The Biosecurity Training Centre, which is a delivery partnership between the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Charles Sturt University, has delivered a successful Rapid Risk Assessment (RRA) pilot workshop, equipping One Health professionals with the tools to quickly assess emerging disease threats. This includes zoonotic diseases that can affect both animal and human populations.

Held over two intensive days and commissioned by the department’s Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer, the workshop brought together participants from the animal health, public health, and environmental sectors as part of a One Health approach.

Dr Beth Cookson, Australian Chief Veterinary Officer, highlighted the importance of One Health collaboration and frameworks to address shared health challenges.

“Building capacity in undertaking fit-for-purpose rapid risk assessments, risk communication, and cross-sector collaboration in the face of new or novel zoonotic disease outbreaks is increasingly important. We are proud to commission and champion One Health initiatives such as this pilot which was expertly delivered by our colleagues at the Biosecurity Training Centre”, Dr Cookson noted.

Charles Sturt University's Professor Marta Hernandez-Jover, who led several sessions, said the workshop was designed to simulate real-world scenarios where time-critical decisions are essential.

“Rapid Risk Assessment is about making informed assessments under the pressure of time and limited information. Our goal is to ensure participants leave with the confidence to make risk assessments in circumstances of significant uncertainty,” Professor Hernandez-Jover said.

The workshop covered a range of topics including hazard identification, data quality, managing uncertainty, stakeholder engagement, and risk communication. Participants applied international frameworks such as the World Health Organization/Food and Agriculture Organization/World Organisation for Animal Health Joint Risk Assessment Tool and the United Kingdom Human Animal Infections and Risk Surveillance model to case studies on Nipah virus and Rift Valley Fever.

Participants positively commented on the workshop’s practical focus and collaborative environment. One respondent noted, “The course was of a high standard and professional. The zoonotic and animal perspective, as a human health epidemiologist was invaluable to my current work.”

Another highlighted the broader applicability of the course in the One Health context noting it: “Was a great course that would have wide application.”

Professor Patrick Walsh, who facilitated sessions on hazard analysis and scenario planning, emphasised the importance of structured analytical techniques in risk assessment.

“We’re training professionals to anticipate the unexpected. Whether it’s a novel zoonotic outbreak or a breakdown in communication, they need to be ready to respond with clarity and confidence,” he said.

The workshop concluded with group disease scenario presentations to a panel that included the Deputy Australian Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Sam Hamilton, Professor Marta Hernandez-Jover, Professor Patrick Walsh and Mr Craig Elliott, where participants synthesised their learning on rapid risk assessments through a scenario activity.

The RRA Workshop is part of Charles Sturt’s delivery of biosecurity training and education to the department, and consistent with its mission to strengthen Australia’s biosecurity preparedness and resilience through education, research, and cross-sector collaboration.

For more information on upcoming training opportunities at the Biosecurity Training Centre, visit www.csu.edu.au/btc.