Animal Health Australia

15/01/2025

⚠️ Working near powerlines is a serious risk — touching them or straying into an exclusion zone around them can result in an electric shock which can be severe and even fatal.

📌 Therefore, farmers, contractors and individuals operating heavy machinery near these lines need to be aware of the serious risks they pose.

Find out more about the WHS Compliance and Field Services Proactive Compliance Program 2024-2027 👉 https://bit.ly/4hetvt8

Biosecurity Queensland 📸 Workplace Health and Safety Queensland

14/01/2025

🔔 We are proud to announce the arrival of the 🆕 2023 - 2024 National Sheep Health Monitoring Project (NSHMP) Annual Report!

More than 🐑 11.9 million sheep were inspected in 10 abattoirs around the country for 19 animal health conditions. Of the conditions monitored in 2023-2024, bladder worm and pleurisy recorded the highest levels of incidence in inspected sheep throughout Australia at 2.6% and 1.8% of total inspected sheep, respectively.

Download and read the latest findings 👉 https://bit.ly/40wXs21

WoolProducers Australia Sheep Producers Australia Mintrac

08/01/2025

🐺 Are wild dogs impacting your land?

Use our diagnostic tool 🛠️ to identify signs 🔍 and take informed action 📋

Check it out on the NWDAP website ➡️ https://wilddogplan.org.au/wild-dog-management/

07/01/2025

📣The latest Tasmanian Livestock Health Report is now available! 🐑🐄

Download the full report now 👉 https://bit.ly/4gBeNfd

📃 This comprehensive report covers seasonal disease alerts, biosecurity stories, and valuable tips to help you protect your livestock from various diseases and conditions.

19/12/2024

🎤 Recently Dr Rob Barwell, Head of Program – Biosecurity, travelled to Vrindavan, India to attend and present at the 16th International Colloquium on Paratuberculosis where the latest research and developments on paratuberculosis (usually called Johne’s disease in Australia) were presented.

👉 There was also a premeeting – the International Paratuberculosis Forum – where representatives from different countries discussed what is being done to manage paratuberculosis in their country.

🕊️ Some long days of presentations were broken up by visits to local sites like the Taj Mahal and Chandrodaya Temple plus nearby Gaushala (a cow rescue shelter). 🐮

Learn more about Johne's disease ⏩ https://animalhealthaustralia.com.au/johnes-disease/

17/12/2024

👉 Next on AHA’s rotation for Liaison Livestock Industry (LLI) training was the Northern Territory (NT). AHA has been working closely with the NT Department of Agriculture and Fisheries during the past couple of months, and delivered an LLI workshop in Darwin, in November 2024.

💪 The workshop was targeted at those who can step in and take a leadership role during an emergency animal disease response and work with government within a control centre and welcomed over 25 attendees from our Peak Industry Bodies and allied industries.

The LLI Workshop served as an opportunity for representatives to forge strong relationships across the sector. 👏

Learn more about LLI ➡️ https://animalhealthaustralia.com.au/liaison-livestock-industry-role/

Fisheries NT

16/12/2024

🤝 AHA co-funded with Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation and Meat & Livestock Australia the Northern Breeding Business program. The third workshop in the current phase of the program was held at Mt Isa and on the nearby property Calton Hills, with 20 delegates in attendance. 🚜

👬 Indigenous managers and staff are being upskilled in various elements of managing their properties including business skills, pasture management, reproduction as well as biosecurity and Emergency Animal Disease (EAD) awareness.

📱 Ian Perkins, who is the project and workshop facilitator, and other participants tested a beta version of a new Cattle EAD augmented reality app, developed by Think Digital Studios, at this workshop. This will be released in app stores soon.

15/12/2024

Important information to note and stay prepared 💪

Australia remains free from the serious and highly contagious H5 strain of bird flu that has spread quickly across the world. It’s important to stay informed and prepared.

Here’s what you should know:

1. What is H5 bird flu?
H5 bird flu is a viral disease that primarily affects birds but can sometimes infect other animals. The likelihood of humans becoming infected is low.

2. How has it spread to other countries?
H5 bird flu can spread through the movement of migratory birds.

3. How is Australia preparing for H5 bird flu?
The Australian Government is investing more than $100 million to ensure Australia is prepared for H5 bird flu. Industry, government, and other organisations are working together to enhance preparedness and national response capabilities.

4. How can you help?
If you keep pet birds or backyard chickens here’s some simple steps you can take to help:
- Keep wild birds away from your birds by using netting or housing.
- Keep bird feed and water out of reach from wild birds.
- Keep aviaries and equipment clean.

Or if you find multiple dead birds or other animals, do not touch them. Instead, take photos or a video, record your location and report it to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.

👉 Learn more: https://www.agriculture.gov.au/campaigns/birdflu

11/12/2024

🚨Exercise Audiatur – a partnership between AHA and Agriculture Victoria – was delivered to Liaison Livestock Industry (LLI) and AgVIC participants in October 2024.

This exercise aimed to 💪 improve the delivery of the LLI function for Victorian emergency animal disease responses by upskilling industry representatives and enhancing AgVIC’s processes and support functions. It’s been an incredible team effort to bring this to fruition! 🙌

AHA sincerely thanks everyone who contributed to its planning and delivery and appreciates the time and dedication of LLIs and AgVIC staff in building Victoria’s preparedness. 🤝

👀 Observers from allied industries, sectors, and government departments also attended, taking home valuable learnings to strengthen their own biosecurity frameworks. 📖

11/12/2024

🐑🐏 AHA, in collaboration with WoolProducers Australia and Sheep Producers Australia, hosted a workshop focused on refreshing the National Sheep Industry Biosecurity Strategy, with key industry and government representatives contributing insights, ideas and strategies for future sheep biosecurity activities. 💡

Learn more 👉 https://bit.ly/4g9uQAG

10/12/2024

🙌 Dr Bronwyn Hendry, Head of Program – Animal Health Surveillance and Monitoring and Emily Sears, Manager, recently attended the 17th International Symposium of Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics in Sydney.

The conference provided a fantastic opportunity to connect and share insights in animal health epidemiology research, applications and policy. 👏 It was also an excellent opportunity to increase AHA’s technical skills related to machine learning and incorporate these learnings into AHA surveillance and monitoring programs.

04/12/2024

🎬 Closing out the 3rd Australian Biosecurity Symposium, we’re proud to now share in partnership with the Biosecurity Queensland a short video highlighting the inaugural Biosecurity Youth Summit.

Additionally, the full Symposium proceedings are also now available via ➡️ https://www.biosym.com.au/ where you can see the breadth of presentations from across the two days.

👀 https://bit.ly/417gOLM

The Inaugural Biosecurity Youth summit, hosted alongside the 3rd Australian Biosecurity Symposium on 28 - 29 August 2024 at SeaWorld Resort, Gold Coast. 39 s...

03/12/2024

🎯 Effective control programs require integrated tools. From baiting to guardian dogs, discover the diverse strategies for managing wild dogs.

Check out the NWDAP resources to learn more 📖 https://bit.ly/3YKh7sT

03/12/2024

👏 The National Biosecurity Response Team (NBRT) Cadets program ran its workshop in Canberra recently with 42 participants from the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF).

🤝 Facilitated by Callan Consulting and supported by AHA, the program discussed the Australian Government Crisis Management Framework and Arrangements and introduced participants to incident management systems and the various functions involved in a response at both state and national levels.

The workshop engaged attendees in scenario based problem-solving exercises and included guest speakers from DAFF, the National Emergency Management Agency and a member of the NBRT who shared their experience working in a biosecurity emergency response. 🗯️

Find out more on NBRT 👉 https://bit.ly/3aswRLQ

27/11/2024

🌟🎉 Animal Health Australia is delighted to welcome Malcolm Letts as our new Chair.

🎯 With his extensive expertise and strategic vision, Malcolm is set to guide AHA through a dynamic new chapter in strengthening Australia’s biosecurity and animal health landscape. 🐾

Read the full media release 👉

Animal Health Australia (AHA) would like to announce that after five years in the role, Sharon Starick has stepped down as AHA Chair, with Malcolm Letts appointed unopposed. Ms Starick said, “It has been a privilege to serve as Chair, during a time that saw many opportunities to deliver for our me...

26/11/2024

😇 Tasmanians spent a lot of the Covid - 19 epidemic moving freely about the state because we eliminated an early outbreak while it was still small and manageable, and stopped the disease coming back in through the use of hotel quarantine. 💯

The same principles apply at the farm level. 💡

🐑 🐮 If you see any signs of a disease you don’t want, act decisively in the early stages and you have a much better chance of eradicating it.

Read the full story 👉 https://bit.ly/40WT1y8

25/11/2024

🙌 AHA extends heartiest congratulations to the 2024 Tasmanian Biosecurity Awards Winners 👏

Congratulations to the recipients of the 2024 Tasmanian Biosecurity Awards!

Bettina Elischer from Government House Tasmania received the Community Biosecurity Award for her outstanding contribution to the Tasmanian beekeeping community.

Just Cats Inc. were also recognised for their community education about stray and feral cats, and the success of multiple initiatives aimed at reducing the impact of stray cats and promoting responsible cat ownership.

Finally, the Environment and Sustainability team from TasPorts have been awarded the Industry Biosecurity Award for the work they have undertaken to protect Tasmania from marine pests.

20/11/2024

AHA’s strategic direction is supported by three strategic priorities and our key wins during 2023 - 2024 include ✨

✅ Six AUSVETPLAN manuals were updated and published, and two new AUSVETPLAN resource documents were published.

📌 Development of the Liaison-Livestock Industry (LLI) online course.

🐑 Nearly 12 million sheep inspected as part of the National Sheep Health Monitoring Project.

🤝 Collaborated with our members to improve data standards and data quality across key national animal health programs.

📘 Read the full report here 👉 https://bit.ly/3UEPGPY