AHA Update July 2010
AHA SUPPORTS INDONESIA’S BIOSECURITY
Earlier this month, Duncan Rowland, Manager Biosecurity Planning and Implementation, travelled to Indonesia to attend several workshops and explain how Australia’s animal health system works. He was invited by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
Duncan met with representatives of the Indonesian Poultry Veterinarians’ Association and the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture at a workshop to develop a National Poultry Quality Improvement Plan. He explained poultry industry biosecurity in Australia, alongside representatives from the US and India who spoke about the situation in their countries.
The poultry industry was selected for its ability to grow the market in consumption (eggs and meat) domestically and for neighbouring countries. The Indonesian Government sees the benefits of a high protein consuming economy. With this higher level of consumption comes a higher level of production and therefore all the associated supporting sectors that are required (e.g. feed manufacturing, genetics, health, processing, etc) are also boosted. Presently, the Indonesian market consumes approximately 80 eggs and 4.8kg of meat a year per capita based on a population of 232 million people, so there is a huge potential for further increase.
The workshop was held in Jakarta and funded by the USDA and FAO. It supported the Indonesian Government‘s efforts to develop industries that will assist in developing infrastructure and the Indonesian economy – part of the ‘self sufficiency by 2013’ program.
Duncan also spoke at the Indo Livestock Expo where more than 10,000 people visited to learn about innovations in the Indonesian livestock sectors.
A large component of the work being undertaken by the FAO and USDA (and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research) focuses on raising awareness of the need for biosecurity practices at a village level. Some excellent documents and training aids have been developed by these organisations and an extensive train-the-trainer program is in place for village leaders to go back and train their fellow villagers.
Duncan also took the opportunity to visit BalitVet, the Indonesian National Research Veterinary Institute to discuss screw worm fly (SWF) research projects. BalitVet is located in Bogor about 60 kilometres south of Jakarta. Located onsite is a SWF breeding facility that was built with ACIAR funds in the early 1980s.
The BalitVet visit provided good contacts for the supply of flies for identification training courses that are to be run in the next year for Australian entomologists; a part of the new SWF Freedom Assurance Program Business Plan that will operate over the next five years.
The benefits of the full trip to Indonesia included the opportunity for Duncan to share biosecurity information with developing industries. The international recognition and invitation to share AHA’s expertise is a compliment to the company.
Duncan Rowland
AHA STRATEGIC PLANNING WORKSHOP
The AHA Board and managers participated in the annual AHA Strategic Planning Workshop on 21 and 22 July. The group was also joined by guests from various member groups including the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the Department of Primary Industries and Resources, South Australia, Equestrian Australia and the Australian Egg Corporation, who gave presentations and provided member perspectives on particular issues.
Discussions incorporated results from the recently completed member survey, which provided some clear direction on certain issues, an awareness of the changing environment in which we are operating and the likelihood of these changes continuing. The result of this year’s workshop will be a discrete strategic plan outlining AHA’s priorities for the next few years and how the company will navigate through the changing environment. A draft will be circulated to members in the coming months, for comment.
Mike Bond
AHA MEMBERS’ SURVEY
Thank you to all our members and stakeholders who participated in our recent performance survey.
The final report was presented at the AHA Strategic Planning Workshop last week and provided a valuable input into our discussions. While some variation is to be expected in a group as diverse as our member and stakeholder base, some clear messages emerged, which are likely to be reflected in the forthcoming AHA strategic plan.
Respondents indicated an understanding of the importance and difficulty of AHA’s role but nominated transparency of business processes and communication as requiring improvement. There is a need to better explain the company’s strategic direction and demonstrate the value of members’ investments in AHA. Respondents also provided some feedback about their priorities for the future and the perceived risks that might impact on these priorities.
Overall, the responses have provided some useful information for AHA’s planning processes and we thank everyone for their ‘frank and fearless’ responses and their time.
Mike Bond
TRAINING UPDATE
Industry Liaison Officer (ILO) training
Following similar training conducted in Sydney and Perth, 11 members from the chicken meat and egg industries recently completed ILO training in Brisbane. Some came from as far afield as Townsville and Tamworth to sharpen their knowledge and skills of emergency animal disease response arrangements, to network and meet Biosecurity Queensland (BQ) staff.
All participants commented that the interaction between industry and government was very useful and enjoyable. They are looking forward to increasing these links and putting their newly acquired knowledge into practice at Exercise Red Feather, which begins in Brisbane in August 2010.
The AHA training team would like to thank BQ staff for their support, assistance in managing the logistics of the course and for providing the training venue.
ILO training course participants, Brisbane
Rapid Response Team (RRT) Training
25 new members of the RRT were inducted in Canberra in June 2010. The RRT is comprised of experienced personnel from all states and territories who are nominated to fill AUSVETPLAN control centre roles in an emergency animal disease response.
The induction program combined briefings and structured learning sessions with ‘fun’ activities designed to help new RRT members get to know each other and start to work as a team. After three days together, the new RRT members were joined by the ‘old guard’ of existing members and the combined group worked together on professional development activities to prepare them for their forthcoming involvement in the 2010 RRT Exercise.
Exercise Red Feather is being held in Brisbane and comprises three discussion workshops. RRT members will play key roles as facilitators of workshop discussion groups. This will be a new experience for some RRT members, as most previous RRT exercises have been functional exercises in which ‘players’ exercised the role to which they were likely to be assigned in a response.
Jude Nettleingham
BIOSECURITY FARMER OF THE YEAR
With the success of last year’s awards, the Farm Biosecurity program is again sponsoring a biosecurity award with Biosecurity Farmer of the Year featuring as part of the Kondinin Group/ABC Rural Australian Farmer of the Year Awards.
Nominations are now open and we expect coverage to gather pace over the course of this week, with regular announcements on radio (through ABC Rural) and print media. AHA and PHA will promote through member networks and channels as well. The Awards Program provides an opportunity to profile the practices and benefits of on-farm biosecurity, to recognise the great and innovative work of producers around the country and, of course, create greater awareness of the Farm Biosecurity program.
Australian Farmer of the Year Awards are open to all Australian farmers.
Nominations close Wednesday 18 August 2010.
Further information is available through the Farmer of the Year website http://www2.kondinin.com.au/Awards/AwardNominations.aspx
Tim Dal Cortivo
EADRA UPDATE
Animal Health Australia is continuing discussions with the horse owning community towards the 1 December deadline for them to reach agreement on cost recovery mechanisms and enable them to become signatories to the Emergency Animal Disease Response Agreement (EADRA).
Under the EADRA, the Australian Government guarantees to underwrite response costs to diseases listed in the EADRA, enabling rapid control and eradication action to proceed immediately.
In the 2007 equine influenza outbreak, the Commonwealth carried the industry’s share of the response costs because of the particular circumstances of that incursion. However, Primary Industries Ministers from the Commonwealth and all of Australia’s states and territories have clearly stated that from now on, they won’t support a nationally cost shared response to any exotic horse disease until there is firm commitment to a cost sharing agreement. Ministers have set 1 December 2010 as the deadline for the Australian horse-owning community to reach agreement on a mechanism to allow it to meet its share of response costs.
The ‘Horse owners and the EADRA’ website is continuing to grow and provides a central reference point for authoritative information about the EADRA, possible levy collection options, and progress towards the 1 December deadline. It also features answers to frequently raised issues and questions.
The website address is: www.animalhealthaustralia.com.au/horse-owners-and-the-eadra (it can also be reached through the Animal Health Australia homepage).
We hope you will find this a helpful avenue for communication, and encourage you to publicise this link, through your networks.
The key contact person is:
Dr Diane Ryan horse.eadra@industry.nsw.gov.au
Phone: (02) 4640 6378
Mike Bond
NLIS (SHEEP AND GOATS) REPORT
The Animal Health Australia commissioned report : National Livestock Identification Scheme (NLIS) (sheep and goats) Business Plan: the costs of full compliance with NLTPS was presented to stakeholders in July. The report was commissioned on behalf of the Primary Industries Standing Committee (PISC) and developed by the Centre for International Economics (CIE) to progress the debate of the development of NLIS (sheep and goats).
The report provides five identification options to inform discussion on the future of NLIS (sheep and goats). It does not attempt to make recommendations or promote a preferred option, but simply to provide options that can form the basis of future discussion and debate. The selected option is likely to provide an important pathway for industry to continue strengthening its competitive position.
The report is now with SAFEMEAT, and a recommendation will be made to PISC in the near future.
Thea McNaught-Reynolds
AHA DIRECTOR SELECTION 2010
Members, stakeholders and other interested parties are reminded that the process for the selection of directors to fill three vacancies on the Animal Health Australia Board will commence shortly.
These vacancies are part of the normal rotation process stipulated in the company Constitution. Advertisements will soon be placed in the national press and on the Animal Health Australia website. The Selection Committee will consider applications and provide three nominations for the approval of members at the AGM in November. The selection criteria are specified in the Constitution.
All enquiries should be addressed to the Company Secretary, Mike Willoughby.
INDEPENDENT CHAIRMAN APPOINTED TO RED MEAT ADVISORY COUNCIL
Red Meat Advisory Council Chairman, Ian McIvor AM, has announced the appointment of Mr Ross Keane as the Company’s new Independent Chairman; Mr Keane will assume the role on 1 August 2010.
STAFF PROFILE
Name: Liesl Redmond
Position: Project Officer
What would you like to achieve this coming year at AHA?
At my stage in career, I still have so much to be learning and experience to be gaining. I hope to achieve both of these at AHA this coming year. I would also like to be able to make a valued contribution to priority issues and those AHA members and staff I serve.
Employment history
I worked for three years for the NSW Department of Education, teaching Agriculture and Science to high school students at Coomealla HS in the Sunraysia district of far SW NSW. I then transferred to Trinity Catholic College – Senior Campus, where I taught for a further one year. At the start of this year I commenced employment with BSG- Plant- Grain and Seed Export Program, where I worked on policy changes and training for AQIS officers. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to join Animal Health Australia.
Specialisation
I completed an Agricultural Science degree at Sydney University, specialising in Animal Production. I then completed a Diploma in Secondary Education at Canberra University, specialising in Technology and Applied Science- Agriculture and Science.
Areas of interest
I am interested in livestock and the link between nutrition, disease and genetics on production. With this comes an appreciation of agronomy, soils and all things agriculture.
Life outside of work
A simple, but busy life is mine outside of work. I love going to my family’s farm and involving myself in farm activities and family life. Most of all I like riding our many horses and am looking forward to training my filly to be the best that she can be and a pleasure to any rider. I love old houses and furniture, and derive a lot of enjoyment from buying and fixing old home wares and creating a retreat in a garden. I no longer like to waste my energy in sport, but still like to indulge in long walks with my dogs, and kayaking.
Favourite holiday destination
I love culture, food and any place with history, but my priority is to see my own country. So far my favourite places are Kings Canyon and Cairns, but I still have so much more to see.
AHA CALENDAR AUGUST - SEPTEMBER
10 August -NAMP Technical Committee Annual Meeting
18 August - Biosecurity Farmer of the Year nominations close
24 August - NAMP Management Committee Annual Meeting
6 September - NMG Training & Performance Standards workshop
7 September - Industry Forum & Board Meeting
8 September - National Animal Health Consultative Group meeting
9 September - OJD Management Committee meeting
10 September - Q Alpaca meeting
You can find AHA member meetings on our corporate calendar.
