EDITION 4   |   JUNE 2023

ADSW 2023: Implementation through connections

Themed ‘Implementation through connections’ the hybrid Annual Surveillance and Diagnostics Workshop (ADSW) workshop was held at the QT Hotel in Canberra from 9 – 11 May.

The program consisted of presentation sessions, panel discussions, workshops and a field day, which allowed diagnosticians and surveillance practitioners to come together and share knowledge and learnings.

From a poll carried out at ADSW 2023, 94% rated the event as excellent or above average, also rating networking, collaboration and knowledge sharing as key benefits of attending. Also of note, 73% of delegates indicated they would be interested in attending Surveillance or Diagnostics residentials, whilst bioinformatics, taxonomy and pathology were identified as the top three key training needs. 

Highlights included:

• 42 abstract presentations
• 110 in person delegates
• 90 virtual delegates
• 8 guest speakers
• 1 international speaker
• 3 training workshops
• 4 diagnostic and surveillance residential updates
• 1 plant health student network panel
• 1 mind mapping session
• 1 field day activity
• 1 networking social event.

NPBDN members can access all ADSW 2023 presentations after logging into the members portal.

Residentials at ADSW 2023

Duy Le from NSW DPI presented his 2022 Diagnostics residential on making nematological upskilling possible.

“I now have a certain degree of competency in identification of parasitic nematodes, so surveillance of nematodes on Cotton in NSW will be continued at a local level.”

Diagnostics Residentials 2023 are now open

The Subcommittee on Plant Health Diagnostics (SPHD) is pleased to announce applications for the Diagnostic Residential Program are now open.

Funding is available to members of the National Plant Biosecurity Diagnostic Network (NPBDN) for Diagnostic Residentials projects that show benefit to the NPBDN and national plant biosecurity diagnostics.

Diagnostic Residentials involve plant biosecurity diagnostician(s) spending time in another laboratory, workplace, or by participating in relevant activities that improve the national capability to identify plant pests.

Please note: This funding is not open to DAFF staff. Commonwealth DAFF staff are encouraged to speak to their line manager regarding potential placements.

Online ILO training goes live

Plant Health Australia (PHA) recently launched a new e-learning Industry Liaison Officer (ILO) program consisting of an online ILO course and face-to-face ILO workshop.

The program is designed to improve response readiness of industry representatives that may be called on to work in the incident management structure during a response, and to understand their roles and responsibilities.  

Call for IPPC Diagnostic Protocol authors

The IPPC Secretariat has opened a call for Diagnostic Protocol (DP) authors and are seeking authors with diagnostic, technical and/or scientific expertise in one (or more) of the below species:

• Microcyclus ulei (2019-003)
• Spodoptera frugiperda (2021-016)
• Moniliophthora roreri (2019-005)

How to apply:

Nominations to be a DP author must be submitted to the IPPC Contact Point by 14 June 2023.

Nanopore Sequencing for Biosecurity Workshop 27 – 29 June 2023

Nanopore sequencing has revolutionised sequencing for biosecurity due to its portability, small footprint, and minimal capital investment. It can be used to reconstruct full genomes, detect pathogens in complex samples, and trace pathogen evolution in real time as highlighted by the tremendous work on Sars-Cov2 during the pandemic.

Nanopore sequencing also has important applications in agriculture and food security such as crop pathogen and agrochemical resistance detection. To fully exploit the potential of Nanopore sequencing and to modernise Australian biosecurity we need to build capacity and proficiency for end-users with hands-on workshops in sequencing and data analysis.

This biosecurity focused workshop will be held from 27 - 29 June 2023 at Curtin University in Perth. The workshop will focus on capacity building and establishing a Nanopore community of practice focusing on biosecurity and eDNA.

NPBDN members who are interested in attending the workshop can contact the Networks Coordinator via email: npbdn@phau.com.au.

Expert Register Survey

Plant Health Australia (PHA) are sending a survey to all members of the National Plant Biosecurity Diagnostic Network to ensure member details are current and correct.  The aim is to improve the current expert register which will allow PHA to source expertise by region and/or disciplines for professional development training, and assistance with diagnostic topics and protocols. The updated experts register will be available on the NPBDN website.

It would be greatly appreciated if you could complete this 3-minute survey before 30 June 2023. Please access the survey via the button below.

Careers

A senior entomologist position with the Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade has been advertised. Applications close Monday 12 June, 2023.

About the Network

The National Plant Biosecurity Diagnostic Professional Development and Protocols Projects are coordinated and delivered by Plant Health Australia and are funded by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. The objectives of the Projects are to enhance and strengthen Australia’s diagnostic and surveillance capacity and capability to identify priority plant pests that impact on plant industries, environment and the community.