Wildlife Disease Association
72nd Annual Conference
Menu
The WDA 2024 conference in Canberra uses place to establish the focus of each day of our meeting. The meeting moves between three main venues of national cultural significance in Australia and a day on Country at a unique nature and cultural reserve, as well as additional sites that are visited during the program.
Situated overlooking Lake Burley Griffin and at the foot of Capital Hill, Old Parliament House was the home of Australia’s national government from 1927 to 1988.
Located in a striking building on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin, the National Museum of Australia brings to life the rich and diverse stories of Australia through compelling objects, ideas and events.
The National Gallery is Australia’s national visual arts institution dedicated to collecting, sharing and celebrating art from Australia and the world. Home to the most valuable collection of art in Australia, the national collection comprises over 155,000 works of art, including the world’s largest collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art.
A place of cultural importance to the Ngunnawal First Nation, Tidbinbilla is on the outskirts of Canberra where you can experience Australia’s temperate woodlands and the unique wildlife that call it home.
Evening:
Ice breaker event
Morning to afternoon:
Presentations and group discussion ‘Systems, Democracy and participation: Whose voices are heard in wildlife health?’
Evening:
Welcome dinner
Morning to afternoon:
Student presentations through storytelling and the arts
Evening:
Guided nature walks
Morning:
Presentations and discussion, ‘Culture, language and wildlife health’
Afternoon:
Culture and wildlife health
Afternoon:
Working with First Nations in wildlife health
Afternoon:
Living library for early career and students
Evening:
Cocktail event and auction
Morning to afternoon:
Presentations through storytelling and the arts
Evening:
WDA Awards Soiree Event
Morning to afternoon:
Day on Country experiencing Australian wildlife
The annual WDA auction, held at our international conference, raises funds for our student committee to invest into the wildlife health professionals of the future. It is a celebration of our 73-year commitment to fostering student development and creating a brighter future. All WDA 2024 On Country participants are invited to attend our auction and cocktail evening in the spectacular Gandel Atrium of the National Museum of Australia at 6pm on Wednesday 4th December 2024. There is no fee for this fun and relaxed event. We are very grateful for donated items for the auction, which can be brought to the conference or sent in advance to the conference organising committee at wda2024updates@gmail.com or shipped to PO Box U43, Charles Sturt University, NSW 2678, Australia. Please make contact with the organising committee prior to shipping items.
Hosted by an international team of early career wildlife professionals, the Off Country meeting will be a highly innovative, engaging and fun way to experience the richness of our wildlife health community and to get up to speed with cutting edge science, ideas and knowledge from around the world. An extraordinary online space will be created, accessible live to wildlife health students and professionals based in any time zone, through the creative use of storytelling and the arts. Participants are invited to present and participate in this meeting, the first of its kind for WDA, no matter where they are. The Off Country meeting will showcase the most extraordinary moments and conversations taking place in Canberra, but will also offer presentations and conversations unique to this online space. Be part of WDA 2024 Off Country — a truly international wildlife health meeting!
Program will be released in coming months – watch this space
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island nations and people have a profound and enduring relationship with Country and wildlife that stretches back over 60,000 years.
We acknowledge the First Nations of the Australian continent and recognise their traditional and continuing connection and custodianship with the Country on which this event takes place. We honour, respect and listen to First Nations Elders. We respect, listen to and celebrate First Nations stories and knowledges.
We acknowledge our responsibility to First Nations and strive to honour this in our collective work towards this special event – WDA 2024.
