Water

Policy and programs

Communication, Education, Participation and Awareness Program

The Ramsar Convention's Program on Communication, Education, Participation and Awareness (CEPA) was established to help raise awareness of wetland values and functions. The CEPA Program calls for coordinated international and national wetland education, public awareness and communication. The Program also encourages the promotion of training in the fields of wetland research, management and wardening.

Learning about wetlands

World Wetlands Day

World Wetlands Day (WWD) is celebrated each year on 2 February. It marks the anniversary of the signing of the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar Convention) in Ramsar, Iran, on 2 February 1971.

WWD was first celebrated in 1997. Since this time government agencies, non-government organisations and community groups across the world have celebrated World Wetlands Day by undertaking actions to raise public awareness of wetland values and benefits and promote the conservation and wise use of wetlands.

Primary school classroom kit

For World Wetlands Day 2011 and the fortieth anniversary of the Ramsar Convention, the Australian Government has produced a primary school classroom kit. This activity kit includes a unit plan, fact sheets, a DVD, origami and subject book stickers.

Wetlands Australia

The Australian Government produces a biannual publication, Wetlands Australia - National Wetland Update. The magazine aims to bring attention to Australia's achievements and continuing challenges in wetland conservation and wise use.

Wetlands Education

The Australian Government has produced a number of resources about wetlands and their management.

Queensland Wetlands Program

The Queensland Wetlands Program  has delivered a range of new mapping, information and decision-making tools that will enable government agencies, landowners, conservationists and regional land care bodies to protect and manage wetlands for future generations. Details of all Queensland Wetlands Program products can be found on WetlandInfo .

Wetland Link International - Australia

Wetland Link International  (WLI), an initiative of the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust in the UK, is a major platform of the Ramsar Convention's Program on CEPA. WLI aims to improve links between wetland educators at all levels.

Australian wetland education centres

There are many centres across Australia dedicated to wetland education or with a strong focus on wetlands. They are associated with many types of wetlands, including, in some cases, Ramsar sites. They range from small, non-staffed interpretation facilities to staffed, highly developed centres. The World Wetland Network contact for Oceania, including Australia, is Wetland Care Australia.

If your wetland education centre would like to be listed here, please contact wetlandsmail@environment.gov.au

Australian Capital Territory

Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve
Off Paddy's River Road, via Cotter Road (Weston Creek) or Point Hut Crossing (Gordon), Australian Capital Territory
Phone: (02) 6205 1233
Web: http://www.tidbinbilla.com.au 
Email: tams.tidbinbilla@act.gov.au

New South Wales

Bicentennial Park Education Centre
Sydney Olympic Park, New South Wales
Phone:02 9714 7888
Email: bookingsvc@sopa.nsw.gov.au

Coastal Environment Centre
Pelican Path Lake Park Road, North Narrabeen, New South Wales
Phone: (02) 9970 1675
Web: www.pittwater.nsw.gov.au/environment/cec 
Email: cec@pittwater.nsw.gov.au

Hunter Wetlands Centre, Australia
Sandgate Road, Sandgate, New South Wales
Phone: (02) 4951 6466
Web: www.wetlands.org.au 
Email: hwca@wetlands.org.au

Wetlands Environmental Education Centre
Located at Hunter Wetlands Centre, Australia (above)
Phone: (02) 4955 8673
Web: www.wetlands.eec.education.nsw.gov.au 
Email: wetlands-e.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Manly Environment Centre
41 Belgrave Street, Manly, New South Wales,
Phone: (02) 9976 2842
Web: www.mec.org.au 
Email: mec@manly.nsw.org.au

The Aquatic Environment Education Centre at Wonga Wetlands
Riverina Highway (Howlong Rd), Albury, New South Wales
Phone: (02) 6023 8111
Web: http://www.alburycity.nsw.gov.au/www/html/515-wonga-wetlands.asp 
Email: info@alburycity.nsw.gov.au

Northern Territory

Bowali Visitors Centre, Kakadu National Park
 Arnhem Highway, Jabiru, Northern Territory
Phone: (08) 8938 1121
Web: www.environment.gov.au/parks/kakadu

Window on the Wetlands
Off the Stuart and Arnhem Highways, Northern Territory.
Phone: (08) 8988 8188
Web: www.nt.gov.au/nreta/parks/find/windowwetlands.html 

Queensland

Boondall Wetlands Environment Centre
31 Paperbark Drive, Boondall, Taigum, Queensland
Phone: (07) 3403 1490
Web: http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/environment-waste/bushland-waterways/environment-centres/boondall-wetlands-environment-centre/index.htm 
Email: bwec@brisbane.qld.gov.au

Clancy's Lagoon Visitor Centre
Pickford Road, Mareeba, Queensland
Phone: (07) 4093 2514
Web: http://www.mareebawetlands.org 

Walkabout Creek
Brisbane Forest Park, 60 Mount Nebo Road, The Gap, Queensland
Phone: 1300 723 684
Web: http://www.walkaboutcreek.com.au 

Tyto Wetlands
Ingham, North Queensland
Phone: (07) 4776 4600
Web: www.tytowetlands.com.au 

South Australia

Banrock Station Wetland and Wine Centre
Holmes Rd, Kingston on Murray, South Australia
Phone: (08) 8583 0299
Web: www.banrockstation.com.au 
Email: bscd@banrockstation.com.au

St Kilda Mangrove Trail and Wetlands
Point Wakefield Road, Salisbury, South Australia
Phone: (08) 8208 8172
Web: http://cweb.salisbury.sa.gov.au/manifest/servlet/page?pg=9043&stypen=html 

Tasmania

Tamar Island Visitor Interpretation Centre
West Tamar Highway, Riverside, Tasmania
Phone: 03 6327 3964
www.parks.tas.gov.au 

Victoria

Coolart Wetlands and Homestead
Lord Somers Road, Somers, Bainarring, Victoria
13 1963
Web: www.parks.vic.gov.au 
Email: info@parks.vic.gov.au

Serendip Sanctuary
Serendip Sanctuary, 100 Windermere Road, Lara, Victoria
13 1963
Web: www.parks.vic.gov.au 
Email: info@parks.vic.gov.au

Western Australia

Broome Bird Observatory
Crab Creek Road, Broome, Western Australia
(08) 9193 5600
Web: www.broomebirdobservatory.com 
Email: bbo@birdsaustralia.com.au

Cockburn Wetlands Education Centre
184 Hope Road, Bibra Lake, Western Australia
(08) 9417 8460
Web: www.cockburnwetlands.org.au 
Email: community@cockburnwetlands.org.au

Herdsman Lake Wildlife Centre
Herdsman Lake Wildlife Centre, Cnr Flynn St & Selby St, Wembley, Western Australia
(08) 9387 6079
Web: www.wagouldleague.com.au 

Wetlands Australia
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