Wildlife Health Australia (WHA) is the peak body for wildlife health in Australia. Their principal objectives are the protection and enhancement of the natural environment. They undertake research, investigate and monitor wildlife diseases in Australia.
They link, inform and support people and organisations who work with or have an interest in wildlife health and provide leadership, coordination, technical advice, facilitation, communications and professional support. Their members form a network of government and private stakeholders to help manage the adverse effects of wildlife diseases on Australia’s environment, biodiversity, animal and human health, trade and tourism.
WHA has a strong One Health focus. Through their activities they also help link the environment, animal health and public health sectors. They collect and disseminate information on wildlife disease events from across Australia through their programs and projects.
During disease incidents involving wildlife, their role is one of communication, coordination, linkage and the provision of technical information to assist response agencies and stakeholders.
Their head office is located in Sydney, NSW. Their principal objectives support:
-Prevention of, preparedness for and response to wildlife diseases
-Maintenance of national wildlife health information datasets
-Wildlife health intelligence and decision making in Australia
-Australia’s understanding of potential international wildlife health risks to their animals and people
-Capacity building in wildlife health across Australia through communication, education and training
-A long-term sustainable wildlife health framework for Australia
-The advancement of the natural environment and the natural ecosystems across Australia
-A national wildlife health network of technical expertise, extending across zoos, universities, private veterinary practices, wildlife carer groups, hunters and fishers, coordinated across federal and state government agencies and non-government organisations.
They make research outcomes available to the public. WHA and their members are well positioned to assist in building national and regional capacities in these areas.
Their greatest strength is their ability to engage a large and varied group of stakeholders, many of whom may have valuable information about wildlife health, and can participate in discussions on wildlife health issues through WHA.
They bring together people, groups and agencies working in these fields at many different levels of government, in the private and public sectors, and can facilitate improved information flow.
WHA is very much operationally and outcomes focussed. A National Coordinator, supported by two full time and two part time project officers, provides support for Australian governments and non-government stakeholders.