Wombat Course

I would like to know about other members thoughts on the idea of WPS developing a course in wombat care and rehab. I personally have found courses very hard to get to and the only one I have is apparently not acceptable to the Groups. It would be good if we could develop an online course that would be available to every one. It would need to have some sort of assessment process to make it acceptable to the various groups

I know the education committee of my carer group would not approve an online course for animal care. But we are a large group and not isolated.
They approved Shirley Lacks recent Sydney wombat course at the end of the course, and happily gave everyone credit for it. Our carer group is fortunate this way, they have done the same for Dr Peggy Risemllers Echidna course, come along, listened and then gave it a tick. I know some groups this would not happen ever, others are more lateral thinking. This would probably happen with a well presented course for many smaller groups anyway.
There are a number of manuals avail free online and that gives anyone interested a heads up. There are also various forums were questions are posed and it's the luck of the draw on the answers you get, but a busy forum will generally get enough discussion to sort it out, if this is in time for the animal concerned that's another matter.

Getting high quality up-to-date wombat courses around in area's of need is probably more important than spending lots of time trying for accreditation from all groups. Some groups will never give it. It's more important to let existing and potential carers know what to do. These people will get animals regardless and need the education/ help that a face to face course would bring.

The Recent Sydney course i organised (and the one in March 2009 )with a mange content was an eye opener to many, and we have had some great success on treatment of mange because of it. There seem like very few area's without pockets of mange and that's something that needs adding to any wombat course , regardless if it's online or face to face. Many have since spoken of learning new things they apply back to other animals.

Another point that could add to this would be the supply of a limited range of 'wombat' foodstuff's and equipment at 'reasonable' prices . Many individual carers pay amazing amounts (100% + markups on some online supplyers) for their supplies which would also effectively limit them. But this is whole new can of worms, not impossible and I'm sure worth looking into in the fullness of time.

There are a number of manuals avail free online and that gives anyone interested a heads up. There are also various forums were questions are posed and it's the luck of the draw on the answers you get, but a busy forum will generally get enough discussion to sort it out, if this is in time for the animal concerned that's another matter.

Yes I have about half a dozen manuals. Have yet to get my hands on a WIRES manual.
I am aware of about 4 forums of which the only two active ones are Ozark and Wildfriends. Ozark is the most active but you have to wade through a lot of chatter. Wildfriends is easy to find information on.

Getting high quality up-to-date wombat courses around in area's of need is probably more important than spending lots of time trying for accreditation from all groups. Some groups will never give it. It's more important to let existing and potential carers know what to do. These people will get animals regardless and need the education/ help that a face to face course would bring.

I agree with these comments except for the difficulty in getting to a face to face coarse. I have found that the best back up to the manuals is the networking I have established with people for the most part I have never met on the net. I feel to help people understand the manuals it would be good to have an online course for people to follow and ask questions. Many carers are fairly isolated from main or regional centres and cant afford to get to face to face courses.