OCTOBER NEWS 

Message from SAAFE Research Program Manager Dr Kelly Hill

We were thrilled to welcome industry leaders from water utilities, agriculture, key industry partners, and government agencies. Central to the SAAFE program is our commitment to addressing industry needs while ensuring our research stays practical, relevant, and ready to tackle real-world challenges.

Each roadshow featured tailored sessions on working with industry, milestone reporting and impact delivery, along with professional development workshops led by our Scholars and E&T team. It’s been wonderful to see such strong engagement and the energy and collaboration that come with it.

In this month’s newsletter, we’re delighted to introduce Dr Jake O’Brien, Senior Research Fellow at the University of Queensland, who’s applying his expertise in analytical chemistry through a SAAFE Kickstart project exploring new and best available chemical detection methods and advising industry on residue monitoring tools for managing AMR.

You’ll also find updates on upcoming events, the latest AMR news, and a curated selection of recent publications to help you stay informed and connected.

As always, we’d 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. 

SAAFE hits the road to strengthen AMR collaboration

SAAFE AMR Research Roadshows are now underway, taking the team across Australia to connect directly with partners, researchers and emerging collaborators.

The roadshows are a powerful reminder of what makes the SAAFE community unique - collaboration, capability-building and a shared drive to turn research into real-world impact.

EDAR8 ABSTRACTS OPEN OCTOBER 30

Abstract submissions for EDAR8 open October 30. 

Share your research and insights across themes spanning One Health AMR, from environmental and agricultural risks to policy, modelling, and innovative interventions.

Be part of the global conversation on tackling AMR in a changing world.

Keep an eye out on our website and in future communications for submission details and guidelines.

RESEARCHER IN FOCUS

Dr Jake O'Brien, University of Queensland

In his SAAFE Kickstart project, Dr Jake O’Brien is investigating core residue detection methods and selected targets, laying the foundation for SAAFE’s advanced chemical monitoring.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING NEWS

INTERESTED IN DOING A PhD?

Catchment and treatment impacts on antimicrobial resistance in direct and indirect potable water reuse

Want to work with a multidisciplinary team at the The University of Queensland and collaborate with the Environmental Protection Agency Victoria and Northern Arizona University on a project to quantify ecological risks from flood-borne contaminants in non-urban landscapes?

Apply now to work on this project which is supported by a scholarship including living stipend of $45K per year and tuition fees.

The successful candidate will benefit from SAAFE's research network and receive a dedicated $21K fund for personal development.

Digital Twins for Risk Assessment Monitoring

Want to work on a solution to the problem of fragmented, limited and constrained AMR datasets to drive practical, timely decision making? This PhD project explores the development of realistic synthetic data that mirrors the statistical properties of real-world agribusiness AMR data.

Synthetic data enables the parameterisation of robust and enhanced risk assessment models which can be tested and validated on a broad range of use cases, scenarios, and sectors. This will lead to enhanced, more accurate risk assessment and informed decision-making which can also reduce the need for extensive and expensive data collection efforts.

Apply now to work on this project which is supported by a scholarship including living stipend of $45K per year and tuition fees.

The successful candidate will benefit from SAAFE's research network and receive a dedicated $21K fund for personal development.

AMR OPPORTUNITIES 

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.

International job opportunity

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) is searching for a visionary leader to serve as Chief Scientist and Director of the Office of Science at its Nairobi headquarters. This senior role is at the heart of UNEP’s mission, delivering credible, science-based insights that drive global policy, action, and progress toward the 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals.

Find out more here or apply now.

AMR NEWS

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

• To support evidence-based prescribing and tackle AMR, the Australian Veterinary Association has launched the first nationally endorsed Antimicrobial Prescribing Guidelines for Horses.

• ‘Act Now: Protect Our Present, Secure our Future’ is the theme for this year’s World AMR Awareness Week (WAAW), on 18–24 November. This annual call to action aims to translate political commitments into tangible, accountable, life-saving interventions.

• The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) has updated its health codes and manuals of diagnostic tests for terrestrial animals and aquatic animals.

• The Global antibiotic resistance surveillance report 2025 from the World Health Organization (WHO) warns of widespread resistance to common antibiotics worldwide. Based on data from the Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS, which was recently updated and enhanced), the report found that one in six bacterial infections in 2023 were drug-resistant and the spread of AMR is rising sharply.

• The WHO has released reports on antibacterial agents currently in development and on commercially available and pipeline in vitro diagnostics for bacterial priority pathogens.

• The Global call to action to address antimicrobial resistance outlines the WHO’s priorities around AMR, including reducing the number of AMR-related deaths, extending testing capacity for GLASS-listed pathogens, and promoting responsible antibiotic use.

• The new Quadripartite One Health Legislative Assessment Tool for Antimicrobial Resistance is designed to help countries thoroughly review their AMR-relevant legislation and identify areas for analysis.

Apple scab research featured in 2025–26 Orchard Plant Protection Guide

SAAFE’s apple scab project has been highlighted in the 2025–26 edition of the Orchard Plant Protection Guide for Deciduous Fruit in NSW.

This annual guide has been supporting the pest and disease management decisions of NSW temperate fruit producers for more than 60 years and is widely recognised as a trusted and valuable reference across the industry. Being featured in this respected publication reflects the real-world impact and relevance of our research to growers and the broader temperate fruit sector.

AMR SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS

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

Liguan L, Bing L, et al. Assessing antimicrobial resistance connectivity across One Health sectors. Nature Water, 2025 Sep

James R, Hardefeldt L, Lerano C, Charani E, Dowson L, Elkins S, Thursky K. Antimicrobial stewardship from a One Health perspective. Nature Reviews Microbiology, 2025, Sep

The Lancet One Health Commission: harnessing our interconnectedness for equitable, sustainable, and healthy socioecological systems. The Lancet, 2025 July

Sousa A, de Rago L, Pinho J O, et al. Understanding how veterinarians’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices influence antibiotic prescription: a systematic review of survey studies. BCM Vet Res, 2025 Sep

Madsen M, van der Werf JHJ, Ingham A, Hine B, Reverter A, Clark SA. The genetic relationship between immune competence traits and micro-genetic environmental sensitivity of weight, fat, and muscle traits in Australian Angus cattle. BCM, 2025 Sep

SAAFE SUPPORTED EVENT HIGHLIGHT

Next Water 2025 Conference 

SAAFE researchers, Foundation Fellows and Scholars, along with members of our research and leadership team, joined water industry professionals, policy makers and researchers in Melbourne for Next Water 2025, WaterRA's biennial scientific and technical conference dedicated to advancing water research and innovation. Held during National Water Week, the program theme "Riding the wave of resilience" featured keynotes, technical sessions, panels and workshops exploring resilience, innovation and collaboration in the water sector.

In a thought-provoking opening address from Professor Ariella Helfgott, Foresight Director of the SA Futures Agency, delegates were challenged to think differently about uncertainty, trust and creativity in shaping positive futures and reminded of the importance of staying flexible and engaging in multi-scenario planning for the water industry's uncertain future. 

Next Water 2025 presented a crucial forum for SAAFE to engage with industry and government professionals and researchers on opportunities and challenges relating to AMR as an emerging contaminant of concern. Over two days, SAAFE researchers representing most of our major partners, our research leadership team, Fellows and Scholars presented, shared posters and engaged in discussions across a range of program themes throughout the conference. Reinforcing SAAFE's role in building and facilitating partnerships for coordinated action on AMR, Next Water closed with a workshop hosted by Australia's interim Centre for Disease Control exploring the potential of cross sector collaboration.

A pre-conference highlight for our SAAFE PhD Scholars Stephanie Faulks (UniSA) and Donna McCann (Curtin) was the chance to join other PhD researchers for an induction to the WaterRA Research Leadership Program, as part of their Scholar experience.  Following the close of Next Water, SAAFE and WaterRA co-hosted a post-conference workshop for water industry participants to explore and inform future research priorities across the sector, and presented an open session to showcase SAAFE's cross sectoral research program.

2025 EVENTS 

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

• HEAL 2025 Conference - Monday November 3 - Thursday November 6

• Celebrating 10 years of the National Centre for Antimicrobial Stewardship - AMR Awareness Week event - Friday November 14

• The Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control Conference - Sunday November 16 - Wednesday November 19, Hobart, Tasmania

• AQUAPLAN Webinar - subscribe to receive invitation - Thursday November 20

• Regional Antimicrobial Stewardship Summit - Friday November 21, University of Melbourne (hybrid event)

• The Interdisciplinary Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance and Innovation - Wednesday January 28 - Friday January 30, Las Vegas

FEATURED EVENT

3 - 6 November | HEAL 2025 Conference - Hybrid event

Join HEAL 2025, a four-day hybrid conference tackling urgent health, climate, and environmental challenges across Australia, the Asia-Pacific, and globally.

• 3 Nov – Asia-Pacific Pre-Conference: Spotlight on community-led responses.
• 4–6 Nov – Main Conference: Explore research and policy on climate adaptation, decarbonisation, One Health, mental health, and international health security, with strong First Nations and grassroots leadership.
• Hybrid format: In-person at eight regional hubs and online nationally and internationally.

For more information or to register, click here.

GET IN TOUCH 

Share your news, achievements or upcoming activities. Whether it’s groundbreaking research, industry innovations, or community initiatives, your contributions help keep our AMR community informed and connected.

Contact us via this form. 

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