Position Description - Stepping Into- Summer 2016/17
Position Title
Plant Health Policy Intern
Location
Level 3, 7 London Circuit, Canberra
Position Description
The successful intern should possess:
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research skills (ability to gather quality information from a variety of sources);
written and oral communication skills (ability to write clearly and liaise effectively) and;
conceptual and analytical skills (ability to understand ideas and analyse issues in context).
an understanding and comfort with science.
The intern will work across two sections during the placement period undertaking tasks as outlined
below:
Plant Pest Emergency Response Program:
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support plant pest emergency response activities through preparing for meetings, minute
taking, summarising pest activities to date; and
support development of agreed policies and processes to manage new exotic pests that
cannot be eradicated through undertaking research tasks, developing case studies,
documenting internal processes and communication tasks.
Plant Health Surveillance Section (Strategy and Governance stream):
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provide policy and administrative support;
liaise with internal areas across the department and external stakeholders on identified
activities;
monitor the delivery of projects against funding agreements and;
engage with external consultants on projects.
The ideal candidate will be studying science, social science, business, law, policy, and project
management.
Additional Information about the Plant Health Policy Branch
The Plant Pest Emergency Response and Management Program in the Plant Health Policy Branch
is responsible for dealing with new and emerging plant pests which threaten Australia’s agricultural
industries and environment. The Program develops and facilitates national responses to exotic
plant and environment pest incursions and co-ordinates transition to management and contributes
to managing, maintaining and improving Australia’s plant health status with a focus on:
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safeguarding Australia’s plant health status to maintain markets and protect the economy
and the environment from the impact of exotic pests
Level 4, 80 Clarence Street, Sydney NSW 2000
(02) 8270 9200
www.and.org.au
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developing partnerships with States, Territories and other Australian government
departments to safeguard plant health in Australia
reforming and innovating in plant health policies and systems
detecting and managing pest threats
responding to exotic plant and environmental pest incursions
co-ordinating transition to management.
The Plant Health Surveillance Section in the Plant Health Policy Branch is responsible for:
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coordinating offshore and national surveillance programmes
determining priorities for the department‘s surveillance activities across the biosecurity
continuum
facilitating consistency in approach to surveillance (including surveillance analysis) across
the department and across the biosecurity continuum
ensuring surveillance contributes to biosecurity activities and decision making of other
business areas
communicating and delivering benefits to biosecurity risk management arising from
surveillance to internal and external stakeholders
facilitating reform and improvements to plant health surveillance arrangements and
commissioning of associated research activities.
The Plant Health Policy Branch of Biosecurity Plant Division provides a national focal point for
plant biosecurity issues within Australia, and national leadership in managing Australia’s plant
health. Our work underpins biosecurity and helps to open new, and maintain existing, domestic
and international markets for Australian plant industries. This is achieved by:
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providing focus for national and international plant biosecurity activities
preparing for and coordinating national responses to plant pests and exotic weeds
promoting reform of the plant biosecurity system
improving plant health capacity and capabilities in near-neighbour countries and trading
partners and domestically
improving national surveillance and diagnostic capability and capacity
assisting the department to meet national and international obligations and influencing
plant health policies.
The Biosecurity Plant Division provides high quality scientific and technical advice and policy that
enables effective plant biosecurity risk mitigation across the biosecurity continuum, supporting the
maintenance of Australia’s plant health status and the productivity, global competiveness and
sustainability of Australian Plant industries. The Division conducts plant, pest and disease risk
assessments, develops and implements risk mitigation measures and works collaboratively to
strengthen Australia’s plant pest prevention, preparedness and response capabilities both within
Australia and regionally.
Eligibility
Please refer to eligibility requirements on the website.