ACT Threatened Species Awareness - Presentation Evening

ACT Threatened Species Awareness - Free Presentation Evening

8 September 2026, 6pm – 8:30pm, Verity Lane Market – Juliet Room

To mark Threatened Species Awareness Day, join us for a special presentation evening. Hear from local experts and volunteers as they share stories of hope, conservation and action — from protecting Gang-gang Cockatoos and mapping potential Gula (Koala) habitat, caring for Grey-headed Flying Foxes during extreme heat, bringing Green and Golden Bell Frogs back to the ACT to mapping threatened native orchids after bushfires.

The evening will be facilitated by Gregory Andrews, Australia’s first Threatened Species Commissioner and founder of Lyrebird Dreaming

This event is supported by Icon Water.

🌿 Meet the species and speakers:

Gang-gang Cockatoos — Michael Mulvaney, Gang-gang Gang
Learn about the threats facing the ACT’s faunal emblem and how Gang-gang Gang volunteers are helping protect these beautiful birds.

Gula (Koalas) — Keith Joillife, Conservation Council ACT
Discover how volunteers are mapping suitable koala habitat from Gungahlin to Namadgi, helping explore the possibility of bringing Gula back home to the ACT.

Grey-headed Flying Foxes — Clare Wynter & Stephen Bartos, ACT Wildlife
Hear how dedicated wildlife carers work to protect flying foxes, including helping colonies survive extreme heat.

Green and Golden Bell Frogs — Anke Maria Hoefer, FrogWatch ACT
Find out how these locally extinct frogs have recently been reintroduced to the ACT — complete with specially designed “saunas and spas” that help them survive.

Canberra Spider Orchid — Derek Corrigan, Orchid Society of Canberra
Learn about the Canberra Spider Orchid, Brindabella Midge Orchid and other threatened native orchids found in the ACT, and what has been done to conserve them and map them so they can be protected.

Keys Matchstick Grasshopper — Hannah Zurker
Hear how Hannah discovered this elusive threatened Grasshopper, not through her work, but through her volunteer work with Scouts ACT. 

Tuggeranong Lignum – Isobel Walcot, University of Canberra

The only place in the world Tuggeranong Lignum grows is in the south of Canberra – how to protect and conserve a plant with such a small habitat? Maybe learning about its genetics can help! That’s what Isobel is doing and she’s going to tell us how it’s going.

You don't need to be an expert to attend, or to make a difference. Come along, learn about some of our threatened neighbours and discover how you can play a part in protecting the ACT’s precious wildlife.

Evening Details

• Date and Time

  Tuesday 8 September 2026
  6.00 pm – 8.30 pm

• Location

  Verity Lane – Juliet Room
  50 Northbourne Avenue, Canberra City

• Cost

  Free!

• Food and Drink

  Verity Lane has a range of eateries where you can buy food and drinks before the event or during the break. Feel free to bring them upstairs and enjoy them while you listen and learn, or grab something during the break, chat with the speakers and meet other attendees.

Additional Information

There will be information flyers available to review and take with you covering how you can help save our threatened species.

• Conservation Council AC
  https://conservationcouncil.org.au/

• ACT Threatened Species list
  https://www.act.gov.au/environment/animals-and-plants/act-threatened-species

• Lyrebird Dreaming
  https://www.lyrebirddreaming.com/

• Bearlymade
  Brooke, founder and artist of threatened species pins, will be selling her pins at the event so you can purchase some of her beautiful pins for yourself or as gifts: https://www.bearlymade.com.au/

Want to contribute?

If you’d like to have flyers for your work, or your group’s work, available at the event—or if you’d like to display or sell your ACT threatened species-related product at the event—please contact Kelly.allison@conservationcouncil.org.au