Biosecurity is a shared responsibility and community involvement in biosecurity surveillance is central to reducing the introduction and impact of pests, weeds and diseases in Australia.
To understand how we can best support public participation in surveillance programs, we have partnered on a research project with the Centre of Excellence for Biosecurity Risk Analysis (CEBRA). The goal is to equip our staff with the tools and insights needed to effectively commission, support and conduct cost-effective biosecurity community engagement initiatives.
In Phase 1, CEBRA collaborated with the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARES) to gather insights and perspectives from our staff involved in general surveillance initiatives.
This research identified the need for:
- conducting routine economic analysis of surveillance efforts
- developing an economic decision-support tool
- establishing a monitoring and evaluation process.
Phase 2 of the project is now underway, building on these findings. CEBRA is developing an economic decision-support tool, while ABARES is designing an approach for monitoring and evaluation.
These initiatives will support engagement to help ensure that people from all walks of life can contribute to Australia’s biosecurity and strengthen surveillance efforts.
Read the Phase 1 interim report.
