NSW. It is the largest bee that can grow up to 24 mm long!

Yes, Australia is home to the tiniest species of bees and even the largest one. Now that’s honey-mazing! 

Stingers, no stinging 

Unlike their other bee siblings from other parts of the world, our bees don’t leave their stinger in their victim. That’s good news, right? Yes, unlike the honeybees, the sting of our native bees are less painful. Also, there are less reported allergic reactions related to a native bee sting. 

Not unless you grab them all by hand on your bee spotting journey. Please, don’t do that.

Meet some of our lovely Australian Native Bees

Do you want to see how beautiful and cute our hairy and buzzy friends look like? Here are some of their photos.

Stingless Social Bee

Blue Banded Bee (Amegilla)

Great Carpenter Bees (Xylocopa)

Teddy Bear Bee (Amegilla)

Remember, bees are our bee-friends forever. Let’s keep them safe. 

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The post Fun and Bee-zarre Facts About Australian Native Bees appeared first on Coastbeat.

Q) Jackie, tell us a little about your work.

I have been a landscape architect for 19 years. This occupation has provided so many great opportunities; I work on everything from public parks to playgrounds, schools and commercial projects. Each project is different and requires its own solution.

Q) What influences your design style?

My biggest influence has always been the natural environment. I like spaces to reflect their context and considering natural settings is always a good start.

Jackie relaxing at home 

Q) Do you always have the long-term vision in mind?

In landscape design you always have to be thinking of the long-term vision. I learned early on in my career that getting the trees right was the most important thing – they provide the framework. It takes time for plants to establish and places evolve as communities come to use spaces in different ways. Landscape design is about trying to create great spaces that the community can make their own.

Q) Is there one project you’ve been involved in that stands above the rest?

North Sapphire Beach on the Coffs Coast was special because it was the first project I undertook when I started my own business. The project developers were also passionate about creating something wonderful. I particularly enjoyed how huge a role the natural environment played in the estate. The beach, creeks and wetlands provided much inspiration in designing the walkways, boardwalks and parklands.

Part of the North Sapphire Beach Estate project (above) which Jackie loved being involved in

Q) You’re involved with the overall landscape design for Sawtell Commons?

Sawtell Commons has the benefit of being sited with Bongil Bongil National Park on three of its boundaries. The eastern part includes forest which will be added to the National Park. The northern side has a natural drainage corridor and vegetation here will be retained and enhanced with extensive revegetation planting. These natural features factor into the design.

I have sought to provide opportunities for residents to enjoy the outdoors and to engage with the natural setting i.e. walking paths along the creek, shaded seating areas, a shady children’s play area and plenty of opportunities for active and passive relaxation. I have also designed the parkland along the creek for people to enjoy. I like to use natural surrounds as inspiration in choosing plant species.    

Q) Where are many of us going wrong at home?

I think there’s often a focus on the internal spaces and we miss the opportunity to create our own outdoor spaces. These days, the ‘yard’ just seems to be something the house sits within rather than a loved and used space. I would like to see people think about how they can make their garden a real part of their home that is used and loved. Being in the garden, either working, relaxing or playing, is healthy for us all.

Q) What are the current trends in landscape design?

There’s a trend toward sustainability and being more environmentally minded. Density leads to less green space so the provision of shade and greenery in our urban spaces is becoming more important. Options like green walls and rooftop gardens are becoming popular.

Density has led to people installing green walls and creating rooftop gardens (above) in urban spaces 

Jackie’s Top Gardening Tips

1. Consider native plants. They often flower longer than exotics, have less water requirements and encourage local birdlife. To see what does well in your area, drive around and look at other local gardens or visit a nearby nursery.

2. Grevilleas (see below) do particularly well in this region. They have beautiful flowers, flower for very long periods of time, come in many colours and birds love them. They’re one of my favourites.

3. Create a garden you want to be in, not just look at. Think about where you want to sit, how the kids might play and create functional outdoor spaces.

4. Plant a tree in your garden. It’s great for shade and adds long-term greenery to your suburb too.

5. Group your plants according to how much water they are likely to require.

6. Keep concrete and other hard surfaces to a minimum. Gardens, grass and gravel areas allow rainwater to soak into and replenish the ground.

7. Try and mulch your garden. Organic mulch will help to maintain moisture and keep weeds down as well as
adding nutrients to the soil as it breaks down.

8. Gardening does not have to be expensive. Planting native plants as tube stock (small plants) allows them to establish well and develop a good root system. They also adjust well to minimal watering when planted as small plants. You can save money by propagating many plants from cuttings. Make your own plants and save money.

9. Plants with grey or silver foliage are often hardy and have low water requirements. Silver foliage in your garden creates contrast with other plants.

10. Gardening is a great way to get children outside. Encourage them to dig, plant and mulch. Interesting plants like succulents can appeal to a budding gardener.

Grevilleas do particularly well in our region. Jackie encourages us all to consider native plants

Contact Jackie – [email protected]

The post Expert advice from landscape architect Jackie Amos appeared first on Coastbeat.

It is utterly heartbreaking.

For those in a position to help, here is some information about how to do so.

Humanitarian aid groups such as Australian Red Cross are supporting those impacted. Images thanks to Red Cross

Australian Red Cross – Help the Red Cross in their continued efforts to support thousands of people in evacuation centres and recovery hubs across Australia.

Vinnies NSW Bushfire Appeal – From food to bills, clothing and furniture, this website shows you how your donation helps those in need.

Givit – GIVIT supports communities across Australia impacted by bushfires. 100% of funds go toward purchasing urgently needed items.

Salvation Army – Support the Salvation Army Emergency Services (SAES) who provide meals to evacuees and frontline responders and other much need disaster relief.

Foodbank – Foodbank focus specifically on food relief in times of emergency and natural disasters.

BlazeAid – BlazeAid are a volunteer-based organisation who assist families and individuals in rural Australia by rebuilding fences and other structures that have been damaged or destroyed.

The Trustee for NSW Rural Fire Service & Brigades Donations Fund – Help support those on the frontlines striving to protect people in regional communities. Funds are utilised to purchase equipment used by rural fire brigades.

RFS release fire retardant across the NSW bushland. Image from NSW RFS 

Of course, as our bushland dies our wildlife suffers terribly. Consider supporting these worthy causes too.

WIRES – WIRES welcome cash donations as well as various items (see their Wish List) so that their volunteers can help animals impacted by the fires.

World Wildlife Fund – These fires are potentially accelerating the extinction of certain species (such as the koala). Help WWF in their fundraising efforts.

Our precious wildlife need your help too. Support those helping our native animals such as WIRES, WWF and Koala Hospital. 

The post Bushfire relief: how you can help appeared first on Coastbeat.

Cb: What are snakes up to at the moment?

They’re very active at this time of year after resting in the cooler months so you’re likely to see them out and about. They’re typically hungry and looking for love. A lot of the snakes that we find around the north coast – like the red-bellied black snake – like to eat frogs.

As we haven’t had much rain, they have to look a little further than usual and could easily end up in your backyard or garden, especially around ponds and water features. Green tree snakes are always looking for frogs in people’s gardens, but they’re not venomous at all. If they bite you, you’d be no worse off than if you’d pricked your finger on a needle.

Red-bellied black snake image by Brett Vercoe

Cb: What should you do if you see a snake?

You should react the same way to all snakes – leave them alone and walk away. Most snakes are usually quite scared of humans. Australian snakes haven’t evolved with a lot of predators, so when they see something big walking towards them, they tend to be pretty alarmed. The first thing they want to do is get away.

The eastern brown is the most dangerous snake on the north coast – it has the most toxic venom and presents the most danger – but even browns just want to get away from you. They don’t have very good eyesight, but they know when something’s approaching them. They go into a defensive position and will try to alarm you by sticking their heads up and flaring their necks. They’re ready to bite you but if you move away, they’re often relieved. It’s a different story if you’re trying to kill them – they’ll try to fight back. So that’s why I say the best thing you can do is leave them alone.

Cb: What if you accidentally step on a snake?

In that case, they’re likely to bite. I know that if somebody stepped on me, I’d probably turn around and bite them too! However, when they’re frightened of you and they bite, it’s typically just a defensive bite. Having said that, some of them will definitely inject venom. But for the vast majority, it tends to be very little venom. 90% of the time, people are not envenomed. There’s usually a little bit of venom on the surface of the wound. That’s why it’s important not to do those old-fashioned things like cut the wound or try to suck the venom out. Whether or not you think the snake has injected its venom, you should go to the hospital. Every time, without exception.

Norm Farmer holding a Coastal Carpet Python

Cb: Should you attempt to catch or identify the snake?

A lot of people used to think you had to kill the snake and take it to the hospital, so they could be sure about the type of snake that bit you. That really isn’t necessary anymore as a swab is taken from the bite site to work it out. As a matter of fact, if you try to catch or kill the snake you’ll probably get bitten again.

Snakes are often misidentified. It’s very easy to confuse a baby brown snake as they’re born with varying patterns, stripes and markings. I’ve seen hatches of baby browns where each one has a different pattern and a different colour. As they get bigger, they tend to be more uniform in colour. But as juveniles, they look like other snakes, snakes that aren’t as dangerous. That’s why it’s so important to go to hospital if you think you’ve been bitten.

Golden crowned snake (Cacophis squamulosus)

What to do if you’re bitten by a snake

1. Call an ambulance immediately. If possible, get someone to do it for you so you don’t have to run to find a phone.
2. Don’t move and try to stay calm. I know that’s easier said than done, but this point is so important. Snake venom tends to be transported around the body through the lymphatic system which relies on muscle movement. Not moving might save your life!
3. Immobilize the bite site and wrap a pressure bandage around it. I carry a snake bite kit which you can buy from the chemist or online. It’s really simple – just a stretch bandage. They have patterns on them and as the pattern stretches, you know that it’s on tight enough.
4. Don’t wash, cut or suck the bite. These old-fashioned techniques can actually make things worse.
5. Get to a hospital ASAP. A doctor or nurse will typically take a swab of the bite site to determine whether or not you have been envenomed, then treat you with anti- venom.

Learn the Pressure Immobilisation Technique via Australia Wide First Aid

Do you love wildlife just like Norm? Check out these articles about other coastal inhabitants such as sharks, turtles, seals and even Tasmanian Devils.

The post Snakes this Summer – The Dos and Don’ts appeared first on Coastbeat.

Given their name from their black colour, ferocious appearance and the high-pitched ‘demon-like’ screeches they make, the Tasmanian Devil is the world’s largest surviving carnivorous marsupial.

While historically an abundant species, their survival has been put to the test with the emergence of a fatal disease – the devil facial tumor disease – that has wiped out 90 percent of the population.

Aussie Ark is fighting to keep the Tasmanian Devil alive

Determined to save this iconic species on the brink of extinction, the Australian Reptile Park founded Devil Ark now known as Aussie Ark.

Aussie Ark is located in the Barrington Tops and is an innovative captive breeding program with one goal – to keep the Tasmanian Devil alive. And since launching in 2011 everyone involved in the program has been doing just that and with great success too – increasing their breeding population from 44 ‘founding devils’ to over 300.

“It is absolutely incredible that we’ve gone from that small number of founding devils to the massive programs we’ve got today,” says Amanda Woodbine, a spokesperson for Aussie Ark. “We only keep around 150 to 200 devils on site at any given time, and of the ones we breed, we get recommendations on where to send them to other breeding programs around the country.”

While some devils are used for ongoing breeding, others are sent back to their homeland to be released into smaller wild populations. “We’ve released around 30 to 40 individuals and of those, we know around five females have carried joeys in the wild, which is really encouraging.” Amanda adds, “It seems like they’re having a pretty good time of it down there!”

Aussie Ark headquarters on the Barrington Coast. Image by David Stone

Safe to say that life is also pretty good for those being cared for at Aussie Ark, with the population spread out among 64 hectare, 200 hectare and 400 hectare wild sanctuaries.

According to Amanda, looking after the devil population requires a multifaceted approach. “We have ‘insurance’ populations and breeding programs in the smaller sanctuaries, but once we get large enough numbers, they are released into the bigger scale wild enclosures (200 and 400 hectare) so they can live in a balanced ecosystem,” she says. “While they’re in the wild enclosures, we still help them out from time to time, providing some food sources.”

There is no doubt that Aussie Ark plays a critical role in the fight to save the Tassie Devil. “We’re extremely important to the population,” Amanda says. “We’re working in conjunction with researchers trying to find vaccines for the disease.

Unfortunately, every time it seems they’re getting close, the disease morphs and the cure no longer works. “Building an insurance population, like we’re doing, is extremely important for the devils’ longevity in case the worst happens and they’re no longer in the wild.”

Aussie Ark Co-founder and GM Tim Faulker with a devil joey

Following the success of the Tasmanian Devil program, the park has opened its doors to a range of other species with declining populations. The Eastern Quoll, Southern Brown Bandicoot, Rufous Bettong (also known as the rat-kangaroo), Long Nose Poteroo, Brush-tail Rock Wallaby and the Manning River Turtle complete the roll call.

“We have selected species that in recent times have declined significantly and who play a key role within their ecosystem,” Amanda says.

Like most not-for-profit organisations, Aussie Ark is heavily reliant on community support. Amanda says such support is ‘vital’.

Fortunately, there are a few ways people can support the various species in decline.

Aussie Ark holds open days where people can visit the facility, there are opportunities to adopt one of the animals. People can purchase items online, make donations and guests can even stay close to Aussie Ark in a gorgeous four-bedroom retreat.

Devastatingly, Australia is losing species faster than every other nation on earth.

Amanda says it best, “These species need our help and together, we can change their fate.”

Watch Tim playing with devil joeys at Coastbeat TV on YouTube.
For more information on visiting times and how you can help, go to www.aussieark.org.au

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