The main activities of WIRES is to respond to individual public reports of sick, injured or orphaned wildlife. If necessary, trained WIRES volunteers will "rescue" (collect) the animal, "foster" it (provide treatment and care until it is healthy), and release it back into the wild. WIRES operates under an authority from a government agency, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, allowing it to rescue and rehabilitate native animals, a practice which is generally forbidden by law in Australia. WIRES offers a short rescue and immediate care course that equips people to work with common species.