Innovation & Sustainability

Multi-disciplinary collaboration for long-term impact is what drives AMRRIC’s work. This encompasses actively seeking two-way partnerships, studying under-represented fields and developing relevant projects. AMRRIC currently has three key projects in this space. 

Current Projects

Biosecurity

Pilot Project

QLD Needs

Assessment

Stores

Project

Biosecurity Pilot Project

In January 2022, AMRRIC recruited a Biosecurity Project Manager (BPM) to manage a newly established biosecurity surveillance project funded through the Australian Government Department of Fisheries, Forestry, and Agriculture’s Biosecurity Business Grants Program. The three-year collaborative pilot project (2021-2024) is enhancing biosecurity capacity in remote Indigenous communities and supporting Indigenous economic opportunities, by supporting the employment of over 40 local community members across six regions on Australia’s biosecurity frontline, Northern Australia. The role of the BPM has been to initiate and deliver the new project: AMRRIC Biosecurity Pilot Project: Improving remote Indigenous community animal health surveillance and preparedness through collaboration, in line with AMRRIC’s focus of building local capacity with remote communities, training and supporting local staff to use the AMRRIC App to capture biosecurity surveillance data, increasing the collaborative approach to companion animal management, and building awareness of biosecurity risks in the remote Northern Australian region. Key achievements in the 2021-2022 financial year included completion of the Kalumburu biosecurity community animal health census and anti-parasitic distribution in Western Australia in collaboration with East-Kimberley Job Pathways (EKJP) and alongside Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy (NAQS) staff from the animal health and plant health teams, as well as attendance and networking at the 2nd Australian Biosecurity Symposium on the Gold Coast, presentations on the AMRRIC Biosecurity Pilot Project including talks at a Torres Strait Islands Regional Council (TSIRC) Environmental Health Worker Workshop, 

Biosecurity Pilot Project

the annual Queensland Health Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Public Health Program Environmental Health Workshop, a NAQS Community Liaison Officer Workshop in Cairns, and an online workshop developing a monitoring and evaluation framework for the project in collaboration with NAQS and Wildlife Health Australia (WHA).

Additional achievements through the project include ongoing contributions to the enhancement of the AMRRIC App, development of resources for a Biosecurity Training Package, and numerous other project establishment achievements. Looking forward, the next steps for the BPM and the project are to continue delivery of the biosecurity training and census trips in the remaining five partner regions across Northern Australia, including anti-parasitic distribution to all companion animals, as well as continued app functionality enhancements, further development of resources for the Biosecurity Training Package, development of easily accessible data summary dashboards, further outreach and networking with stakeholders based on stakeholder mapping exercises, ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the project to drive continual improvement and, most importantly, to provide ongoing support to project partners as they monitor for disease between censuses and continue to protect Australia on the frontline of biosecurity surveillance.

QLD Needs Assessments

AMRRIC is partnering with Indigenous Local Government Authorities (LGA) in Far North QLD to undertake Animal Management Needs Assessments. These assessments involve AMRRIC staff working alongside local Animal Control or Environmental Health Officers to undertake a community-wide dog and cat census, interview key local staff and evaluate the facilities and equipment available to support each LGA’s animal management program. Information collected through each needs assessment is reported back to each participating LGA, as well as collated into an advocacy report. Dog & cat census: AMRRIC’s Queensland-based Project Officer visits each community to work alongside the LGAs’ animal management worker (AMWs) or other staff. Using the AMRRIC App, every household is visited to record animal numbers and health status. Whilst engaging with animal owners and recording details, antiparasitic treatments are administered to each dog and cat. Needs assessment surveys: The Project Officer conduct surveys with AMW’s, nominated management and council representatives. 

QLD Needs Assessments

There is also a facilities checklist and a de-identified survey, if people wish to provide anonymous feedback. These surveys can be carried out during the census visit or can be emailed for completion.

This project benefits participating councils in the following ways:

  • Comprehensive Animal Management Needs Assessment Report
  • On-ground training and support for LGA Animal Management staff in undertaking a companion animal census and distributing anti-parasitic treatments 
  • Anti-parasitic treatment for each dog and cat in the community supplied thanks to AMRRIC’s supports and corporate partners
  • Demonstration of commitment to continuous improvement by participating in evaluation of current animal management strategies
  • Contributing to high level advocacy with the aim of securing sustainable and appropriate resourcing for remote Indigenous LGA animal management activities

Stores Project

AMRRIC feel that securing access to suitable animal care products in communities is a key priority program for our organisation, that is not currently funded. Staff are currently developing a project plan and national stakeholder mapping analysis with a view to establishing equitable, sustainable, and affordable access to high quality companion animal health care products within remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community stores nationally.

AMRRIC’s vision is for a project which facilitates a pathway to equitable, sustainable, and affordable, high quality companion animal health care products for remote Indigenous communities.

Stores Project

This begins at a community-wide level, while collaborating with suppliers and wholesales to enable community-based organisations and residents to support local access via engaged partners and remote stores. There are 16 remote stores currently engaged in antiparasitic distribution. To continue expanding the reach, AMRRIC is developing a project plan and national stakeholder mapping analysis to engage community stores nationally. Once completed we will be actively looking to secure funding to support this initiative.