Mitchell Baskys was driving to work on Wednesday along Cotter Road when he spotted the dead wombat, but realised a baby was still inside the pouch.

Weighing only 315 grams, the joey was handed in to the RSPCA before being placed in the care of ACT Wildlife, where it is being nursed back to health by a volunteer.

"Sadly, mum was already dead, but the little guy was warm and snug in her pouch," Mr Baskys said.

"I kept him cosy, if wriggly, in my pocket and took him in to the RSPCA."

Mr Baskys, who works near Tidbinbilla,  said he saw many wombats on the side of the road on the way to work and said he made sure to check them for joeys.

Since the discovery, the joey - which is yet to be named - is making a full recovery and is on the mend, with no apparent injuries apart from a few bruises.

ACT Wildlife president Marg Peachey said the baby wombat was going from strength to strength after its rescue.

"He's a tough little guy. He seems to be very strong and he's doing very well," Ms Peachey said.

"He's got a bit of bruising, but other than that, he's doing OK."

Despite being orphaned in the pouch, Ms Peachey said it was probably the safest location for the joey to be.

"The pouch is a really safe place and very protective, and most of the joeys survive in there [if the mum is injured]," she said.

It's likely the joey will stay in the care of ACT Wildlife volunteers for more than a year before it gets released into the wild.

"It's on a case-by-case basis, but it's normally more than a year in care," Ms Peachey said.

"They have to be able to fend for themselves, especially mammals, and they have to be able to warn off other predators."

With a growing number of rescued animals needing care for, an orientation session is being held on Sunday morning for potential volunteers to learn about options on becoming a carer.

More than 1000 native animals were rescued and rehabilitated by volunteers in Canberra last year.