JUNE 2026 NEWS 

MESSAGE FROM ALEX LLOYD, SAAFE CEO

THIS MONTH

• PROJECT NEWS: Enabling standardised measurements with a new DNA reference material
• EDUCATION & TRAINING: Growing our Scholar cohort through targeted recruitment 
• EDAR8: Registrations still open and workshop selections opening soon!
• EXPLORE: recent AMR news, scientific publications and upcoming events
• EVENT HIGHLIGHT: Ozwater '26

As always, we love to hear from you. If you have news, achievements, or exciting projects to share, please get in touch. Your stories are what keep our AMR community connected and inspired.

Enabling standardised measurements with a new DNA reference material

A SAAFE project to develop a new shared reference material aims to make it easier to compare DNA measurements across sectors.

The Kickstart project is a collaboration between SAAFE and the National Measurement Institute (NMI), and NMI hopes that the project will also encourage researchers to think more broadly about how reference materials can support their work and improve data quality and consistency. 

EDAR8 WORKSHOP SELECTIONS OPENING SOON

Hosted by SAAFE CRC, EDAR8 brings together global leaders across research, industry and policy to tackle one of the biggest health challenges of our time. 

The Workshop Program is now available to explore. Featuring interactive sessions led by international experts across science, policy, industry and One Health practice, the workshop program is designed to help turn insights into action, build skills, explore emerging challenges and contribute to meaningful change beyond the conference.

Workshop selections will open for registered delegates from 29 June 2026. 

Conference standard pricing is available until 6 July 2026 - register now to access the conference program, including the EDAR8 Workshop Program, social events and dedicated Early Career Researcher activities.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING NEWS

The SAAFE Scholar Cohort is growing through targeted recruitment initiatives

SAAFE CRC has successfully led and supported a targeted recruitment initiative to attract high-quality PhD candidates for four project opportunities at The University of Queensland. SAAFE CRC conceived the approach, managed the end-to-end implementation, and funded the SEEK advertising campaign to enhance visibility and reach for these specialised projects.

This initiative was particularly valuable for projects requiring niche and highly specific candidate skill sets, where traditional recruitment pathways can be limited. The SEEK platform proved highly effective in addressing this challenge, enabling broad visibility while still attracting suitably qualified applicants - across the four advertised opportunities, the campaign generated good engagement and resulted in a strong and competitive pool of 123 candidates from which suitable PhD candidates were successfully identified.

This outcome demonstrates the effectiveness of proactive, centrally supported recruitment strategies in building the future research workforce for the CRC. It also marks an important milestone as the first SAAFE CRC-supported PhD students commence at The University of Queensland in coming months and bring the Scholar cohort to a total of 16 candidates across our research partners.

PhD proposal applications 

SAAFE PhD proposal applications are now open. The SAAFE funding package offers:

• A top-up living allowance scholarship of up to $15k per year for 3.5 years FTE
• A professional development funding package of $21k per candidate for 3 years

Like SAAFE projects, PhD proposals should be driven by an identified industry need. Projects can be submitted under 3 categories:

• Student-proposed project
• University-proposed project
• Co-designed project with university and industry partner 

Please contact SAAFE's E&T Program Manager Dr Lisa Kirkland for more information.

AMR OPPORTUNITIESOPPORTUNITIES

EOI: MEMBERSHIP OF THE QUADRIPARTITE GLOBAL LEADERS GROUP ON AMR 

The Global Leaders Group (GLG) on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) was established in November 2020 by the Quadripartite organizations (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, United Nations Environment Programme, World Health Organization, and World Organisation for Animal Health) to accelerate political action on AMR, based on a One Health approach.

The GLG is currently calling for Expressions of Interest for new members to fill current vacancies and strengthen sectoral and geographic balance across the One Health spectrum.

For more information about the work of the GLG and EOI guidance visit the GLG website. 
Applications close on 31 July 2026.

AMR NEWS

Keeping you informed of recent national and international announcements including the latest AMR policy and regulatory news. 

• Two new reports from Animal Health Australia provide an overview of Australia’s key animal health achievements, disease investigations and surveillance activities: Animal Health in Australia (AHiA) Annual Report 2025 and the Animal Health in Australia System Report (2nd Ed.).
   
• Antimicrobial resistance is flagged in Australia’s National Health and Medical Research Strategy 2026–2036 as an emerging health threat that could benefit from national priority setting and horizon scanning, sovereign capability and innovation, and global partnerships.
   
• In a new economic assessment, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that by 2040, global antimicrobial use in livestock could increase by ~30% compared with 2019 levels, and cumulative livestock production losses under a high-AMR scenario could cost ~US$318 billion. Read more in The future of antimicrobial use in livestock: The economic cost of action or inaction.​​​​​​​
   
• The Global action plan on antimicrobial resistance (GAP-AMR) 2026–2036 was adopted at the WHO’s World Health Assembly in May. The updated plan is designed as a framework for coordinated action against AMR around the world for the next decade.

AMR SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS

SAAFE's research team has curated a selection of recent publications that may be of interest to our AMR community. 

Arnold, K., Laing, G., et al. The need for One Health systems-thinking approaches to understand multiscale dissemination of antimicrobial resistance. The Lancet Planetary Health 8 (2), 2024

Shaffer, M., Oceguera Johnson, B. and Bibby, K.  2025.  pBI143 as a Process Indicator for Antibiotic Resistance Gene Removal through Activated Sludge Wastewater Treatment. ACS ES&T Water. 2025, Oct.

Pellissery AJ, Denagamage T, Pedersen M, Kariyawasam S. Veterinarians' Perspectives on the Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Dashboard: A Survey of Needs and Preferences to Inform Development. Vet Sci. 2025 Sep 28

van Rhijn, N., Rhodes, J. Evolution of antifungal resistance in the environment. Nat Microbiol 10, 1804–1815 (2025)

SAAFE-SUPPORTED EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

OZWATER, BRISBANE, MAY 2026

Ozwater '26 took place on the Gold Coast this year - as Australia's largest water conference this was a great opportunity for SAAFE to connect with researchers, industry and government partners who came together to advance solutions around this year's theme of "Our Water. Our People". 

SAAFE Adelaide University Foundation Fellow Dr Claire Hayward comments "Ozwater was fantastic - probably the most diverse water conference I've attended. The biggest highlights for me were seeing how much innovation is happening across the sector, particularly around purified recycled water, resource recovery and biosolids reuse, and hearing what our project partners are working on beyond our own collaborations."

In addition to learning from others in the sector, Ozwater saw Claire presenting insights from SAAFE-funded research to develop a Bayesian Network risk assessment model to help utilities manage potential AMR risks. Claire and PhD Scholar Stephanie Faulks also enjoyed Ozwater's dedicated program for young water industry professionals and researchers and catching up with other YWP members. Stephanie was also presented with the WaterRA Nancy Mills Memorial Award for emerging water scientists.

SAAFE Research Program Manager Dr Kelly Hill was part of the Ozwater '26 program committee and she shared her reflections via SAAFE's LinkedIn account at the close of a very full week.

Claire's thoughts on the end to Ozwater also links back to SAAFE's efforts to build and strengthen cross-sector connections. She noted "The standout session was Arnold Dix's keynote, which was a great reminder that solving complex problems requires looking at the whole system and bringing people together". 

image provided by Claire Hayward/credit: Kelly Hill; LinkedIn video credit Emily Stevenson

UPCOMING EVENTS 

Please visit our conferences and meetings page for more details about the below industry and partner events.

• The 37th Australian Association of Animal Sciences Biennial Conference - July 13 - 17, Adelaide 

• The International Fresh Produce Safety Symposium - July 21 and 22, Sydney

• ANZCVS Vet Science Week - July 24 - 26, Gold Coast

• Australian Institute of Food Science & Technology Conference - July 27 - 28, Melbourne

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