Earlier this week the city saw the prestigious Environmental Health Australia (NSW) State Conference hosted in Wagga Wagga for the first time.
Environmental Health Australia (EHA) is the premiere environmental health professional organisation in Australia, offering leadership and support to the environmental health industry.
Their annual state conference is the largest of its kind in New South Wales (NSW), bringing together environmental health practitioners across local and state government, academia, private industries, as well as representatives from NSW Australian defence force.
The location for the event is shared across both metropolitan and regional areas to encourage engagement state-wide, with Wagga Wagga chosen as the 2023 venue due to the city’s significance to regional NSW.
Mayor Councillor Dallas Tout expressed his regard for the environmental health profession at the official opening on Tuesday, 12 September 2023.
Cr Tout welcomed delegates from across the state to the City of Wagga Wagga, congratulating members for the current work being completed across several industries.
“It was a privilege opening this event in Wagga Wagga to welcome the leading environmental health professionals to our community and prompting important discussions about our future,” Cr Tout said.
“The theme for this year’s conference was ‘Connecting Paths Less Travelled’ which focused on the importance of connecting people across multiple disciplines and working together to overcome emerging environmental health challenges,” Cr Tout said.
The theme also opened conversations about the environmental health profession being a less travelled journey but still one of importance and vitality to our communities.
“This conference celebrates us learning from one another, sharing knowledge and experience and working towards a healthy and sustainable future for us on this planet.”
The event also saw Council’s Environmental Health Officer Uvindu Warnakulasooriya receive the prestigious EHA Early Career Environmental Health Professional of the Year award.
The Early Career award recognises early career excellence, professionalism and great potential in the environmental health profession for qualified environmental health practitioners in the first five years of their career.
The award also acknowledges the valuable efforts and contributions of individuals who have enhanced, shown passion and dedication for, and achieved environmental health outcomes.
Council Manager Environment and Regulatory Services Mark Gardiner said Uvindu’s passion for the profession and humility to constantly learn and grow has supported his nomination for the award.
“Uvindu’s dedication to achieving positive environmental health outcomes was recognised, the award being a reflection of how well he works as part of a team in protecting and serving our community,” Mr Gardiner said.
“We are proud of Uvindu’s achievements. He has exemplified dedication and excellence in the Environmental Health field early in his career and it is a pleasure to watch him grow from strength to strength.”
To stay up to date about environmental topics in our local government area, keep an eye on our news and updates page or follow the official Council page at City of Wagga Wagga on Facebook and Instagram.
