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Online training courses

Animal Health Australia (AHA) hosts a variety of online courses related to emergency animal disease (EAD) preparedness, arrangements and biosecurity on its eLearning platform. While some of these courses have been developed by AHA, some have also been developed by AHA’s member organisations.

Similarly, Plant Health Australia (PHA) also hosts a separate suite of online courses related to emergency plant pest and disease preparedness, arrangements and biosecurity. Although you do not need to register a separate account, you will need to log-in here to access PHA’s courses.

Follow these guidelines to register for and access the online courses listed below.

EAD training courses

EAD foundation course

Overview

The purpose of this course is to inform learners about how EAD responses are managed in Australia, and to give a foundation for further training in EAD response functions.

 

Content and objectives

The course content is divided into two parts.

Part 1 covers:

  • EAD awareness
  • Australia’s EAD response arrangements, including the Emergency Animal Disease Response Agreement (EADRA)
  • Australian Veterinary Emergency Plan (AUSVETPLAN)
  • phases of an EAD response.

Part 2 covers:

  • incident management system principles
  • control and coordination centres
  • working in an EAD response
  • communication and information management in an EAD response.

Having completed the course, learners should have an understanding of:

  • the significance of EADs
  • phases of an EAD response
  • the Australian animal health system
  • the roles and responsibilities (including reporting requirements) embedded within the Australian animal health system
  • national EAD arrangements and plans.

Target audience and duration

The EAD foundation course is recommended for producers, veterinarians, veterinary and animal science students, livestock industry and government personnel, and individuals who may be involved in an EAD response; however, it is publicly accessible and open to anyone with an interest in EAD response arrangements.

This course takes approximately 2 hours to complete.

More information

The EAD foundation course may or may not be a prerequisite to participating in a workshop being delivered by AHA (e.g. National Management Group, Consultative Committee on Emergency Animal Diseases, and Liaison – Livestock Industry training).

Follow these guidelines to register for and access the online courses listed below.

 

ASF prevention and early detection course

Overview

African swine fever (ASF) is an infectious pig disease that is not present in Australia. However, this disease is spreading across the world where it is devastating pig industries in affected countries. The Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) has developed this online course to provide you with the information you need to help protect our industry and communities from the potential impacts of ASF.

Content and objectives

The course consists of 3 modules which focus on:

  • how to stop ASF from entering Australia
  • what to do to prevent ASF from infecting our pig populations
  • how to recognise and report clinical signs of ASF in pigs to support early detection of this disease.

Although developed by Queensland DAF, most of the information is applicable Australia-wide. Throughout the course, links are provided to additional resources and online videos to assist your learning.

Target audience and duration

The course has been developed for anyone who owns, works with, or interacts with pigs. This includes pig owners, pig industry workers, veterinarians, wild meat industry workers, feral pig hunters, landholders and government workers who may see or interact with feral or domestic pigs.

This course takes approximately 1.5 hours to complete.

More information

Download the information sheet here.

Registered veterinarians who complete the course are eligible to claim 1 VetEd continuing professional development (CPD) point.

Click here to access the course in the AHA learning portal.

For more information on the course, please contact the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries customer service centre via telephone (13 23 25) or email (info@daf.qld.gov.au).

ASF surveillance and sampling course

Overview

African swine fever (ASF) is an infectious pig disease that is not present in Australia but is having a serious impact in neighbouring countries. Should this disease breach our strong border controls and infect Australian pigs, good surveillance and diagnostic sampling systems will be required to support early detection and an effective response. These systems will be critical to minimise the potential impacts of ASF on our pig industry and agricultural communities.

The Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) has developed this online course to support effective ASF surveillance activities. Most of the information is applicable Australia-wide, but if you operate outside of Queensland, it is recommended that you contact your relevant state or territory laboratory and/or biosecurity agency to confirm laboratory submission requirements and source the appropriate sample submission forms.

Click here to access the course on the AHA eLearning platform.

Content and objectives

This course provides an overview of surveillance fundamentals and important information about how to safely and effectively collect and submit samples for ASF diagnostic testing. Completing the course will enhance your capacity to contribute to surveillance activities for early detection and response to serious pig diseases such as ASF.

The ASF surveillance and sampling course includes the following modules:

  • Module 1 – Surveillance and sampling fundamentals (15 mins)
  • Module 2 – Health and safety for ASF sample collection (30 mins)
  • Module 3 – Preparing for ASF sample collection (15 mins)
  • Module 4 – ASF sample collection from live pigs (30 mins)
  • Module 5 – Pig post-mortem examination and ASF sample collection (40 mins)
  • Module 6 – ASF sample submission and transport (20 mins)

This course enables you to explore different topics, depending on your learning needs. However, Modules 1, 2 and 3 provide valuable foundational information and must be completed (in order) before accessing Modules 4, 5 or 6. You will receive a certificate of completion for each module you complete.

This training has been developed by Queensland DAF, but most of the information is applicable Australia-wide. Links are provided to additional resources and online videos throughout the course to assist your learning.

Target audience and duration

The first three modules provide foundational information on surveillance and sampling of pigs and are relevant to anyone who owns or interacts with pigs (including feral pigs).

Module 4 provides information on swab and blood sample collection from live pigs and is relevant to pig industry workers, veterinarians and government animal biosecurity officers.

Module 5 provides guidance on how to undertake a post-mortem examination and collect samples for ASF disease exclusion testing. This is relevant to veterinarians, para-veterinarians, pathologists and other specially trained people including some stock people and animal biosecurity officers.

Module 6 provides information on sample submission and transport, which is relevant to veterinarians and government biosecurity officers who submit samples for laboratory analysis.

This course takes approximately 2.5 hours to complete.

More information

Registered veterinarians who complete modules within the courLe are eligible to claim 1 VetEd continuing professional development (CPD) for each hour of learning.

Click here to access the course on the AHA eLearning platform.

For more information on the course, please contact the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries customer service centre via telephone (13 23 25) or email (info@daf.qld.gov.au).

FMD awareness – protecting your livelihood and community

Overview

Australia is currently free of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). Developed by the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, this course aims to emphasise everyone’s role in preventing, reporting and responding to FMD.

Content and objectives

This course will provide an overview of the risks that FMD pose to Australia’s communities and livestock industries, and what can be done to help prevent FMD reaching and infecting susceptible livestock.

Having completed the course, learners should:

  • understand the risks FMD poses to our livestock industries and how to help prevent an outbreak
  • be able to recognise the signs of FMD in susceptible livestock and the importance of early reporting
  • understand what would happen if an FMD incident occurred in the future.

Target audience and duration

The FMD awareness course is recommended for any personnel that work with livestock, as well as the wider community.

This course takes approximately 1 hour to complete.

More information

Click here to access the course in the AHA learning portal.

For more information on the course, please contact the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries customer service centre via telephone (13 25 23) or email (info@daf.qld.gov.au).

Livestock and wool-selling agents’ EAD training

Overview

The purpose of this course is to introduce learners to EADs that could potentially affect the Australian livestock industry, the national response arrangements, and some basic principles of biosecurity.

Content and objectives

This course will increase learners’ awareness and understanding of what an EAD is, how EADs are reported and what learners should be keeping an eye out for, and what is and can be done to protect their animals and be prepared to respond if necessary. The course is divided into the following modules:

  1. What is an EAD?
  2. Why should you care about EADs?
  3. The EAD preparedness and response arrangements
  4. The importance of biosecurity in the EAD story
  5. Signs of an EAD – what should you keep an eye out for?
  6. Reporting an EAD.

Target audience and duration

The Livestock and wool-selling agents’ EAD training is recommended for livestock agents, brokers and personnel that regularly come into contact with livestock.

This course takes approximately 1 hour to complete.

Rabies awareness and early detection

Overview

Australia is one of the few countries in the world to remain rabies free. Rabies causes nearly 60,000 deaths annually, mainly in Asia and Africa, which is why Australia is focused on remaining rabies-free.  In recent years, the virus has continued to spread through the eastern islands of Indonesia.  Should rabies penetrate Australia’s biosecurity defences, early detection is critical to avoid establishment which would have a profound impact on our way of life.  Increased awareness and understanding of rabies by course participants will strengthen Australia’s surveillance capacity.

Although developed by Queensland DAF for northern Australia, most of the information is applicable Australia-wide. Throughout the course, links are provided to additional resources.

Registered veterinarians who complete the course are eligible to claim 1 continuing professional development (CPD) point.

Content and objectives

This free course has been created by the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) to provide veterinarians, para-veterinary professionals and local government staff (animal management officers and environmental health workers) an overview of rabies disease caused by Lyssavirus rabies (RABV).  After completing this module, you will be able to:

  • Explain the process by which rabies disease develops.
  • Recognise the important signs and symptoms of rabies disease in common domestic animal species and in humans.
  • Explain the importance of a One Health approach for dealing with rabies disease.
  • Describe the steps needed to make a diagnosis of rabies disease in animals and humans.
  • Describe the prevention, control, and eradication measures that can be used in domestic animals, wildlife, and humans, both internationally and locally.

More information

The course works best when you:

Open it in Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge or Firefox. Some functionality may be lost if you use other internet browsers.

Use a device with a larger sized screen, such as a desktop computer, laptop or tablet. Use of smartphones is possible, but not advised as readability and some functionalities are affected.

Follow these guidelines to register for and access the online courses listed below.

  • Section 1: Where does rabies come from? An overview of rabies
  • Section 2: Rabies in animals
  • Section 3: Rabies in humans
  • Section 4: Transport and packaging

Click here to access the course in the AHA learning portal.

Public Information in a biosecurity incident

Overview

The purpose of this online course is to provide learners with an introduction to biosecurity incidents and the public information function, which is responsible for delivering communication and engagement, in a biosecurity response.

Content and objectives

The course has two modules:

Module 1: An introduction to biosecurity incidents covers what constitutes a biosecurity incident, impacts and how responses are undertaken.  This course will take approximately 30 – 60 mins to complete. Note: This module has been prepared by Biosecurity Queensland and features Queensland content but the principles and learnings apply across biosecurity nationally.

Module 2: An introduction to the public information function covers an understanding of the public information function in a response and how it relates to other response functions and the overall effectiveness of the response. This module will take approximately 30 – 60 mins to complete.

Target audience and duration

Provide learners with an introduction to biosecurity incidents and the public information function. Aimed at anyone who is responsible for delivering communication and engagement, in a biosecurity response or wants to understand the roles and responsibilities.

More information

You must complete both Part 1 and Part 2 to receive your certificate of completion. To access each part of the course, click ‘Launch’ and the courses will open in a new window.

Follow these guidelines to register for and access the online courses.

Click here to access the course in the AHA learning portal.

Work health and safety induction in a biosecurity emergency response

Overview

The purpose of this course is to increase awareness of the main safety issues in a control centre and the field during a biosecurity emergency response (BER).

Content and objectives

This course will provide a basic work health and safety (WH&S) induction to personnel who will be working in a BER. Its contents have been divided into:

  • a general induction (core module)
  • working in a control centre (elective module)
  • working in field operations (elective module)
  • working on Infected Premises (elective module).

NB: although all elective modules are available to learners, most learners will only need to complete one elective before entering a response.

Target audience and duration

The WH&S induction in a BER course is recommended for any personnel, industry or government, entering a BER and should be completed prior to their arrival at the control centre or conducting response activities.

This course takes approximately 1 hour to complete.

More information

Upon logging in and enrolling into the course via AHA’s eLearning platform, please follow any subsequent registration instructions to access the course.

Veterinary training courses

Accreditation Program for Australian Veterinarians Registration

Overview

The Accreditation Program for Australian Veterinarians (APAV) is a national program designed to integrate private veterinary practitioners into the national animal health system to support the international standing of Australia’s animal health service capability. The program aims to have an internationally recognised process for accrediting non-government veterinarians for involvement in government and industry animal disease programs (i.e. APAV’s operational programs). To gain initial APAV accreditation, veterinarians are required to complete the APAV registration course.

The current suite of operational programs includes:

  • Accreditation program for Australian Government Accredited Veterinarians (live animal export)
  • Market assurance programs (MAPs) for the:
    • Alpaca industry (AlpacaMAP)
    • Goat industry (GoatMAP)
    • Sheep meat and wool industries (SheepMAP).

AHA maintains a database of APAV accredited veterinarians known as the National Register. This database contains the details of APAV accredited veterinarians to facilitate engagement of accredited veterinarians by government and industry with responsibility for APAV operational programs.

View the APAV Policies and Procedures here.

Content and objectives

Having completed the course, learners should have a good understanding of APAV and its operational programs, and the roles and responsibilities of accredited veterinarians and the context within which they operate. This is achieved through modules that cover:

  • Introduction to the APAV
  • Australia’s animal health system
  • International animal health issues
  • Animal disease programs
  • Responsibilities of the accredited veterinarian
  • Emergency disease responsibilities of veterinarians
  • Livestock welfare issues
  • Use of veterinary laboratories.

Target audience and duration

The APAV registration course is recommended to registered veterinarians who wish to become APAV-accredited and wish to expand their services to participate in operational programs, such s Market Assurance Programs (MAP) and the Australian Government Accredited Veterinarian Program (AAV).

This course takes approximately 4 hours to complete.

More information

Learn more.

Please contact apav@animalhealthaustralia.com.au should you have any questions on APAV or its course administration (incl. payment of course fees).

Australian Government Accredited Veterinarian

Overview

The AAVet course is an online training course for veterinarians who wish to be accredited to undertake Approved Export Programs (AEP) for livestock. An AEP must only be carried out by an Australian Government Accredited Veterinarian (AAV).

In order to become an AAV, veterinarians must meet several requirements (see below) and complete an application process – a part of which is the completion of the AAVet course.

The course aims to provide prospective AAVs an overview of the Australian livestock export industry, our legislative framework for exporting livestock, international animal health and trade organisations, AEP and the roles and responsibilities of AAVets.

Content and objectives

Having completed the course, learners should have a good understanding of the roles and responsibilities of AAVs and the context within which they operate. This is achieved through modules that cover:

  • the Australian livestock export industry
  • international organisations and agreements that affect the livestock export industry
  • importing country requirements
  • the Australian legislative framework for the livestock export industry
  • the livestock export chain
  • the AEP
  • AEPs in action: pre-export preparation
  • AEPs in action: onboard management.

Target audience and duration

The AAVet course is a prerequisite for accreditation as an AAV. It is designed to inform veterinarians involved in pre-export preparation and/or shipboard services for livestock of their legislative responsibilities.

Please note that a course administration fee of $250.00 must be paid to AHA before accessing the course materials.

Prospective AAVets must also meet other requirements, as determined by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, before becoming AAVet-accredited. This includes (but may not be limited to):

  • being a registered veterinarian by the relevant state or territory veterinary surgeons’ board from which the veterinarian is intending to conduct export work.
  • holding a current Australian Program for Accredited Veterinarians (APAV) accreditation.
  • submitting a completed application form to the Australian Government, supported with relevant documentation.
  • paying an application fee to the Australian Government.
  • paying a renewal fee to the Australian Government to maintain ongoing accreditation.

This course takes approximately 6 hours to complete, depending on background and experience within the industry.

More information

Learn more.

Please contact apav@animalhealthaustralia.com.au should you have any questions on course administration (incl. payment of course fees).

FMD training for veterinarians and veterinary paraprofessionals

Overview

The purpose of this course is to provide veterinarians and veterinary paraprofessionals with information about the clinical signs, differential diagnoses, sample collection, sample submission and diagnostics for foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).

Content and objectives

This course will enhance learners’ understanding of FMD and its notification requirements through modules that cover:

  • susceptible species and disease transmission
  • FMD investigation and clinical presentation
  • FMD case definition
  • differential diagnosis
  • notification requirements
  • interim measures following notification to Biosecurity Queensland
  • sample collection and laboratory diagnosis of FMD
  • sample management
  • on-farm biosecurity
  • the role of animal health professionals in an FMD incident response.

While the legislative and notification aspects of the course have a Queensland focus, most of the information is also applicable Australia-wide.

Target audience and duration

The FMD training for veterinarians and veterinary paraprofessionals course is recommended for any animal health professionals, especially those that work with FMD-susceptible species.

This course takes approximately 3.5 hours to complete.

More information

Completion of this course is recognised by the Australian Veterinary Association’s continuing professional development (CPD) points system, for which learners will earn three (3) VetEd points upon completion.

Please note that the images of infected animals used in the production of this video were obtained from overseas sources.

Click here to access the course in the AHA learning portal.

For more information on the course, please contact the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries customer service centre via telephone (13 23 25) or email (info@daf.qld.gov.au).

Market Assurance Program

Overview

The Australian Johne’s disease MAPs are a key strategy in the control of Johne’s Disease in Australia. AHA maintains a MAP training program and associated resources to assist veterinarians to complete the training necessary to meet the requirements of the MAP. Veterinarians wishing to obtain approved status as MAP veterinarians are required to meet a number of prerequisites which include current veterinary registration, prior APAV accreditation and completion of MAP training.

Content and objectives

This course will increase learners’ understanding of Johne’s disease and the measures taken to test for, prevent, control and manage the disease in Australia through the following modules:

  • Key points about Johne’s disease
  • How Johne’s disease behaves
  • Testing for Johne’s disease
  • Prevention and control
  • MAPs
  • Getting started in MAP.

Target audience and duration

This MAP course is recommended for veterinarians wishing to become MAP-accredited veterinarians for SheepMAP as part of meeting their training requirements. Veterinarians who are working with beef and dairy cattle producers or goat owners may also wish to do this training (however APAV is not essential for them).

This course takes approximately 2 hours to complete.

More information

For more information click here.

National Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies Surveillance Project training guide

Overview

The purpose of this course is to provide supporting information to animal health professionals collecting sample submissions for the National Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies Surveillance Project (NTSESP).

Content and objectives

This course will provide learners with an understanding of the correct methods of collecting surveillance samples and key considerations that are associated with them through the following sections:

  1. Introduction to the National Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSE) Freedom Assurance Program and the NTSESP
  2. Clinical signs of TSEs
  3. Methods for removing brains for TSE testing and claiming incentives
  4. Work health and safety considerations
  5. Further information.

Target audience and duration

The NTSESP training guide is recommended for animal health professionals who will be responsible for collecting surveillance samples and submitting these as part of the NTSESP.

This course takes approximately 30 minutes to complete.

More information

For more information click here.