WADEM Oceania Chapter
In November 2008, the WADEM Oceania Chapter was launched. The launching of the Chapter is the culmination of a year's long effort by WADEM members Skip Burkle, Frank Archer, and Paul Arbon. Below are the Oceania Chapter Bylaws and Oceania Chapter Charter.

Oceania Regional Chapter Bylaws

Oceania Regional Chapter Charter

WADEM Chapters

The WADEM Board of Directors, pursuant to its decision at Edinburgh, Scotland, May, 2005, offered the designation of WADEM Chapters to Local, Nation-State, and Regional organizations of WADEM members who share the mission and dedication of the WADEM.

WADEM fosters, deliberately promotes, and supports the development of globally shared actions in:

• Disaster terminology;
• Building structures in disaster, emergency, and public health science and research;
• Creating standards, benchmarks, credentialing, and accreditation in disaster and emergency health;
• Offering regional and culturally specific education and training in disaster and emergency health;
• Transferring the science of disaster health into operational realities;
• Providing professional support to operational organizations;
• International representation of its members on WADEM standing committees and task forces.

Eligibility
A Local, Nation-State, or Regional WADEM Chapter is a group of WADEM members who live or work in a particular locality and who, as a matter of geographic convenience, organize themselves to promote the goals of the WADEM cooperatively. Chapters will have an academic, research, and/or operational focus and will work to further develop the goals of WADEM and the individual Chapter membership. Chapters provide an organized way for its members to share their professional experiences and provide educational, training, and research opportunities in the advancement of disaster health and management. WADEM Chapters offer a number of benefits to its members:

• Education and training opportunities;
• Interpretation and exchange of information through its network of members and publications;
• Development and maintenance of evidence-based standards of emergency and disaster health care and provision of leadership for integration into practice;
• Coordination of data collection and provision of direction in the development of standardized disaster assessment and research/evaluation methodologies;
• Encouragement of publications and presentation of evidence-based research findings in scientific publications, national, regional, and international conferences, and congresses;
• Increased credibility to the members of the organization on a global, national, and local level.

A Platform for Networking
A great resource for professional and personal development is meeting with colleagues within the same field of interest and practice.  Members can gain new information on state-of-the-art technology, access to others’ experiences and knowledge, and the opportunity to broaden professional insights.

Professional Development
Chapter meetings and activities allow opportunities to expand members’ knowledge, bring continuing education and training opportunities closer to home and provide a bridge between regional and world congresses and organizations (e.g., WHO Regional Organizations). The creation of a Mentor Program within the Chapter also provides opportunities for the members to grow within the profession.

Exchange of Services and Contributing to WADEM
Chapters offer the ability to exchange both professional experiences and services, such as reviewing other members’ papers and conference presentations. Chapters can provide access to other professionals willing to mentor members in publishing research projects and operational experiences. Chapters also may act as a clearing house for new ideas that can be directed to the WADEM and, if deemed appropriate, implemented globally.  Chapters also may identify potential WADEM leaders and nominate members to serve on the WADEM Board of Directors.