The Crisis Management Planning Project (2024–2026) strengthened how livestock industries prepare for and respond to emergency animal diseases (EADs).
AHA worked with industry and government partners to develop consistent, practical crisis management planning tools for livestock industries across Australia.
The project supports stronger coordination and faster, more effective responses to EAD outbreaks.
About the project
Previously, crisis management plans (CMPs) across the livestock sector were inconsistent in quality and format. This made it harder for industries to work together during an EAD response. The project addressed this gap by developing a standard set of templates and supporting tools that:
- provide clear guidance for industry response
- align with government response arrangements
- support coordination between industries and agencies
- can be adapted by different livestock sectors
The project was delivered by AHA in collaboration with:
- the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
- Australian Pork Limited
- Goat Industry Council of Australia
- AgriFutures Australia
Project report
The project snapshot report provides a summary of the project, its approach and outcomes.
Crisis Management Plan templates and tools
The project delivered a suite of crisis management plan (CMP) templates and supporting documents for livestock industries. These resources help peak industry bodies:
- prepare for an EAD response
- manage response activities and coordination
- communicate effectively with stakeholders
- review and improve their response
Training modules were also developed to support industries to use the templates and tools.
How to access CMP templates and tools
CMP templates, tools and training resources developed through this project are available to livestock industries.
Peak industry bodies that are EADRA signatories can access the resources at any time through AHA’s CMP Portal in the Industry Forum Teams area.
If you are a livestock industry organisation that is not an EADRA signatory, you can request a copy of the documents by emailing aha@animalhealthaustralia.com.au.
What’s included
The CMP resources include a core template and a range of supporting tools.
Livestock Industries Crisis Management Plan Template
A comprehensive list of all the things an industry needs to consider in the event of a crisis occurring. It will assist industries in planning and preparing for every stage of a crisis response.
Supporting documents
These documents help you plan for, manage and review an EAD response.
| Category | Title | Description |
| Checklists & actions | Activation — first meeting checklist | Key actions and considerations when activating a crisis management team. |
| Emergency animal disease actions checklist | Guides actions for a peak industry body during an EAD response. | |
| Planning & coordination | Agency roles and responsibilities | Explains how agencies work together during a response. |
| EADRA stakeholder map | An infographic that shows key organisations, roles and relationships. | |
| Overview of relevant plans | Helps you find key Commonwealth, state and industry plans. | |
| Collection plan template | Helps you plan how to gather and manage information. | |
| Hazard information sources | Lists useful information sources for planning and response. | |
| Response management | Incident action plan template | Supports impact, risk, action, communication and recovery planning. |
| Situation report template | Helps you consistently report on response status and actions. | |
| Review | After action review template | Helps you review your response and identify improvements. |
Training modules and resources
Five training modules were created to assist PIBs in adapting and implementing the CMP templates and tools. The modules are provided as videos and PowerPoint slides.
Additional resources
Online training
AHA hosts online courses that build industry capacity in EAD response and preparedness.
- Liaison-Livestock Industry (LLI) online training – prerequisite training for LLI representatives. Offers awareness resource for personnel from PIBs, allied and supporting industries.
- EAD Foundation Course – gain a comprehensive overview of how EAD responses are managed in Australia. Recommended for anyone involved in EAD response functions.
Industry guidance documents
There are also industry guidance documents for quick reference during an EAD response.
- Role of industry personnel in an EAD response – learn the principles, roles and processes around industry involvement in an EAD response.
- LLI Network Maintenance Guidelines – these guidelines provide a flexible process to help peak industry bodies coordinate and maintain their LLI networks.