📣 The announcement you’ve all been waiting for! 📣 The Wildlife Disease Association – Australasian Section (WDA-A) Conference 2026 is officially locked in — and we’re heading to the spectacular coastal town of Kaikōura! 🐋🌊 📅 29 November – 4 December 2026 📍 Kaikōura Memorial Hall

🌟 WDA-A Member Spotlight 🌟 Meet Andrew Hill, wildlife veterinarian at Currumbin Wildlife Hospital. Andrew works with a dedicated team treating thousands of animals each year while supporting wildlife research, education, and conservation. 🔗 Read more: www.wda-a.org/post/member-...

📢 New national guidance for koala chlamydia vaccination is now online! 🐨 Developed by Wildlife Health Australia & published by Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, this evidence-based, collaborative resource supports strategic conservation action.

Great news! Abstract submissions for Global Voice 2026, the fully virtual conference of the Wildlife Disease Association, are now open until 10 March 2026 🌍 Share your work with a truly global audience across time zones with real-time translation. 🔗 wda2026.com/global-voice-2026/

🚨 Wildlife Incident Updates 🐾🔥🌡️ In response to recent bushfires and heatwaves, Wildlife Health Australia has published two new incident entries. These reports link to jurisdictional updates and relevant WHA Fact Sheets. Please share with your networks to help keep responders informed.

🌍 WDA Global Voice 2026 is coming July 26–31! Fully virtual, global, and accessible with real-time translation in 30+ languages. Abstracts close Feb 13. Theme: Thriving Together: Urban One Health & Ecosystem Resiliency🏙️🌱♻️. 🔗 wda2026.com/global-voice-2026/

Meet Alison Peel A dedicated wildlife vet and bat ecologist, and recipient of the 2025 Barry L. Munday Award! Ali has been a long-time, valued member of our community💚🦇 Read her full spotlight on: www.wda-a.org/post/member-...

Join our lab! The Disease Ecology Lab at the USYD is seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to explore drivers of infectious diseases at the wildlife-livestock interface 🌐 www.sydney.edu.au/scholarships... #PhD #Scholarship #DiseaseEcology #Epidemiology #WildlifeHealth #OneHealth #USYD

🎓 Graduate opportunity! The University of Melbourne’s School of BioSciences is seeking MSc students for a funded One Health-inspired project on how the gut microbiome can boost conservation success in Australian mammals. Contact Dr. Ashley Dungan: [email protected]

Congratulations to Dr Alison Peel, winner of this year‘s prestigious WDA-A Barry L Munday Award for her extraordinary and extensive contributions to the field of wildlife health. @alibat.bsky.social #wdaa2025

Congratulations to Dr Anna Langguth, winner of the Student Award at this year‘s WDA-A conference for her presentation on zymosan challenge trials in eastern bent-wing bats. @alangguth.bsky.social #wdaa2025

We in WDA-A are deeply saddened to hear of Jane Goodall’s passing earlier today. Our thoughts and condolences go out to her family and friends. Her legacy in wildlife conservation, empathetic science, and inspiring generations will forever ripple across the world.

PhD student Anna Langguth presenting on immune responses to challenge with Zymosan in eastern bent-wing bats at #WDAA2025

Brett Gartrell speaking about off-target anticoagulant toxicity in Tuatara and short-tailed bats in NZ

Julien Grosmaire @WDAA2025 speaking about methods for koala monitoring including different tag and collar designs.

The 2025 WDAA is officially underway! Some fantastic talks by Chris Daniels from Green Adelaide, David Paton from BioR and Claire Hartvigsen-Power from Marna Banggara telling us about biodiversity needs and projects in the Adelaide region and beyond.

Meet Larry Vogelnest Long-standing WDA-A member and one of Australia’s most influential wildlife veterinarians! Larry has just published the Revised Edition of Current Therapy in Medicine of Australian Mammals 📚🦘 Read his full spotlight here www.wda-a.org/post/member-...

A vaccine against chlamydia in koalas will be rolled out. This is possible through exciting research led by Prof Peter Timms and Sam Phillips at University of Sunshine Coast. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09...

Meet Michelle Campbell-Ward Michelle co-authored the first book chapter on the topic of welfare of Australian mammals in human care, a milestone that reflects decades of dedication across clinical practice, wildlife rehabilitation, regulation, and ethics🐨 www.wda-a.org/post/member-...

We are pleased to announce that registrations for our 2025 conference is officially OPEN! 🎉🎉🎉 The next WDA-A conference will be held in the Adelaide Hills (Woodhouse Adventure Park, on Peramangk and Kaurna country, South Australia), from 28th September to 3rd October 2025. 🐨 wdaa2025.exordo.com

Meet Brett Gardner! Brett was awarded the IAAAM Paper Award in the Journal of Wildlife Diseases for his Innovative research: “Surveillance for Toxoplasma gondii, Brucella spp., and Chlamydia spp. in Australian Fur Seal Abortions” 🦭🦠 Read his full spotlight on www.wda-a.org/post/member-...

Meet Anna Langguth! Anna received an Honourable Mention at the 2024 WDA Conference for her piece on the looming threat of an exotic fungus to Australia's adorable bats🦇🍄 Her research focuses on the susceptibility of Australian bats to fungal disease White Nose Syndrome. We can't wait to learn more!

We stand in support of all of those working in the field of wildlife health. Therefore, we are concerned about recent developments that suggest a devaluation and disregard of these issues and those who work in associated fields. You can find our full statement at www.wda-a.org

Abstracts due tomorrow! Join this fantastic global event in wildlife health!

An exciting opportunity to join Wildlife Health Australia for a 12 month contract: www.ethicaljobs.com.au/members/WHA/...

There are just over two weeks left to get your abstract in for the in-person track of the WDA 2025 annual international conference in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, July 27 to August 1, so there's no time to waste. www.wda2025.com