Who we are

Science and Surveillance Group (SSG) is comprised of scientists, operations and support staff responsible for regulatory advice and training, technical input to biosecurity policy, regulation activity in the Torres Strait and diverse surveillance and diagnostic services around Australia, including animal and plant health surveillance measures under the Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy.

The Surveillance Section is one of the four national Sections delivering diagnostic or surveillance activities within the Operational Science & Surveillance (OSS) component of the Science & Surveillance Group (SSG). The Section is comprised of the National Border Surveillance, Vector Monitoring Program (VMP) and Hitchhiker Surveillance Program teams and is led by a management team consisting of a Director, Assistant Directors and APS 6 Senior Surveillance Officers.

The Job

Under general direction of the Regional Vector Coordinator (RVC) the duties of the roles include, but are not limited to:

• maintaining regular communication with their RVC and seeking and following advice to deliver vector monitoring tasks to the required standard of the work instructions
• maintaining cooperation with external stakeholders associated with the Vector Monitoring Program (VMP), including port and approved arrangement (AA) operators, other Commonwealth and State/Territory/Local government agencies and treatment providers
• being responsible for conducting routine vector and, if required, plant-pest monitoring activities appropriate to port risk assessments, including placement, installation, maintenance, and servicing of all trap types operated by the department
• gaining and using knowledge of mosquito biology to guide effective delivery of vector monitoring activities including the optimum methods for sampling, placing traps, and knowing when and where to sample mosquitoes

• conducting regular surveillance activities at first points of entry, high-risk AA sites and other importer premises, including formal ground surveys, by:

o identifying, describing, and mapping known or potential mosquito breeding sites

o assessing biosecurity risk pathways, planning field surveillance for other plant pests

o using appropriate sampling methods to determine the mosquito and, if required, plant-pest species and weeds present in the port environment and their relative abundances

o assessing overall receptiveness of each surveillance location, including factors such as sanitation, breeding sites, frequency of conveyance movements and cargo types

o initiating and managing risk-mitigation actions through liaison with department staff and stakeholders

o entering and providing data regularly to the RVC within required timeframes

o as required contributing to the accurate collection and recording of other surveillance data

o preparing written reports documenting surveillance activities and outcomes.

• Preparing, maintaining, and annually updating a consolidated vector ‘toolbox’ for each port consisting of:

o aerial maps of the ports and high-risk AAs, with trap locations,

o descriptions of each trap including type, location, and frequency of inspection,

o current copies of all vector related work instructions, including national response guidelines,

o copies of raw data worksheets- a list of local and national vector contacts within our department and the State/Territory health agency.

• Managing specimens collected by:

o establishing and rearing cultures of mosquito larvae collected by surveillance

o using appropriate diagnostic resources, including taxonomic keys of appropriate regional or taxonomic focus, to complete morphological identifications of adult and larval mosquitoes

o preparing and storing specimens for morphological and/or molecular identification

o conducting triage of other field samples, including preparing and submitting to diagnosticians.

• Conducting activities required under national response guidelines for detections of exotic mosquitoes, including:

o contributing to daily situation reports on the status of the detection/response, both verbally and in writing,

o establishing response trap networks under the limited direction and guidance of the RVC and VMP operational and policy managers, o completing tasks such as trap clearance and identification of specimens outside of standard business hours, including over weekends and public holidays.

• Mentoring other regional staff to become proficient at managing some aspects of the Vector Surveillance Officer role to create backup capacity for the program.

What we are looking for

Knowledge and experience

The successful applicant will have:

• experience with conducting field-based surveillance for insects, ideally mosquitoes, including establishing, maintaining, and checking a network of traps
• experience with working in a laboratory, including rearing insects, and preparing insect specimens and using light microscopy for their identification
• an understanding of the application of WH&S principles in office and field-based contexts.

The successful applicant must:

• hold a current Apply First Aid Certificate or have the ability, to obtain this qualification,
• hold and maintain a valid Australian motor vehicle drivers’ licence,
• note that the physical requirements of the role(s) involve a combination of outdoor and office-based work,
• note that you may be required to perform occasional out-of-hours and weekend work,
• note that you will be required, from time to time, to work in difficult, remote and harsh environments (possibly for extended periods) under limited supervision or in teams,
• wear an official uniform supplied by the department, including during field operations (as applicable), in accordance with the department’s uniform policy,
• wear appropriate protective personal equipment and clothing to comply with departmental Work Health & Safety policies and procedures,
• note that you must satisfactorily complete the department’s Biosecurity Foundation Program and meet the minimum requirements in order to be appointed as a Biosecurity Officer under the Biosecurity Act 2015