Wildlife Webinar Series

The NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment National Parks and Wildlife Service (DPIE NPWS), in collaboration with Wildlife Heroes, is working with the wildlife rehabilitation sector to improve standards in volunteer training and outcomes for animals in care. The work is part of the NPWS commitment to implementing its Strategy for the Volunteer Wildlife Rehabilitation Sector in NSW and the NSW Koala Strategy.

 

NPWS, alongside Wildlife Heroes, are delivering a series of webinars for the volunteer wildlife rehabilitations sector across various topics on wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and wildlife health. The webinars provide an opportunity for volunteer wildlife rehabilitators to connect with professionals in the field and provide an update on developments and current best practice in wildlife health.

Upcoming webinars:

Emergency Animal Disease Preparedness – Foot and Mouth

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM AEST

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals, and could affect some of Australia’s native species. FMD does not currently occur in Australia, however it was identified in Indonesia in 2022. NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) is working to build preparedness in the wildlife industry for FMD and other emergency animal diseases (EADs). The presentation will provide a summary of potential biosecurity risks to wildlife industries and will aim to positively empower the industry in NSW with knowledge about EAD preparedness.

Speaker – Dr Michelle Campbell-Ward, Associate Professor in Wildlife and Avian Medicine, University of Sydney

Michelle is a wildlife veterinarian with expertise in conservation medicine, nutrition, One Health-One Welfare and the ethics associated with the care and management of wild species. She recently started in a new academic position at the Camden campus of the Sydney School of Veterinary Science where she is involved in research, teaching and clinical wildlife practice. She spent over 2 years with the NSW DPI Animal Welfare Unit, most recently as Team Leader Policy and Programs and worked as a clinical vet at Taronga Western Plains Zoo from 2008-2023. Michelle became an RVCS Recognised Specialist in Zoo and Wildlife Medicine in 2008. She is currently President of the ANZCVS Zoo and Wildlife Chapter, an executive committee member of the Australian Veterinary Conservation Biologists and a Board member of Wildlife Health Australia.

Speaker – Dr Debra Doolan, Senior Policy and Project Officer, NSW DPI Animal Welfare Unit

Debra has a background in aquatic science and biosecurity risk management, and joined the NSW DPI Animal Welfare team in March 2022. Debra has worked on both aquatic and terrestrial pest and disease issues affecting NSW and has an interest in import risk analysis and the safe translocation of animals. Debra is currently working on building biosecurity preparedness in the NSW zoo and wildlife industries and developing government programs that can help industry to improve preparedness and resilience.

Previous webinars:

Treating Turtle Shell Injuries/ Dr Robert Johnson AM  (Watch recording)
Evaluating the Health of NSW Seals/ Jane Hall (Watch recording)
Weeds in Wildlife Microbiomes: antibiotic resistant bacteria in wildlife / Professor Michelle Power (Watch recording)
Snakebite – from a local and a global perspective/ Dr Robert Johnson AM (Watch recording)
 Ecology of bare-nosed wombats/ Dr Scott Carver (Watch recording)
Pathogenesis and Treatment of Chlamydiosis in Koalas / Dr Amber Gillett    (Watch recording)
Brushtail possums: Stressors during rehabilitation and post-release outcomes / Dr Holly Cope   (Watch recording)
 Q Fever Q&A   (Watch recording)
Echidna – the different mammal / Dr Peggy Rismiller     ((Watch recording))
Wildlife Disease Management / Wildlife Health Australia and Australian Registry for Wildlife Health     ((Watch recording))
Recent and Emerging Disease in Australian Wildlife / Australian Registry of Wildlife Health    (Watch recording)
Sarcoptic Mange in Wombats / Dr Scott Carver     (Watch recording)