Yaankga! Thank you!
For all your gracious support.

We made it!

In its 19th year of exchanging knowledge and ideas on wetlands, the WA Wetlands Conference 2023 has been a platform empowering everyone to become stewards of one of the most valuable ecosystems on earth. We want to take this opportunity to appreciate the contributions of all who made this year's conference possible.

We want to thank each and every one of you who made this Conference a monumental success

To our sponsors
The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation & Attractions, Harry Butler Institute Murdoch University, Peel-Harvey Catchment Council, Australian Government’s National Landcare Program, Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, City of Cockburn, Rehabilitating Roe 8, Conservation Council of Western Australia, and supporters Lotterywest, NRMjobs.com.au, WA Poets Inc and Hayden Watkins AV – thank you for your support in making this conference a reality, and helping us elevate its standard, delivery and outreach. You inspire us to keep aspiring to go bigger and better, year after year.
To our Elder-in-Residence, Marie Taylor, First Nations facilitators and traditional owners
From the bottom of our hearts, we express our sincerest gratitude. We feel privileged to be a part of the sacred traditions you share and to learn about the cultural knowledge that has been instrumental in preserving the wetlands for countless generations. Your contribution to this conference and to our wetlands is invaluable and deeply appreciated.
To our dignitaries, Simone McGurk MLA, Josh Wilson MP and Mayor Logan Howlett
We thank you for not just your significant and impactful messages on the day, but for walking the talk. Your leadership and action is the voice of our wetlands and their future.
To each of our presenters
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and expertise and providing invaluable insights into wetland management, restoration, innovation, issues and successes. This event is nothing without the value you bring to the table.
To all our delegates
We are grateful for your attendance and participation in this crucial event and for your commitment to preserving wetlands. Thank you for making it to this important program and for all the work you do for our wetlands and the environment.
To our caterers, Little Hawk Freo
Thank you for the timely and delicious food and for exceeding everyone's expectations once again.
To our volunteers
Your tireless work and devotion in ensuring the smooth running of this conference have been instrumental in its success.
To the Centre's chair, board and staff
We recognize your untiring efforts in organizing and executing this conference. Let's take a bow.
Last but not the least...
Let's not forget each and every one around the world who rallies behind our wetlands. The message is bigger and more important and this event is merely the bullhorn that seeks to amplify it. This year's conference theme of "Wetland Restoration" is more crucial than ever. Let's work together to raise awareness, drive action, and protect the wetlands for future generations. A big hurrah for World Wetlands Day!

Our vision – Why this Conference matters

We have come to recognise a fact—the importance of our wetlands, their current state, and what needs to be done to look after the remaining 10% of WA’s once thriving wetlands—is a topic that is vague, if not wholly unimportant to the general public. With climate change looming large, urgent action is needed at state and national levels to raise awareness about our wetlands and their importance, putting in place greater safeguards for their restoration and survival and ensuring their inclusion and protection in developmental plans. This needs to be common knowledge and accessible to each and every one.

Besides their intrinsic value, wetlands are intertwined with our history and cultural heritage. They influenced the way of life on this land and carry stories of the generations that moved through them. We stand to make huge strides by including traditional Aboriginal knowledge of wetlands in our endeavours, while also bearing the risk of losing these learned experiences of living in harmony with nature over thousands of years, should we choose not to listen.

With this renewed outlook, we set ourselves a lofty goal for the 2022 WA Wetlands Conference—to increase our footprint and engage with concerned stakeholders beyond wetland practitioners: Academics, educators, university students, Aboriginal elders, environmentalists, politicians and community leaders. Despite the looming threat of the pandemic, the conference not only prevailed but was successful beyond our best expectations under the circumstances.

This year we are poised to facilitate an even better conference, with bigger objectives and more significant outcomes. We want to increase our outreach and broaden our networks. Therefore, we have invited another important stakeholder–artists and the humanities sector—to partner with us to facilitate the fifth session, and ramp up our conference to a third day.

Towards this, we would like to cordially invite you to be a part of this important event that empowers every one of us to become stewards of the most valuable ecosystems on earth—our wetlands. To learn more, share expertise, applaud achievements, address issues, drive action, commit to change, raise standards, and create worthier goals. To celebrate World Wetlands Day with us. And above all to be a voice for every living creature that depends on the survival of our wetlands, and our interdependent future.

The WA Wetlands Conference is set to return in 2024 to our reinvigorated and modernised Centre, amidst the lush bushland surrounding the resplendent Bibra Lake, the heart of the Beeliar Wetlands. We look forward to continuing our tradition of facilitating a meaningful symposium and providing access to quality keynotes, engaging session speakers, inspirational success stories, informative panels, networking opportunities and hands-on workshops.