Rapid Response Team (RRT)
The RRT was developed and trialled throughout the 2003/04 financial year, during this time it was identified as a significant incident response asset that could be used in all states and territories, should the need arise.
The rapid response team can therefore be seen as the specially trained personnel operating in the establishment of a LDCC in the early stages of a response to an EAD.
Animal Health Australia has responsibility for the management of the RRT except during EAD response activities where the RRT is called out by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
Membership of the RRT
RRT members are employees of government primary industry/agriculture departments and are nominated by their Chief Veterinary Officer. Collectively, they have expertise in establishing the key components of an LDCC/SDCHQ in a recipient jurisdiction.
RRT members are sponsored to participate in annual training exercises and induction as well as RRT specific workshops.
Maintaining the vibrancy of the RRT is an important consideration and Animal Health Australia seeks nominations from the jurisdictions of new personnel on an annual basis.
Training
RRT members are encouraged to participate in a range of training and professional development activities each year, these include induction for new members; professional development workshops and an annual RRT exercise held in conjunction with a jurisdiction.
More recent exercises were the exercise known as Exercise Wild Boar, which was conducted from 17 to 21 November 2008.
The exercise simulated an outbreak of classical swine fever. Its aim was to evaluate the Department of Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines' arrangements for managing an emergency animal disease response in the Northern Territory.
The exercise was a functional exercise focusing on the activities to be undertaken by a mini State Control Headquarters and a Local Disease Control Centre. These activities took place in an operational environment and required exercise participants to actually perform the functions of their response roles. There were no field operations or deployments during the exercise.
The 2010/11 exercise will be held in Queensland. The aim of the exercise will be to enhance the relevant industries ability to respond to and manage an identified emergency animal disease outbreak through reviewing, developing and refining existing policy frameworks, scope or principles relating to the identified key risk areas. Each of these aims is to be achieved in an integrated fashion to facilitate improved communications and reduced duplication of effort between response agencies.
The exercise will be conducted over three workshops, with each workshop addressing one of the three key risk areas such as response strategy direction and policy making in regard to movement controls and management of zoonotic diseases.
In order to achieve the desired outcomes, an emphasis will be placed on utilising the skills and knowledge of response agencies, industry, of the affected states first response unit (FRU) and the National Rapid Response Team (RRT). For the 2010/11 exercise, the affected state will be Queensland (QLD).
The conduit for the exercise is based on a simulated EAD outbreak scenario in a relevant commercial production area within the QLD.
To encourage the exploration of areas for improvement, the exercise will endeavour to, where possible, identify gaps during previous emergency responses or action plan reviews.
The aspects of the EAD response exercise are conducted in context of a real life scenario. For example, the exercise is conducted in accordance with current legislation, policy, procedures and resources, albeit scarce and limited. Strategies to ensure business continuity for industry, community and response agencies during and after the response are all considered.
Further Information
For further information about the RRT please contact:
Jenny Arkle
Manager, Training Services
Animal Health Australia
Email: jarkle@animalhealthaustralia.com.au
To access the RRT Management Extranet please click here.
Page Updated: 25 August 2010