The National Plant Biosecurity Diagnostic Network (NPBDN) is the nationally integrated network for plant diagnosticians in Australia

Members of the network support their profession by helping to contribute to a sustainable plant diagnostic system. Their activities enable the efficient and effective diagnosis of plant pests by Australian plant diagnosticians.

The network was founded in 2011. The network was formally established by a wide range of stakeholders involved in managing Australia’s plant biosecurity system. Plant diagnosticians involved with this network are located in every state and territory. Diagnostic services are provided from cities and regional centres in most of Australia’s major agricultural production areas.

 

The story so far

  • Past

    Plant diagnosticians within Australia networked on an ad hoc and informal basis.

  • 2009

    The Subcommittee on Plant Health Diagnostic Standards formed the idea of developing a formalised network of diagnosticians as part of the draft National Plant Biosecurity Strategy.

  • 2010

    The National Plant Biosecurity Strategy was endorsed. The formation of the network began; and is included under Strategy 5: Create a nationally integrated diagnostic network.

  • 2011

    Network founded formally at the National Diagnostic Network Workshop.

  • 2012

    NPBDN Members met for the first time at the Annual Diagnosticians Workshop which focused on the professions needs; The National Plant Biosecurity Diagnostic Strategy was released.

  • 2013

    The network’s website was launched at the second Annual Diagnosticians Workshop.

Our initiatives

Subcommittee on Plant Health Diagnostics

Click here to learn more about the subcommittee

  • Brendan Rodoni

    Chair of SPHD
    Representing Victoria

  • Stephen Dibley

    Deputy Chair of SPHD & Coordinator of NIWG
    Representing Plant Health Australia

  • Natalie O’Donnell

    NPBDN Coordinator

  • Barbara Hall

    NDP Development Coordinator

  • Cathryn Todd

    South Australia

  • Julie Pattemore

    Australian Government – Operational Science Support

  • Brian Thistleton

    Northern Territory

  • Mike Hodda

    CSIRO

  • Jamie Davies

    Tasmania

  • Ranamalie Amarasinghe

    Australian Government – Plant Biosecurity

  • Sally Cowan

    Australian Government – NAQS

  • Brett Alexander

    Observer – New Zealand

  • Andrew Daly

    New South Wales

  • Julianne Henderson

    Proficiency Testing Coordinator

    Representing Queensland

  • Vincent Lanoiselet

    Western Australia

  • Felicity Salmi

     Secretariat

    Australian Government

  • Our network

    Consider joining the network

    Providing plant health diagnostic services in Australasia can be challenging, particularly given the array of host plants, shrinking resources and the heightened risk from increased trade and travel.

    These challenges are more effectively dealt with when Australasian plant biosecurity diagnosticians are working cooperatively in a network. If you would like to contribute to this network, consider becoming a member.

  • Our network

    Are you eligible to join?

    To be eligible to join the network you must be an active plant diagnostician employed within Australasia by a government agency, a research institution-based laboratory, a commercial laboratory or a museum.

    The network invites all plant diagnosticians to become members, including: entomologists, general plant pathologists, virologists, phytoplasmologists, bacteriologists, molecular biologists, mycologists, nematologists, botanists and weed scientists.

  • Our network

    Benefits to you

    • Connect with other diagnosticians for assistance and advice
    • Improve your awareness by being able to take advantage of opportunities to enhance your expertise in plant diagnostics through various professional development activities
    • Easily access and share insights on a range of tools and resources

  • Our network

    Benefits to Australian plant diagnostics

    An integrated, national network has numerous benefits, including:

    • identification and reduction of unnecessary duplication of effort through networked diagnostic capability and capacity
    • removal of impediments that currently restrict open multi-jurisdictional interactions through the development of standard operating procedures and agreements

  • Our network

    Benefits to Australian plant diagnostics

    • identification and development of responses to emerging risks and gaps to diagnostic services that may be recognised by practising diagnosticians and diagnostic managers across the biosecurity continuum
    • provision to deliver seamless surge capacity during outbreaks
    • increased information flow through the use of contemporary IT and secure social network services
    • promotion of delivery of education and training for plant diagnosticians

     

Our governance

Charter for the National Plant Biosecurity Diagnostic Network

The purpose of the National Plant Biosecurity Diagnostic Network (the Network) is to enhance the delivery of plant biosecurity diagnostic services in Australia to safeguard the economy, environment and community. The Network improves Australia’s ability to respond to plant pests through better utilising available skills and capacity, improving connections and sharing of information, and coordinating the effective development and deployment of diagnostic resources.

The Network consists of organisational, individual and coordinating members. Individual and organisational members:

  • diagnose exotic and established plant pests;
  • exchange experience and expertise through the Network; and
  • improve the capacity of the Network by developing new or improved technologies and procedures.

 

Coordinating Network members:

  • oversee the strategic direction and development of the Network and its members;
  • manage the Network structure to optimise efficiencies and to assist members; and
  • communicate on behalf of the Network and promote the Australasian plant biosecurity diagnostic
    system.
See our Charter