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Sidebar first - Biosecurity

  • Public awareness and education
    • Australian biosecurity webinar series
    • Australian Biosecurity Awards
      • Current Australian Biosecurity Award recipients
      • Past Australian Biosecurity Award recipients

Australian Biosecurity Awards

2022 Australian Biosecurity Awards

Do you know a group, organisation or individual that deserves to be recognised for their biosecurity contributions?

Nominations for the 2022 Australian Biosecurity Awards are expected to open in May-June this year.

Further details about the 2022 nomination period will be available soon.

Last year's winners were announced at the 2021 National Biosecurity Forum on 10 November.

Visit the winners page to read about their exciting work and significant contributions to Australian biosecurity.

The Australian Biosecurity Awards (ABAs) recognise individuals, groups and organisations that have shown a commitment to supporting and promoting Australia’s biosecurity and the systems that uphold it.

These annual awards celebrate the biosecurity contributions of individuals, groups or organisations in eight categories:

  • Dr David Banks Biosecurity Lifetime Achievement
  • Dr Kim Ritman Award for Science and Innovation
  • Farm Biosecurity Producer of the Year
  • Industry
  • Government
  • Environmental Biosecurity
  • Community
  • Education

Award categories and selection criteria

Dr David Banks Biosecurity Lifetime Achievement Award

The Dr David Banks Biosecurity Lifetime Achievement Award recognises individuals who have made an outstanding contribution beyond their normal responsibilities for Australian biosecurity over a sustained period of time.

Nominations will be assessed by the selection panel based on the following criteria:

  • ten or more years of sustained contribution to Australian biosecurity
  • made a significant and demonstrable contribution to Australian biosecurity in the areas of research, industry achievement, professional leadership or service.

See the 2021 winner for this category.

Dr Kim Ritman Award for Science and Innovation

The Dr Kim Ritman Award for Science and Innovation recognises outstanding ambassadors for science and innovation.

Nominations will be assessed by the selection panel based on the following criteria:

  • An individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the maintenance of our plant health status, including preparedness and response to plant health issues such as incursions of emergency plant pests
  • Designs or leads the development of new technology or approaches to assist in the detection and/or management of biosecurity risks
  • Develops and/or implements an innovation that has strengthened our biosecurity systems for managing the risk that exotic plant pests and diseases pose to Australia
  • Develops, promotes and leads efforts to strengthen scientific capacity and increase capability across the biosecurity system, both domestically and internationally.

See the 2021 winner for this category.

Farm Biosecurity Producer of the Year Category

Australian primary producers, including individuals and organisations can be nominated. This comprises all forms of Australian farming, including large commercial operations, new and emerging niche industries, operators and hobby-level farmers.

Nominations will be assessed by the selection panel based on the following criteria:

  • Demonstrates a sound understanding of the six essentials of farm biosecurity:
    1. Farm inputs
    2. People, vehicles and equipment
    3. Production practices
    4. Feral animals and weeds
    5. Farm outputs
    6. Train, plan and record.
  • Applies biosecurity practices relevant to their property/properties
  • Carries out biosecurity activities as best-practice preventative measures, rather than in response to specific threats
  • Shows evidence of their biosecurity activities through planning, records, procedures etc.
  • Advocates for proactive on-farm biosecurity practices among their peers.

See the 2021 winner for this category.

We present this award jointly with Animal Health Australia and Plant Health Australia.

Industry Category

The Industry Award recognises individuals, groups or organisations that have demonstrated a significant contribution to maintaining Australia’s biosecurity integrity.

Nominations will be assessed by the selection panel based on the following criteria:

  • Designs, implements and/or leads biosecurity reform initiatives within their organisation and/or industry sector to support Australia’s biosecurity integrity
  • Demonstrates significant biosecurity integrity and raises biosecurity awareness within their operations and/or industry sector
  • Collaboratively works with the department to manage biosecurity risk
  • Identifies, reports and/or leads the management of a disease outbreak or pest incursion
  • Reports suspicious activities that may be of biosecurity concern
  • Makes an outstanding contribution to protecting or maintaining animal or plant health
  • Raises awareness of Australia’s biosecurity requirements offshore.

See the 2021 winner for this category.

Government Category

The Government Award recognises individuals, groups or organisations that have demonstrated a significant contribution to maintaining Australia’s biosecurity integrity.

Nominations will be assessed by the selection panel based on the following criteria:

  • Designs, implements and/or leads biosecurity reform initiatives within their organisation and/or sector to support Australia’s biosecurity integrity
  • Demonstrates significant biosecurity integrity and raises biosecurity awareness within their operations and/or sector
  • Collaboratively works with the department to manage biosecurity risk
  • Identifies, reports and/or leads the management of a disease outbreak or pest incursion
  • Reports suspicious activities that may be of biosecurity concern
  • Makes an outstanding contribution to protecting or maintaining animal or plant health
  • Raises awareness of Australia’s biosecurity requirements offshore.

See the 2021 winner for this category.

Environmental Biosecurity Award

The Environmental Biosecurity Award recognises individuals, groups or organisations that make a significant contribution to protecting our environment from biosecurity risks.

Nominations will be assessed by the selection panel based on the following criteria:

  • Makes an exceptional contribution to reducing the risks posed to the natural environment and social amenity by new and emerging non-native pests, weeds and diseases including by helping prevent them from entering, emerging, establishing or spreading in Australia
  • Raises awareness and understanding of environmental biosecurity in their region/community or industry sector/state that has changed attitudes and behaviours in ways that reduce biosecurity risks to Australia’s environment e.g., promoted environmental biosecurity in schools/community groups; introduced environment focused work practices in an organisation or industry sector; designed/implemented a government program to improve environmental biosecurity practices in their region/state
  • Develops or applies new knowledge, techniques or tools to improve environmental biosecurity outcomes through analysis, research, extension or innovation
  • Promotes Indigenous participation in activities to improve environmental biosecurity outcomes
  • Promotes networks and collaboration to more effectively respond to new and emerging environmental pests, weeds and diseases
  • Plays a significant role in preparing for and responding to environmental pest, weed or disease incursions.
See the 2021 winner for this category.

Community Award

The Community Award recognises individuals, groups or organisations that make a significant contribution to delivering biosecurity outcomes in the community.

Nominations will be assessed by the selection panel based on the following criteria:

  • Designs, implements or leads biosecurity reform initiatives within their organisation and/or community to support Australia’s biosecurity integrity
  • Demonstrates significant biosecurity integrity and raises biosecurity awareness within their operations or community
  • Identifies, reports or leads the management of a disease outbreak or pest incursion
  • Reports suspicious activities that may be of biosecurity concern
  • Makes an outstanding contribution to protecting or maintaining animal or plant health
  • Raises awareness of Australia’s biosecurity requirements offshore.
See the 2021 winner for this category.

Education Award

The Education Award recognises individuals, groups or organisations that make a significant contribution to biosecurity education. 

Nominations will be assessed by the selection panel based on the following criteria:

  • Identifies as a school, curriculum or related initiative, including higher education facilities with biosecurity courses, curriculum or projects to raise community awareness
  • Develops biosecurity education approaches during the school year
  • Includes biosecurity related activities in their curriculum
  • Establishes communication links with state or territory governments on biosecurity matters
  • Demonstrates commitment to innovation and continuous improvement in the biosecurity space.
See the 2021 winner for this category.

Past recipients

Past winners include:

  • industry leaders in biosecurity
  • long-serving biosecurity officials
  • groups and individuals who managed significant pest and disease detections. 

Their stories show how important biosecurity is and why we must all do our part.

Learn more about our past Australian Biosecurity Award recipients.

The department also presents the Science and Innovation Awards for Young People in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, an annual competitive grants program. The Science Awards partners with CSIRO to present the CSIRO Biosecurity Digital Innovation Award (co-sponsored by the CSIRO).

The CSIRO Biosecurity Digital Innovation Award provides project funding for entrepreneurial ideas that apply digital technologies and approaches to increase the efficiencies of the Australian biosecurity system from prevention through to management including market access and traceability. 

To learn more about this award, the other award partners and past grant recipients, visit awe.gov.au/scienceawards.

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Last updated: 10 March 2022

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