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Stay updated on what IZE members in Australia and New Zealand are doing to promote conservation efforts in their areas. Learn about education programs, browse the list of IZE members and their regions, and find contact information for the Regional Representative.

Australia and New Zealand Regional Update
By Regional Representative John Gardner (April 2008)

Planning for the 2008 IZE Conference (joint WAZA/IZE) has been high on the agenda for the Regional Representative, working closely with CBSG and WAZA Conference organisers. All delegates have been asked to bring a Zoo poster from their Institution for display in Zoos SA’s new Education Centre when completed. They have also been asked to bring an Auction item for the IZE Silent Auction that will raise funds for the Sponsorship Program that offers Grants to Educators from developing countries.

ARAZPA’s two day Education Workshop (one of two annual Meetings) was held at Taronga Zoo in Sydney in early March. 30 Educators attended to discuss Education issues at a Regional level. A new and more strategic approach was used that provided more opportunities for discussions about some of the bigger issues that affect Regional Education as a whole. Some issues discussed and presentations given during the Workshop included, Amphibian Ark and Year of the Frog, Strategic Directions, Regional Projects, Strategic marketing for Zoo Education and Climate Change initiatives in Zoos and Aquaria.

As a result of discussions during the Workshop it was agreed that the ARAZPA Education Group make a commitment to contribute to the Year of the Frog activities. Many frog related programs, activities, presentations, events and resources already exist in ARAZPA Institutions to be collated and shared.

The new ARAZPA Education Group Convenor was selected and Nikki Bodel, Taronga Zoo, took up the reins at the March Workshop. She has brought to the Group some new and fresh ideas including a proposal to broaden and increase membership of the Education Group by inviting ‘Visitor Learning and Experience’ Staff to participate, re-naming the Education Group to clearly represent both strands of learning within the Group and appoint a Vice Convenor to better represent all involved and assist Nikki. Visitor Experience and Learning is a rapidly growing priority within Zoos and Aquaria and following the 2008 ARAZPA Conference an informal Visitor Experience and Interpretation email distribution list was set up. Rather than create a separate Specialist Interest Group (SAG) for Visitor Learning and Experience, the Education SAG sees value in developing a stronger connection between the two strands of Education (learning).

The Silent Auction, a regular feature of the ARAZPA Education Workshops, raised another AUS$1,200 for the IZE Sponsorship Program.

IZE Membership has been steadily growing in the Region with 3 Institutional Members (Zoos SA, Zoos Victoria & Seaworld) and since September 2007, 6 new Full Members.

John Gardner’s (Zoos SA) term as IZE Regional Representative-Australia & New Zealand comes to an end at this year’s Conference and the incoming Representative is Rachel Lowry, Zoos Victoria.

I would like to thank everyone involved with IZE, especially the Board Members I have worked with during my 4 years as Regional Representative and in particular the two Presidents during my time, Chris Peters and Stephen McKeown. The Board has been made up of a terrific group of people, with passion and endeavour and I’m confident that IZE will continue to grow and gain the recognition it deserves with the Board at the helm. Thanks for the opportunity to serve, thanks for the experiences I’ll always remember and thanks for your friendship.

Australia and New Zealand Membership List

The IZE Membership List is updated quarterly.

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