Issue 4 | July 2023

Training diagnostics and surveillance practitioners during a live response: Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer (PSHB) workshop, Perth

A workshop to aid diagnosticians and surveillance practitioners from around the country in the identification of PHSB, infected trees and associated fungi, was held in Perth in May 2023. PSHB was first detected in 2021 in Perth, Western Australia (WA), and a Quarantine Area has been set to limit the spread of this highly invasive complex within the state and across Australia.

The PSHB Workshop demonstrators Kylie Ireland (surveillance), Melinda Moir (entomology), and Dominie Wright (pathology) passed on valuable expertise gained during WA’s emergency response and eradication program to 20 diagnosticians and surveillance practitioners from around Australia to support prevention, preparedness, and early detection activities.

2023 PSNAP residential applications under review

Applications for the 2023 PSNAP residentials are now closed.

A total of six residential applications were received during this period and are currently under review by members of the Plant Surveillance Network Working Group (PSNWG).

Career spotlight

This month we shine the spotlight on Ben Page, Horticulture Biosecurity Officer, Department of Primary Industries and Regions, Adelaide.

Ben has worked in biosecurity for the last six years, as the District Officer for Lameroo in the Mallee, and a Landscape Officer in the Clare Valley managing pest plants and animals across diverse landscapes. He then moved into the plant pest space as a Biosecurity Project Officer, educating the public on the importance of biosecurity for plant health and managing a snail eradication.

Welcome Bianca

Bianca Rodrigues Jardim joined Plant Health Australia at the end of June 2023 as the Networks Coordinator.

Bianca’s postgraduate research has focused on the genomics of organisms involved in insect-vectored plant and animal pathogens. Most recently, she completed a PhD titled ‘A Genomics Approach to Investigate Phytoplasma Taxonomy and their Diversity in Australia’ at La Trobe University, Melbourne. This work has improved the understanding of phytoplasmas in vegetable growing areas of Australia, providing baseline taxonomic and distribution data and an ability to differentiate Australian phytoplasmas from exotic species. Bianca also co-founded the PBRI Plant Health Student Network during her PhD.

Her role involves supporting the advancement of plant pest surveillance and diagnostic capacities and capabilities of PSNAP and NPBDN members by coordinating workshops that support continual professional development and provide networking opportunities. She is also involved in promoting the PSNAP and NPBDN networks and their websites to foster an increase in their membership and linkages with other surveillance and diagnostics networks domestically and internationally. Projects managed by Bianca aim to strengthen partnerships and enhance integration of technologies and approaches in plant biosecurity.

For any PSNAP matters, information or queries, Bianca can be contacted at: brodriguesjardim@phau.com.au or psnap@phau.com.au.

About the Network

The Plant Surveillance Network Australasia-Pacific (PSNAP) enables members to communicate about plant pest surveillance. It acts as a coordination point for surveillance professionals and practitioners to strengthen surveillance capacity and capability across Australia, New Zealand and the nearby region.

The National Plant Biosecurity Surveillance Professional Development and Protocols Projects are coordinated and delivered by Plant Health Australia and are funded by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.