CEO UPDATE
Thanks for a great March Member Engagement Week (MEW)
Thank you to everyone who joined us for a fantastic MEW earlier this month. It was wonderful to reconnect — and to meet some new faces — while having meaningful conversations about our shared work and challenges.
You may have noticed the refreshed MEW format this year to help spark more open, engaging discussion. It was great to see how much energy and insight these sessions generated.
As always, we value your feedback. If you have comments or ideas about what you’d like to see at future MEW events, please share them via our short survey.
2026-27 AOP is coming soon
Building on the AOP webinar in late February and all the helpful conversations during MEW, we continue to progress the 2026–27 Annual Operating Plan.
In the coming weeks, you’ll receive a letter outlining the AOP and proposed subscription arrangements for your organisation. We will be asking members to approve subscription funding at the AHA General Meeting in June 2026.
If you’d like to talk about anything in the AOP in more detail, please feel free to contact me or Jane Brooks, General Manager, Corporate Services.
Join the AHA team
AHA is currently recruiting for a new Head of AUSVETPLAN, a full‑time technical leadership role that reports to the General Manager, Emergency Preparedness and Surveillance and leads Australia’s nationally agreed approach to responding to emergency animal disease incidents through the Australian Veterinary Emergency Plan (AUSVETPLAN). Applications close 3 April 2026.
AHA would like to acknowledge and thank Jane Owens, who steps down from the role on 10 April. Jane has made an exceptional contribution to Australia’s emergency animal disease preparedness, strengthening AUSVETPLAN and our partnerships across government and industry.
We are grateful for Jane’s leadership, expertise, and collaboration. On behalf of AHA, we wish her every success in her next chapter.
Regards
Dr Samantha Allan
MEMBER UPDATE
Updated AHA Member Charter now available
After six months of valuable member input and discussion, the updated AHA Member Charter has been finalised and is now available for download. Thank you to everyone who contributed insights throughout the review — your feedback played a key role in shaping the final version.
The refreshed Charter strengthens how we work together by clarifying our shared purpose, embedding AHA’s organisational values, and outlining the collective commitments that support effective partnership across AHA, government and industry.
AUSVETPLAN update
AUSVETPLAN Technical Review Group (TRG) meeting
The AUSVETPLAN TRG met in Sydney from 17-19 February 2026. Alongside routine administrative items, the TRG:
- reviewed progress and identified next steps for key 2025-26 work plan activities, including the AUSVETPLAN guidance documents for Tracing and surveillance and Movement controls, as well as the AUSVETPLAN Response policy briefs
- considered actions referred to TRG following Exercise Flight Path and proposed appropriate approaches to address them
- discussed active and upcoming TRG papers, including the AUSVETPLAN response strategies for Bluetongue, Sheep and goat pox, and Peste des petits ruminants.
A proposed AUSVETPLAN work plan for 2026-27 was also developed and will be progressed to Animal Health Australia’s Industry Forum and the Animal Health Committee (AHC) for approval.
The meeting was highly productive, and the AUSVETPLAN team looks forward to continuing engagement with members during the next phase of work.
AUSVETPLAN document updates
The updated AUSVETPLAN Response strategy: Avian influenza has been published on the AUSVETPLAN webpage.
Access it directly at: animalhealthaustralia.com.au/AUSVETPLAN_RS/AvianInfluenza
The AUSVETPLAN Response strategy: Classical swine fever has been endorsed by AHC and is being prepared for publication.
EADRA update
EADRA workshop at MEW
The March 2026 EADRA workshop was held on Tuesday, 3 March 2026 as part of Member Engagement Week. The workshop focused on key outputs from the Categorisation Review working Group, Parties’ responsibilities for biosecurity under the EADRA (clause 14), and updates to the EADRA workplan.
The EADRA team thanks all of those who attended for their positive engagement and feedback, which is integral to developing the highest quality outputs for the program. Parties to the EADRA will have further opportunities to provide feedback on draft documents via the usual out-of-session consultation mechanisms.
EADRA variations and amendments progress
The 2025 EADRA variations and amendments were circulated to all Parties for formal signing on 12 February 2026, with responses requested by 12 March. AHA is currently waiting on a small number of responses. Once all signed forms have been received, an updated version of the Deed will be published on the EADRA webpage, and Parties will be notified.
EAD training updates
National Management Group (NMG) Training Exercise reflections
AHA was excited to deliver the refreshed NMG Training Exercise as part of Member Engagement Week on Wednesday 4 and Thursday 5 March. Nearly 30 participants from industry, government and wildlife organisations took part, working through two new EAD scenarios designed to challenge strategic thinking and spark deeper discussion.
Key highlights:
- Facilitated by AHA’s Ben Byrne and Dr Peter Dagg (Eastern Animal Health Professionals), the training exercise had participants thinking on their feet and confronting the reality of considerations during an NMG meeting.
- Head of the EADRA program, Dr Therese Wright, presented on the financial responsibilities of NMG members during an EAD response.
- Dr Beth Cookson shared her experience and perspective as the Australian Chief Veterinary Officer and chair of CCEAD and spoke to participants about the value of the EADRA and the strong need for preparation and well-informed NMG decision-making.
- Luke Osborne from DAFF chaired a mock NMG meeting as part of the exercise.
The training was very well received — 98% of participants either ‘strongly agreed’ or ‘agreed’ that the exercise met their needs, was delivered effectively, and enabled them to participate meaningfully.
Attendees particularly valued hearing from a diverse mix of cross‑sector experts. Most reported leaving the exercise with a stronger understanding of the NMG role and greater confidence in contributing to national decision‑making during an emergency animal disease response.
Liaison – Livestock Industry (LLI) training coming to WA and NSW
AHA will be facilitating LLI training in Western Australia and New South Wales in 2026! Dates are currently being finalised and will be shared with members once confirmed.
- WA LLI Workshop: July
- NSW LLI Workshop: October
Industry members in WA and NSW are encouraged to begin discussing attendance with both new candidates and existing LLI representatives.
For more information, or to secure places for your nominees, please contact the AHA Training Team at trainingsupport@animalhealthaustralia.com.au.
Reminder: review and update your EAD contact lists
Industry members are reminded to review their EAD contact lists to ensure details for LLI, CCEAD and NMG representatives are up to date.
With LLI training scheduled in WA and NSW later this year, now is a great time to assess your preparedness by confirming the number and currency of your LLI representatives.
Use the PIB LLI Guide for help or email trainingsupport@animalhealthaustralia.com.au for support.
NEBRA review – have your say
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is conducting the five‑year review of the National Environmental Biosecurity Response Agreement (NEBRA), which guides how governments work together to respond to serious new environmental pests, weeds and diseases.
Public consultation is now open, and stakeholders are invited to provide feedback on how NEBRA is operating and where improvements could be made.
Submissions close 31 March 2026.
National seed contamination survey
A national survey out of UNSW and CSU is exploring producers’ knowledge and barriers to managing seed contamination on‑farm. Sheep producers are invited to participate, and the first 50 respondents will receive a $20 supermarket voucher.
The survey is open until 30 April 2026.
Resource of the month
On-farm biosecurity resources
From training records to biosecurity kits, we’ve gathered five practical resources from the Farm Biosecurity website to help producers strengthen on-farm biosecurity practices and protect their properties in 2026.