Adult Animals
Adult animals in short term care should be returned to the area where found as soon as possible (hard release).  They should not require acclimatizing or reconditioning, but must be sufficiently recovered to exhibit all their survival skills. 

Adult animals in long term care will need reconditioning and acclimatization in an outside enclosure prior to release (soft release). The enclosure should be as close as possible to the animal’s natural environment and large enough to stimulate muscle tone.  Logs for climbing can be provided for possums. Kangaroos and wallabies should have sufficient area to allow them to build up speed without causing injuries.  Thick substrate / leaf litter can be provided for bandicoots for digging.

An animal is not ready for release unless it exhibits the following:

•    Good body covering - vertebrae in the tail should not be visible, Ilium of pelvis (points of hips) and spine should not be evident. 
•    Eating a natural diet. Animals that feed on artificial diets long term usually suffer with obesity and this is often mistaken for good body condition and muscle tone.  An obese animal that is released into the wild will be severely compromised.
•    Natural instinctive behaviour e.g. foraging for themselves, sexual maturity in some species. 
•    Bright eyes and be physically fit and healthy

Small animals undergoing hard release can be transported to the release site in a secure bag, tied and placed in an appropriate sized pet pack.  Large animals should be sedated by a veterinarian, and if possible placed in a suitable bag or at least covered and with the head supported. 

When transporting a large animal in a vehicle, a passenger (preferably an experienced carer) should continuously monitor the animal. 

Kangaroos and wallabies are crepuscular (dawn and dusk feeders), so release in the early morning or late afternoon is preferable. Watch from a safe distance until the animal is on its feet. Possums and other nocturnal animals should be released at night.

Joeys
In the wild, a kangaroo joey emerges from the mother’s pouch at about 7 - 9 months and continues to suckle for up to a further 9 months. A hand reared joey will therefore not be ready for release until it is at least 18 months old.

Smaller marsupials tend to mature earlier and can therefore be released earlier. Brushtail possums emerge from the pouch at about 5 months and should be ready for release at about 12 months. Bandicoots (quendas) should be ready for release at about 9 months.

All hand raised marsupials should undergo soft release. This involves:

•    Acclimatization / dissociation in a safe outside enclosure with suitable shelter and a secure nest or pouch for the young animal to return to if frightened;
•    Grouping together gregarious animals if possible;
•    Establishing the animal on its natural diet.

Once weaning is completed, dehumanization can start.

When the animal is ready for release, the gate of its enclosure can be opened, however it should always have a safe haven to return to. Feeding should continue, however the amount and frequency should be reduced as the animal adapts to its natural diet.

The best time to release a hand reared animal will be in the spring when the weather is mild and food and water are plentiful.  The time of day for release depends on whether the animal is nocturnal, diurnal or crepuscular.