Australia’s biosecurity system is a cornerstone of our nation’s health, environment, and economy. The recent LLI (Liaison – Livestock Industry) training workshop, held in South Australia, served as an essential platform to empower this critical system when needed during disease outbreaks. At the heart of the workshop, we had Ben Byrne, Head of Training at Animal Health Australia and Craig Elliott, Principal Consultant at P2R2 Consulting who expertly guided the workshop as the main facilitators. We are excited to share the insights and the impact of this training program with you.
The Power of LLI
The LLI function is a critical component in the response structure for an emergency animal disease (EAD) response. These representatives act as the information bridge between their industry and the EAD response team. An LLI representative is selected by their peak industry body based on their deep knowledge, expertise, leadership skills, negotiation skills, and ability to build positive relationships.
A workshop tailored for leaders
The participants of this workshop are industry personnel nominated by their peak industry body, possessing the authority to advise the government on policy and commercial issues on behalf of their industry. These are individuals who are leaders in their field, with an extensive understanding of their industry’s operations, as well as the scientific, political, legal, and management aspects of response.
The workshop also involved local government staff from PIRSA (Department of Primary Industries and Regions, South Australia). As this training was centred around South Australia and its peak industry bodies, PIRSA staff taking part helps ensure a robust local government response in the case of an EAD. When organising LLI in a jurisdiction, local governments are involved to ensure the jurisdictional differences are considered and the needs of the state are addressed.
Training delivery
The day-long workshop was conducted in Adelaide and took place on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, with 31 participants and 5 staff from PIRSA, all keen to learn and play their part in safeguarding Australia’s livestock industry. As the workshop combined presentations with scenario-based small group activities, participants were able to interact, exchange views, and work together to learn about the Liaison function in an EAD response.
The planning and presentation team was a collaboration between different organisations. This included emergency management consultant, Craig Elliot from P2R2; Mary Carr, SA CVO, and Celia Brissenden, PIRSA Public Information Manager, from SA Government staff; Danny Le Feuvre, an industry representative for AHBIC (Aust Honey Bee Industry Council), and Dianne Phillips, a senior veterinary officer from Victoria who has also worked as an incident controller for AgVic. From AHA (Animal Health Australia) and PIRSA planning teams, we had Geraldine Wickham, Training Coordinator and Emma Rooke, Manager Epidemiology respectively.
The four guest speakers – Dr Mary Carr, Celia Brissenden, Dianne Phillips, and Danny Le Feuvre – provided real-life experience in an incident, sharing their insights, challenges, and experiences which added invaluable expertise to the workshop. Their contributions were an integral part of the workshop, greatly enhancing its effectiveness.
A diverse range of peak industry bodies that participated in the workshop enriched the conversations and discussions, encouraging cross-industry learning and networking:
Outcomes
The primary outcomes of this workshop were to enhance industry-government biosecurity response networks and increase understanding and awareness around the role and responsibilities of LLI, EAD response structures, processes, activities, and the importance of managing communications in a biosecurity emergency response.
After the workshop, participants’ details are updated on the AHA EAD contact list, maintained by their peak industry body. This facilitates quick and efficient LLI involvement in an EAD response in the affected jurisdictions.
Every participant had access to a wealth of resources, including the AHA EAD foundation course, a comprehensive workbook packed with scenario information, activity templates, and additional resources, facilitating a deep dive into the nuances of biosecurity management.
In conclusion, this workshop marked another significant step in our collective mission to bolster Australia’s biosecurity system. Empowering industry leaders through the LLI program ensures that, when an emergency arises, we have skilled, knowledgeable individuals ready to liaise effectively and facilitate rapid, informed responses.