Transcript for Wetlands workplace interview

[Speaker: Andrea White]

My name's Andrea White, and I work in DEECA in Waterway Health and my responsibility is to look after wetlands right across Victoria. And I've been working in the environment area for over 30 years, and I've been working in waterways for about 20 years.

What interests you about working in water?

What interests me about working in water is that I love the outdoors. I spent a lot of time camping as a kid with my family around lakes and rivers and the ocean, and I feel a real connection to those systems and to the environment, and I'm really passionate about looking after them.

I would say to anyone that thinks they might like to work in the environment, and particularly if they'd like to work in wetlands: wetlands are fantastic. They're fascinating. They're always changing, and they're really very important. There's so many ways that you can work in the environment now. There's just so many roles that you can do. So, I would really recommend trying lots of things and finding what you really love.

Why are wetlands important and why must we protect them?

Wetlands and floodplains are really important. They do lots of things for us. They reduce the flood peaks. They improve water quality, remove sediment. They cycle and store carbon, and they also, they support a lot of biodiversity, and a lot of that biodiversity is endangered.

But also, the actual systems are also threatened. The biggest threats to Victoria's wetlands are pest, plants and animals. So, weeds invading wetlands and things like deer and pigs. And climate change. And also, the way that people are using the land around and within wetlands.

My role is important for managing Victoria's water because, when you think about it, we use water for lots of different things. We use it to grow our food and for drinking, we use natural water bodies for recreation. So, my role's important because I'm making sure that the wetlands are looked after, that we have water for them, and that we're looking after them so they can maintain their good condition.

What technology is used across wetlands?

Technology is really important to manage wetlands. When you think about it, we manage wetlands right across the state, and really the only way to know something about those wetlands is by using technology. So, we use things like aerial photography and satellite imagery.

We are starting to use drone footage more. We also use remote cameras to see what animals are using the wetland habitats. We also have access to thermal imaging, which helps us if we're trying to find animals within really dense vegetation like deer, then they stand out really well with this thermal imaging technology.

How have you found working in water?

My pathway started with studying biological sciences as an undergraduate. I studied mostly botany and zoology, and then I got a job as a zookeeper. And I was interested in that job because they, because of their endangered species programs.

The reason why I love doing what I'm doing now, and I've tried lots of different things, I've always been passionate about conservation, and I tried working with, you know, single animal species conservation, and I worked in academia doing research. But what I really like about this job is that we are working to really look after these natural systems on a big scale. And the difference that we could make is, is not just little bits and pieces. It's trying to look after whole systems. And that's what really fires me up.

Some of my favourite things about the job that I do is actually getting out into the regions and getting out into wetlands, putting the waders on, or getting on a kayak and going for a paddle. And it's just such a lovely way to view these wetlands and to view the animals and plants. The birds don't fly away from you quite as quickly. It's just an absolutely wonderful way to look at and interact with wetlands.