2004, CSIRO/Sub-Committee on Animal Health Laboratory Standards (SCAHLS)"Accreditation of Veterinary Laboratories in Australia" Following a thorough review of options, it was recommended that PC3 and PC4 veterinary laboratories in Australia be subject to an external independent audit. A cost effective mechanism for this audit process was suggested. 2004, CSIRO/Sub-Committee on Animal Health Laboratory Standards (SCAHLS)"Consultant to CSIRO to provide a report for the Australian Animal Health Committee and the Sub-Committee on Animal Health Laboratory Standards (SCAHLS) on handling infectious agents in Australian Veterinary Laboratories"
This project was to provide advice regarding ongoing compliance with the Biological Weapons Convention (1972) in relation to the transport and control of biological agents in Australian veterinary laboratories. Bio2ic provided the client with a list of agents that were considered to be of importance and a method for conducting surveys of veterinary, medical and university laboratories holding and handling of these agents; including import, export, storage and handling controls. 2004, Department of Health & Ageing (DoHA)
The first part of this project required us to examinate Australia's diagnostory laboratory capacity to respond to emergency events. This involved locating PC3 and PC4 laboratories in Australia and analysing the capacity of PC2, PC3 and PC4 laboratories to diagnose tests if required; and investigate options for increasing Australia's diagnostic laboratory capacity. The second part of this project required us to scope the development of a stockpile of diagnostic kits, including consideration of the most appropriate kits to be included in the stockpile, locations for storage and managing turnover of the stockpiles. We visited Australia's main laboratories to collect information about current practices, capabilities, facilities and constraints. We also collected information on the types of tests routinely used, expertise and extendable capabilities. By collaborating information collected during these interviews and drawing on knowledge of international practices, new technologies and techniques, we were able to advise our client on Australia's capacity and options for managing a stockpile of diagnostic kits.
2004, Department of Health & Ageing (DoHA)"Consultant to Australian Department of Health & Ageing to provide a "Scoping study on the development of a register of Australian laboratories holding high risk pathogens" Stimulated by concerns about the potential use of pathogenic organisms by terrorists, control of laboratory incidents and the potential spread of pathogenic organisms into the community, this project was commissioned to investigate the introduction of registration of laboratories in Australia and provide recommendations accordingly. To assist with this project we held workshops for stakeholders in each state to gather information on attitudes toward registers in place overseas and encourage stakeholders to see the need for a coordinated approach to an Australian Register through the use of case studies. Over 200 stakeholders were consulted in this Australia-wide study. We were then able to report back to our client on the most efficient, effective and acceptable model to staekholders for developing a register of laboratories and their holdings, and provide our client with a comprehensive plan for managing high risk pathogens in Australia. In order to further assist in this project, we established an Advisory Group whose role it was to provide advice to the client and us on the directions and outcomes of this project. The Advisory Group Committee comprised representatives from the following groups:
2008, Department of Health & Ageing (DoHA)
This project was to provide a draft set of SSBA Standards for Tier 1 and Tier 2 agents and toxins and to participate in consultations The National Health Security Act (NHS Act) was enacted in September 2007. This Act provides for Standards that establish requirements relating to physical, personnel and transport security for security sensitive biological agents (SSBA). The SSBA Standards will define the specific security protocols and requirements for the storage, handling, disposal and transport of SSBA. For more information on the SSBA Standards please visit Health SSBA site
2010 - 2011, Australian Quarantine & Inspection Service (AQIS) Review of Quaratine Facilities
From RPL Consulting website AQIS currently maintains leased post entry quarantine facilities in multiple locations around Australia. As lease expiry approaches on most of these existing facilities it became necessary to investigate the provision of alternative replacement options for post entry quarantine. The existing facilities provide quarantine for cats, dogs, horses, live birds, hatching eggs, bees and a wide variety of plants in accommodation which includes very high level biocontainment for certain species. RPL was engaged to investigate site options and recommend a site, coordinate and develop the scoping study including the supporting detailed business case for the new facility to provided decision makers, and the client with greater project definition, cost certainty and risk identification. Bio2ic worked with RPL Consulting providing expert consultancy in biosecurity & biocontainmment Funding was allocated in the 2010 - 2011 Commonwealth budget for design work to commence.
2011, Australian Quarantine & Inspection Service (AQIS) Review of Quaratine Facilities
AQIS requested a review of the cost of renovating the present PEQ facilities in order for them to be operated safely untill at least 2015, when the new facilities would begin to come into operation. Funding was allocated in the Commonwealth 2011 - 2012 budget for this work
2012 -2014 Biosecurity advisor to SKM-S2F for the design of the Post-entry Quarantine Facility for the Australian Department of AgricultureReview of the designs of the Post Entry Quarantine Facility for biosecurity of the design. |