National Environment and Community Biosecurity RD&E Strategy Coordination

biosecurity community national strategy

Status: Completed

Start date: 1 July 2019

Completion date: 31 July 2021

Project code: U-017

Species/Threats: Multiple

Summary

The Centre was appointed by the National Biosecurity Committee (NBC) to assess implementation progress made against the National Environment and Community Biosecurity Research, Development & Extension (NECBRD&E) Strategy 2016-2019, and to assist the Environment and Invasives Committee (EIC) prepare a new strategy for 2020 and beyond.

To achieve these outcomes, this project provided a dedicated National Coordinator to assist the Centre and the EIC undertake the assessment and prepare the new strategy.

Objectives

The National Coordinator position supported by this project:

  1. Assessed what has been undertaken against the current strategy and identify the critical gaps.
  2. Developed a communication strategy and action plan to assist with the promotion and implementation of the strategy.
  3. Networked and collaborated with key stakeholders in environmental biosecurity RD&E to prepare a new NECBRD&E strategy for implementation from 2020.
  4. Worked with the Centre and the EIC on the transition to implementation of the new strategy.

Key achievements

Outputs

  • Undertook an environmental and community biosecurity RD&E stocktake and prepared a gap analysis. The purpose of the gap analysis was to examine the policy setting, current RD&E priorities and capabilities of key stakeholders to inform the development of the forward NECBRD&E.

Outcomes

  • The analysis found general alignment of RD&E priorities across the range of Biosecurity strategies and policies. Despite this, the gap analysis and associated stakeholder consultation has identified the need for better alignment of national RD&E strategies, and a greater emphasis on innovation, monitoring and behavioural research.
  • It concluded that the forward NECBRD&E can add the most value to the RD&E space by providing cross-sectoral coordination for shared cross-sectoral RD&E priorities, driving innovation and promoting a culture of collective problem-solving.

Project team

Dr Matt Sheehan

Project Lead

Dr Shauna Potter

Wild Matters

Project partners

The Office of the Chief Environmental Biosecurity Officer, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry partners on this project which receives funding from the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry.

Project updates

August 2020

During 2018-19, the Centre was appointed by the National Biosecurity Committee (NBC) to assess implementation progress made against the NECBRD&E Strategy 2016-2019, and to assist the Environment and Invasives Committee (EIC) prepare a new strategy for 2020 and beyond. To achieve these outcomes, this project provides a dedicated national coordinator to assist the Centre and the EIC undertake the assessment and prepare the new strategy.

February 2020

Dr Matt Sheehan was appointed as the National Environment and Community Biosecurity Research, Development & Extension (NECBRD&E) Strategy Coordinator.

During late 2019, Dr Sheehan commenced a gap analysis of the environmental and community biosecurity space. This is a critical step in determining what was achieved by the original 2016-19 Strategy and what tasks remain. It also allows an assessment of how RD&E priorities and capability have changed since the original strategy was endorsed in 2016. The Gap analysis process will continue throughout 2020.

A Communications Strategy and Action Plan has been drafted to inform how best to engage with stakeholders to develop the new forward RD&E Strategy.

So far, the coordinator has engaged with approximately 80 RD&E institutions national-wide to determine capability and progress in environmental and community biosecurity, through one-on-one interactions and a series of biosecurity roundtables and other events throughout Australia. This engagement process will continue throughout 2020.

The stakeholder engagement process informed by the Communication and Action Plan will culminate in a Draft RD&E Strategy.

Community resources

NEWS - 24 September 2019

CISS takes on exciting new role in the Environment and Community Biosecurity space

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