From the desk of Australia’s Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Mark Schipp

With a focus on One Health, zoonotic disease prevention, enhanced intelligence gathering and biosecurity, the Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer is implementing several important initiatives to help protect Australia’s animal health status and contribute to regional biosecurity and engagement.

Australia’s neighbours in the Pacific region are the focus of the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment’s Pacific Engagement Program for regional plant and animal health and biosecurity. This program aligns with Australia’s Pacific Step-up foreign policy signifying our commitment to strengthening regional cooperation and integration.

Much has been achieved despite the many challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to our work and lives.

The issue of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is something we all need to be aware of and work together to prevent. 

As the world experiences the impacts of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of vaccination for both human health care, and as a way out of the pandemic, is both obvious and necessary.