AgPro Management’s Georgia Reid was funded by WPA to attend the FMD course.

PEAK wool grower body WoolProducers Australia is seeking nominations from industry people interested in real-time Foot and Mouth Disease training in Nepal.

WoolProducers Australia said it is continuing to strengthen its commitment to FMD preparedness on behalf of the Australian wool industry and is co-funding a number of industry positions with the Department of Agriculture for the training.

The training helps trainees to be better equipped to recognise and report FMD symptoms this assisting Australia in its early warning and response capacity.

WoolProducers is calling for nominations from people who are interested in applying to attend the next course from 25-29 November, 2019. Nominations close on 29 August, 2019. WPA covers trainee’s flights, visa, accommodation, meal and vaccination expenses.

WPA policy manager Ashley Cooper completed training in December 2018 and said the course was a valuable opportunity for attendees.

“We were each able to gain a better understanding of our industry roles in an FMD response, should an outbreak occur in Australia.

“Being able to learn in a practical environment really puts the theory into practice and this solidifies your knowledge better than any desk-based course.”

Mr Cooper encouraged any industry person who might assist in an emergency animal disease response with a connection to the Australian wool industry to apply.

The courses are designed for producers, stock handlers, private and government vets and animal health policy makers, and are delivered by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).

“FMD is something that all producers hear about but this training has enabled me to think about what an outbreak would actually mean in an Australian context.

“The course opened my eyes to the wider policies surrounding an FMD response in Australia and how they will impact not just on-farm activities but the whole livestock supply-chain, including the devastating implications for trade,” Mr Cooper said.

WPA has sent wool industry representatives, including producers, agents and private vets from all sheep producing states in Australia as part of the training funding.

Further information is available by emailing [email protected]