Biosecurity at UQ Gatton

Biosecurity manages animal and plant health, and the risks and impacts of animal and plant pests, diseases, weeds, pest animals, marine pests and contaminants.

UQ Gatton's staff, students and visitors interact with farm animals through research, teaching and learning activities such as field work in rural and regional Australia.

We take a wide-range of biosecurity measures to minimise and prevent emergency animal disease (EAD) threats to susceptible animals on our campus.

This includes:

Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD)
Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD)
African Swine Fever and
other diseases.

Staff, students and visitors to UQ Gatton all have a part to play to help minimise EAD threats, particularly if you're visiting our campus after travelling to Australia from another country.

Biosecurity advice for UQ Gatton students, staff and visitors

When to visit UQ Gatton after overseas travel

Staff, students and visitors who enter Australia from other countries and intend to visit UQ Gatton and/or a UQ Gatton livestock facility (for any purpose) must not have any direct contact (patting, feeding, husbandry, research) with livestock for 7 days following their arrival into the country.

Recommended cleaning for biosecurity

Before you leave a foreign country to travel to Australia, we recommend that you clean your shoes, clothing and equipment thoroughly.

This includes:

thoroughly cleaning footwear that you've used overseas
shaking/scraping shoes to remove loose contamination such as soil and manure
thoroughly washing soles, laces and external surfaces using soap/detergent, water and a brush
drying your shoes well, double checking that all traces of contamination are removed, and repeating this process if any contamination remains visible
washing all the clothes you've used overseas with routine laundry detergents and household washing machines
a shower with warm soapy water and shampoo for personal cleaning.

As a precaution, we also recommend that you repeat this process after you've arrived in Australia.

Check the latest biosecurity advice and requirements

Before and during your travel to Australia, check for any additional biosecurity advice that you're required to follow when you arrive.
If you've visited a rural area or been in contact with or near farm animals while overseas, you should declare this on your your incoming passenger card when you enter Australia. You may need further treatment.
If you plan to visit a livestock facility while you're in Australia, review the facility's biosecurity information before you visit.
Visit the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry for FMD updates
Download the Australian Government's FMD fact sheet (PDF, 454.5 KB)

Biosecurity Advisory Committee and UQ FMD/LSD Working Group

The UQ Gatton Campus Biosecurity Advisory Committee considers biosafety and biosecurity on the Gatton campus.

UQ's FMD/LSD Working Group reviews biosecurity preparedness across UQ. It is chaired by UQ Gatton's Campus Biosecurity Advisory Committee Chairperson, Professor Joanne Meers and managed through the Office of the Director, Gatton Campus.

The Working Group provides specific information for UQ staff and students who enter Australia from other countries, particularly if they intend to visit a livestock facility for any purpose soon after they arrive.

Biosecurity Management Plan

The Biosecurity Management Plan (PDF, 1.6 MB) provides information to staff, students and visitors to UQ Gatton on biosecurity and the procedures to follow to comply with Queensland biosecurity legislation.

Addendum: Introduction of Pigs onto Gatton Campus (PDF, 134.8 KB) (02/11/22)

Plan goals and outcomes

The goals of the Biosecurity Management Plan are:

to improve the awareness of biosecurity issues on the Gatton campus and to improve the outcomes for any biosecurity issue that may arise
to manage our biosecurity risks in a manner which allows the University’s core business of teaching, research and engagement to continue
to identify any biosecurity priority issues on the Gatton campus.

The outcomes of the Biosecurity Management Plan are:

awareness of Biosecurity Acts and Regulations
staff, students and visitors are aware of biosecurity issues on the Gatton campus
staff, students and visitors know where to find information on procedures to manage biosecurity
staff, students and visitors know what to do in an emergency or notifiable event.

Specific and essential procedures

The Biosecurity Management Plan does not cover biosecurity procedures and practices for all areas of Gatton Campus.

You will need to follow specific and essential procedures in some areas of campus to eliminate biosecurity risks. For example, if you want to work with genetically modified material and potentially hazardous biological material.

Consult the person responsible for that area of your work.

Biosecurity at UQ Gatton

Biosecurity advice for UQ Gatton students, staff and visitors

Biosecurity Advisory Committee and UQ FMD/LSD Working Group

Biosecurity Management Plan

Queensland biosecurity acts and regulations