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Wetlands Australia 33: Sydney Wetland Institute – a timely journey

Author: Dr Swapan Paul, Sydney Wetland Institute, Sydney Olympic Park Authority

The Sydney Olympic Park Authority has recently launched the Sydney Wetland Institute – a knowledge hub for best practice in urban wetlands. It aims to provide a focal point for managers, researchers, students and the public as a trusted centre for knowledge and networks relating to urban wetlands in Australia, and other parts of Asia-Pacific.

The authority will strive to formalise linkages by offering capacity building activities at Sydney Olympic Park and elsewhere in order to create a recognisable and reliable body for urban wetland education, industry research, community engagement and partnerships.

The Sydney Wetland Institute is an extension of Sydney Olympic Park’s field-based school excursion programs (offered for over 30 years) and wetland education and training programs delivered for wetland professionals over the last 20 years.

The institute seeks to harness and share the knowledge and wisdom of wetland practitioners and researchers within the network. It will bridge an identified gap in the sector to translate wetland science into practice in a collaborative and cooperative fashion.

The ongoing vision for Sydney Wetland Institute is to:

  • coordinate and deliver professional development programs (training), technical tours and advisory services
  • facilitate industry networking, third party programs and wetland research
  • engage local business, residential and student communities as custodians of Sydney Olympic Park wetlands and beyond
  • develop partnerships and course accreditation.

Sydney Wetland Institute was launched on 29 October 2020 through an inaugural webinar. We announced a pilot program for 12 months which will include regular webinars, online networking events and customised wetland courses – both virtual and face-to-face. The video of the webinar session can be viewed at Sydney Wetland Institute (Inaugural webinar-October 2020) (Vimeo - DPIE Training & Education).

Screen shot of the inaugural webinar talk. Photo: Sydney Olympic Park Authority.