The Emergency Animal Disease Surveillance Online Training package was collaboratively developed with contributions from all of the Australian Veterinary Schools, as well as IT partner Epi-Interactive. This project was funded by the Australian Government’s Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper (the government’s plan for stronger farmers) and the Australian Government’s Agriculture 2030 Biosecurity program (to ensure Australia continues to have a robust biosecurity preparedness and response capability in the event of a pest and disease outbreak).

Project leader: Dr Simon Firestone, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne (https://fvas.unimelb.edu.au/veam).

Project manager: Dr Bonny Cumming, The University of Melbourne.

IT partner :
 
Module authors:
Overview
Case study 2: Lethargic backyard chooks
Case study 4: Sudden death in pigs
Case study 5: Dog with neurological signs
Case study 6: Skin lesions in cattle
Case study 7: Vesicular Lesions in a feedlot
Case study 8: Crusty noses in sheep
Case study 9: Milk drop and abortion storm in a dairy herd
Contributors and reviewers:

Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry:
Dr Janene Kingston, Dr Sam Hamilton, Dr Skye Fruean, Dr Guy Weerasinghe, Dr Kathy Gibson, Dr Nicole Byrne, Dr Sally Thomson, Dr Amy Robinson, Dr Adelaide Veale, Dr Megan Jeffers, Dr Donna Steele and colleagues from the Animal Disease Preparedness and Response team.

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development Western Australia:
Dr Andrew Larkins, Dr Sue Skirrow, Dr Emily Glass, Dr David Forshaw, Dr Jamie Finkelstein, Dr Lorena Duarte and Dr Michelle Rodan 

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development New South Wales:
Dr Therese Wright

Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Queensland:
Biosecurity Queensland ASF Preparedness and Prevention Project team members, Dr Jonathon Lee, Dr Robyn Grob, Dr Selina Ossedryver, Dr Rebecca Ambrose and colleagues

Agriculture Victoria:
Dr Graeme Cooke, Dr Cameron Bell, Dr Shehara Pillai, Dr Megan Scott, and Dr Natarsha Williams

Department of Primary Industries and Regions, South Australia:
Dr Allison Crawley, Dr Nigel Baum, Dr Jeremy Rogers

Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism – Biosecurity and Animal Welfare, Northern Territory:
Dr Isabel MacPhillamy, Dr Charlotte Watson, Dr Kathy Moylan

ACT Government Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate
Dr Rachael Grigson

Animal Health Australia
Dr Mark Cozens, Dr Therese Wright, Ben Byrnes, Dr Jane Ownes, and Dr Therese Wright

Kate Sawford Epidemiological Consulting:
Dr Kate Sawford

The University of Melbourne:
Prof Mark Stevenson, Assoc Prof Lee Skerratt, Dr Michelle Renwick, Dr Kelly Stanger, Dr Jasmine Jeon and Dr Rebecca Hibbard, Dr Aashima Auplish, Dr Bonny Cumming, Assoc Prof Simon Firestone

The University of Sydney:
Dr Sandra Steele

Dairy Australia
Justin Toohey

Private Veterinarians:
Dr Alexandra Ferguson, Dr Tabita Tan

The project team are grateful to everyone who generously contributed to making this project a success.

Enquiries or feedback about this training package can be direct to: help@eadonline.com.au

Last modified: Tuesday, 17 March 2026, 10:57 AM