In addition to our scheduled and readily accessible training (e.g. for National Management Group, Consultative Committee on Emergency Animal Diseases, Liaison–Livestock Industry and a suite of online courses), Animal Health Australia (AHA) offers a range of awareness education resources and sessions that can be tailored to meet specific member needs. These resources and training aim to increase members’ awareness and understanding around emergency animal disease (EAD) incidents and national response arrangements. Specific topics previously covered include national committees, the EADRA and the AUSVETPLAN (described below).
AHA members are encouraged to contact the AHA Training Team to discuss how we can assist you to build the preparedness and response capability of your representatives. For more information please email trainingsupport@animalhealthaustralia.com.au
Deed (EADRA) awareness
Overview
The Emergency Animal Disease Response Agreement (EADRA, or the ‘Deed’) is a unique contractual arrangement between Australia’s governments and industry groups to collectively reduce the risk of disease incursions and manage a response if an outbreak occurs. It is a critical resource that describes the roles, responsibilities and obligations of signatories to the EADRA during peacetime (i.e. the time period during which there is no EAD response) and response time; as such, it is vital that representatives of signatories to the EADRA are familiar with its key principles.
As the custodian of the EADRA, AHA is available to deliver Deed awareness sessions to our members and their nominated representatives. AHA’s Deed awareness sessions provide learners with a high-level overview of the EADRA (its history, content and principles). Being a tailored training activity, AHA will work with the relevant signatory or AHA member to highlight specific content pertaining to the EADRA and of relevance and interest to the signatory/member.
By the end of the session, participants will have a better understanding of:
- the EADRA and its purpose and principles
- the roles and responsibilities of the signatories to the EADRA
- their roles and responsibilities as an organisation and signatory to the EADRA, and as representatives of their organisation.
Target audience, format and duration
The Deed awareness sessions are targeted at nominated government and industry representatives of signatories to the EADRA. More specifically, those who will be involved in key decision-making (or their advisors) on behalf of their organisation during an EAD response. The session is appropriate for those needing a refresher of their understanding of the EADRA and their responsibilities under the Deed and those that may be new to their role.
The one-hour sessions can be delivered face-to-face or virtually via videoconference. Although in a webinar format, the session is structured to be interactive with opportunities to ask and discuss questions with the facilitator, subject matter expert/s and other participants.
As a tailored training activity, AHA also invites participants to submit any questions on the EADRA before the workshop. Where appropriate and possible, these will be answered during the workshop; otherwise, a parking board will be developed for the workshop and responses provided out of session.
At the end of the workshop, participants will receive a copy of the PowerPoint presentation and contact details of key AHA staff should they have any follow-up comments or questions.
[1] This may vary pending the tailored content, number of participants and discussions on the day.
AUSVETPLAN awareness
Overview
The Australian Veterinary Emergency Plan (AUSVETPLAN) comprises a series of manuals and supporting documents which contain the nationally agreed approach for responding to EAD incidents in Australia. These manuals and documents are critical as they describe the nationally agreed roles, responsibilities, coordination arrangements, policies, strategies and procedures for responding to an EAD. The development and review of AUSVETPLAN is managed by AHA, and unlike the EADRA, AUSVETPLAN contains technical details of EADs.
By the end of the session, participants will have a better understanding of:
- the AUSVETPLAN, its purpose and structure
- how AUSVETPLAN and EADRA work together
- how and when AUSVETPLAN is to be used during an EAD response
- how and when AUSVETPLAN is developed and reviewed.
Target audience, format and duration
The AUSVETPLAN awareness sessions are targeted at nominated government and industry representatives of signatories to the EADRA. More specifically, those who will be involved in providing technical expertise (or their advisors) on behalf of their organisation during an EAD response. The session is appropriate for those needing a refresher of their understanding of the AUSVETPLAN and its application during an EAD response and those that may be new to their role.
The one-hour sessions can be delivered face-to-face or virtually via videoconference. Although in a webinar format, the session is structured to be interactive with opportunities to ask and discuss questions with the facilitator, subject matter expert/s and other participants.
As a tailored training activity, AHA also invites participants to submit any questions on AUSVETPLAN before the workshop. Where appropriate and possible, these will be answered during the workshop; otherwise, a parking board will be developed for the workshop and responses provided out of session.
At the end of the workshop, participants will receive a copy of the PowerPoint presentation and contact details of key AHA staff should they have any follow-up comments or questions.
Awareness and Refresher resources
Education and training resources available to increase national EAD response awareness can be found here.