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Member Update – May 2024

30 May

Review of the National Arbovirus Monitoring Program (NAMP) – Request for EOI

AHA is seeking expressions of interest from parties with demonstrated expertise in the review of animal health programs to undertake a review of NAMP.

AHA has managed the NAMP since 1997, and monitors the distribution of economically important insect-borne viruses of livestock, including bluetongue virus, Akabane virus, and bovine ephemeral fever virus, and their vectors across Australia.  The NAMP is reviewed on a 5-yearly basis with terms of reference that address scientific strategy, economic impact and return on investment, program logic, governance structure, governance materials, and reporting and communication materials. The last review of NAMP was completed in 2020. AHA, on behalf of the NAMP Steering Committee, is calling for suitably qualified consultants to express their interest in undertaking the upcoming 5-yearly review.

Download the full EOI


Industry and government work together to understand and prepare for supply chain impacts during an EAD response affecting the pig industry

The Queensland Farmers’ Federation and Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries recently led Exercise HamStrung, a collaborative industry and government exercise that used an African swine fever (ASF) outbreak scenario to assess the impact of response movement controls on the domestic pig supply chain.

Over two days, 60 participants representing pig producers and processors, genetics suppliers, live pig transporters, pig stockfeed manufacturers and specialist pig veterinary services came together with government representatives from Queensland, NSW, SA, Victoria and the Commonwealth to have productive and respectful discussions around several outbreak scenarios, and determine ways to minimise impacts on the pig industry and its supply chains without compromising disease control. Exercise participants identified a wide range of proactive measures that could assist both industry and government to reduce the adverse impacts of an outbreak.

Dr Ron Glanville facilitated the exercise and said that participants’ engagement and feedback was very positive.

“Both industry and government participants were highly engaged in the exercise. They identified practical solutions to mitigate the adverse impacts an ASF outbreak in Queensland would have across the entire supply chain, many of which can be implemented proactively by industry and government across Australia to support pig industry resilience in the event of an EAD incursion” Dr Glanville said.

The Queensland Farmers’ Federation will prepare a report which will bring together the exercise findings and recommendations to inform ongoing industry and government EAD preparedness.

AHA was pleased to provide support to the planning team and take part in active discussions during the exercise.

Participants of Exercise Hamstrung, image supplied by QDAF

National Biosecurity Response Team (NBRT) Cadet Program Celebrates 1-Year Milestone

Discover how the NBRT Cadet program has transformed biosecurity training nationwide. From Tasmania to Victoria, the program has delivered workshops designed to equip participants with knowledge on a wide array of topics, ranging from an introduction to biosecurity emergency preparedness and the specific response principles underlying biosecurity emergencies within their home jurisdictions. Learn how this pioneering program is shaping Australia’s biosecurity future.

Read the full story here.

Victorian NBRT cadet participants practicing personal decontamination in and out of a response site, image supplied by AgVic.

New Liaison – Livestock Industry (LLI) online training course launched

Developed by Animal Health Australia, a new LLI online training course has been launched as part of a broader initiative to increase member response capability and to support training related obligations of members under the EADRA.

It complements jurisdiction-developed incident management resources and training, ensuring that LLI personnel are well-prepared for their roles.

As a prerequisite to our scenario-based LLI workshops, this online course covers theoretical aspects, allowing more workshop time to be dedicated to practical, scenario-based activities.

Combined, the LLI online course and workshops aim to facilitate the availability of trained representatives across each Australian jurisdiction and livestock industry.

Why Take This Course?

  • Flexible Learning: Complete the course at your own pace, fitting around your schedule.
  • Comprehensive Preparation: Be thoroughly prepared for your role in EAD responses before participating in hands-on workshops.
  • Response Awareness: Understand the responsibilities of government led responses and how the LLI function can represent the needs of their industry. 
  • No cost to undertake: the course is completely free.

Who should take this course?

  • If you are a representative of your industry and have been nominated by your peak industry body to attend LLI training, or called up to be deployed as an LLI representative in a cost-shared, EAD response.
  • Want to refresh your knowledge of industry’s roles in an EAD response.
  • Want to better understand the context, expectations and responsibilities of the LLI function.
  • Want to learn more about the role that State Farming Organisations and Peak Industry Bodies play in government-led EAD responses.

This is the course for you! Join us in strengthening our biosecurity response capabilities.

Encourage wider enrolment in our online course today and become a vital part of the effort to protect our industries from emergency animal disease threats.

Undertake the course today


Nominations for the Australian Biosecurity Awards (ABAs) are now open.

The ABAs provide important recognition for biosecurity champions across industry, government and the public, who have made a significant contribution towards protecting our nation from pests and diseases.

Sharing their stories promotes the importance of biosecurity and encourages excellence and best practice in the biosecurity sector.

There are nine award categories, including:

  • Dr David Banks Biosecurity Lifetime Achievement Award
  • Dr Kim Ritman Award for Science and Innovation
  • First Nations Award for Excellence in Biosecurity
  • Industry
  • Government
  • Environmental Biosecurity
  • Community
  • Education
  • Farm Biosecurity Producer of the Year — jointly presented with Animal Health Australia and Plant Health Australia.

The new First Nations Award for Excellence in Biosecurity was introduced in 2024 to enhance the visibility and recognition of First Nations peoples’ important contributions to Australia’s biosecurity.

Nominations close 9am AEST Monday 10 June.

Winners will be announced at an event in late 2024.

The annual Australian Biosecurity Awards are presented by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Do you know an individual, group or organisation that deserves to be recognised for their contributions to biosecurity?

Nominate them today


What’s on at AHA

3rd Australian Biosecurity Symposium: 27-29 August 2024 (Gold Coast QLD)

Member Engagement Week: 23-26 September (Canberra ACT)

View AHA’s full calendar of events here.


Recent publications

Animal Health Surveillance Quarterly Report, Vol 28, Issue 3

The Animal Health Surveillance Quarterly Report (AHSQ) is the newsletter of Australia’s National Animal Health Information Program (NAHIP). The NAHIP collates data from a wide range of government and nongovernment surveillance and monitoring programs to provide an overview of animal health in Australia.

Download

Tasmanian Livestock Health Report, March 2024

The Tasmanian Livestock Health Report summarises information on livestock diseases and conditions observed by rural service providers across Tasmania.

Download


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