Workshops Prepare Regional Staff for Disease Roles
18 November 2011AUSTRALIA - More than 190 Department of Agriculture and Food staff across Western Australia have taken part in workshops this year to increase their understanding of emergency disease procedures.
The two-day workshops, coordinated by the department’s Livestock Biosecurity program, were held in Geraldton, Albany, Bunbury and Northam.
Department Emergency Animal Disease project manager Sue Skirrow said the workshops were designed to ensure regional staff were familiar with the type of roles they might be required to undertake in an emergency disease response.
dr Skirrow said: "To successfully eradicate an emergency animal or plant disease outbreak and to minimise its spread and financial impact on WA’s economy, it is vital to respond rapidly and effectively."
"A fast, coordinated response to an emergency disease is only possible when there are sufficient staff who understand how the national and state emergency disease plans work, and how to carry out their role most effectively.
"Day one of the workshop introduced the participants to the emergency management arrangements at a national, state and local level ― AUSVETPLAN, PLANTPLAN and WESTPLAN.
"The second day focused on a hypothetical disease scenario, where each participant was assigned a role as they would be in a real disease outbreak, and had the opportunity to put theory into practice."
Dr Skirrow said feedback from regional directors and staff undertaking the course had been extremely positive.
"Staff have also been encouraged to increase their preparedness for an emergency animal disease response by undertaking online training available through Animal Health Australia," she said.
ThePigSite News Desk
New President for Pig Veterinary Society
24 May 2012Assessing Safety of Enterococcus faecium in Feed
23 May 2012China Authorises Pork Imports from Brazil
23 May 2012France, Romania Adjust Pig Populations
25 May 2012Pressure on VION's Profits in 2011
25 May 2012New Livestock Tax Rules in Budget 2012
25 May 2012Tunisian Feed Production Leaps Forward
25 May 2012Govt of Canada Supports Manitoba Hog Industry
25 May 201287M Kg of Pork Smuggled in 2011 into Philippines
25 May 2012International Animal Welfare Systems Adopted
25 May 2012El Nino Risk Rising for Late Summer
24 May 2012
© 2000 - 2012. 5m Publishing, Benchmark House, 8 Smithy Wood Drive, Sheffield, S35 1QN, England.