Strategic foresight provides the tools for early identification of emerging trends, for analysis and interpretation, and for developing a range of options and identifying preferred responses.
Strategic foresight capabilities are useful when managing uncertainty, both now and in the future, as both the complexity of problems and the rate of change increase. Strategic foresight methods enable the development of more robust and resilient analysis leading to better planning and policy advice.
By scanning the environment for emerging issues and considering them from a range of perspectives, the department aims to identify significant emerging issues before they become critical.
Some strategic foresight activities with a focus on animal health are listed below.
- Environmental scanning in areas such as biotechnology, emerging diseases, science and society, climate change, and food safety.
- Consideration of key emerging issues using foresight techniques to assist with future planning.
- Cooperative work with Quadrilateral Group partners (Canada, New Zealand and the United States) on future approaches to emergency animal disease management.
- Participation in the Australasian Joint Agencies Scanning Network (AJASN). The AJASN is made up of government agencies from Australia and New Zealand.