2026 Mini-conference
Program
 

Nangak Tamboree Wildlife Sanctuary is a habitat restoration project at La Trobe University, Bundoora. In anticipation of pursuing a reintroduction of Ranoidea raniformis, NTWS is co-ordinating a collaborative effort to gauge current levels of amphibian chytrid fungus and the efficacy of habitat modifications to suppress infection rates in native frogs. In addition to eDNA sampling, 30 Common Eastern Froglets (a reliable asymptomatic carrier of the disease) from each of five wetlands across the sanctuary were tested for chytrid in September 2025 using PCR analysis. ‘Rock beaches’ have since been deployed and overhanging canopy thinned at these wetlands to create warmer microhabitats and basking spots as higher temperatures can suppress or kill the fungus and reduce frog mortality. Sampling will be repeated in subsequent years to determine whether these habitat modifications have been successful in reducing chytrid levels. Temperature and salinity data are also being collected to inform disease risk modelling.​

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Jess Kelley is the Biodiversity Officer at La Trobe University, where she supports biodiversity outcomes across campus land, with a strong focus on the Nangak Tamboree Eco-Corridor and Wildlife Sanctuary. 

Monthly monitoring of 3.5 billabongs and 12 ponds on the adjacent golf course since 1998 has generated much data on the seasonal calling and abundance of this autumn-calling species, through wet and dry autumns, and shows strong preferences for some water bodies over others. ​

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​Robert founded and leads Friends of Wilson Reserve in Ivanhoe, north bank of the Yarra, since 1996, decided in 1998 to do a frog survey, and has repeated it monthly ever since. Retired TAFE accounting teacher with an uncommon hobby. 

Melanesia supports one of the world’s richest amphibian assemblages, with over 540 recognised frog species and an estimated total exceeding 700 species, highlighting the region as a major centre of global amphibian diversity. Papua New Guinea and Indonesian West Papua form the core of this diversity, where complex geological history, rugged mountain systems, and extensive habitat variation have driven remarkable levels of endemism and speciation. Despite ongoing species discoveries, many remote regions remain poorly surveyed and substantial undocumented diversity likely persists. Alongside taxonomic and ecological research, wildlife photography has become an increasingly valuable tool for documenting amphibian diversity, capturing morphology, colouration, behaviour, and habitat associations while increasing public awareness of these extraordinary yet often overlooked species. Together, research and visual documentation provide important avenues for understanding and promoting conservation of New Guinea’s unique amphibian fauna. ​

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@clancy_wildlife   |   @jonodashperwildlife

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Matt is a zoologist and wildlife photographer with special interests in herpetology (especially frogs!) and wildlife conservation. Jono is a professional wildlife photographer, naturalist, and avid citizen scientist, having photographed over 340 species of frogs.

With many amphibian species threated with extinction across the world, such as Australia’s Southern Corroboree Frog, new approaches are needed to preserve their genetic diversity. Cryopreserving somatic cells from endangered amphibians in “frozen zoos” provides a regenerative source of frog DNA indefinitely into the future. These cells can also act as substitutes for live animals in infection experiments creating a more ethical alternative. However, the greatest potential of ‘biobanking’ these cells now may be in future technologies we are yet to conceive of.  ​

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Rose is a current MSc student at the University of Melbourne interested in microbiology and amphibian conservation. Her current research focuses on culturing primary cell lines for endangered frog species and measuring the virulence of different isolates of the chytrid fungus. Her anthropology background has also led her to collaborate with Wolgalu and Wiradjuri representatives to help guide her lab’s research on a culturally significant frog species.

Teisha is a mother of two daughters and a wildlife ecologist with over 20 years of experience in the environmental field. Her passion for species conservation and environmental education inspired her to write Litoria and her Wetland Friends. She will speak about the journey of publishing a children's book on the importance of protecting natural habitats and their species.  ​

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@litoriaandherwetlandfriends

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Teisha has worked in consulting, wildlife management and more recently, as a Forest and Wildlife Officer. She co-founded Frogs Victoria and has a frog named after her grandfather - Sloane's Froglet!  

Some updates from a monitoring project initially started to trial the effects and efficacy of environmental watering on Pseudophryne bibronii. This project was initiated by Jawad Jilani and Don Driscoll in 2022. Monitoring up to 2025 has found that P. bibronii are able to overcome chytrid fungal infection and maintain good health, we found a positive relationship between average rainfall within breeding season and chytrid fungus infection prevalence among adult frogs. Additionally, I will present results from tadpole monitoring and bushfire survival.   ​

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@maxsonnemannwildlife

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Max is a recently graduated environmental science student at Deakin University. 

Register now at: ​

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frogsvic/rego