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Contents

Introduction 2 Biosecurity in WA 3 Recognition checklist for biosecurity groups 4 Insurance 10 The Department’s role 10 RBG jurisdictions 11 Biosecurity Group’s roles and responsibilities 12 Biosecurity Group Plans 12 Declared Pest Rate Planning 13 Community Engagement Planning 15 Goal of engagement 17 Stakeholder management 18 Promoting Biosecurity Groups 18 Biosecurity Group Case studies 19 Training and Capacity Building 20 Communities of Interest 20 Database to store information 21

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Introduction

The purpose of this guide is to collate the processes, planning and learnings to help biosecurity groups in their establishment, growth and development.

This work is part of the Transforming Regional Biosecurity Response Project with its aim of leaving a legacy for biosecurity groups, to use in their future development.

The Transforming Regional Biosecurity Project 2014 – 2017 was managed by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) formerly the Department of Agriculture and Food funded through the Royalties for Regions Program.

A Biosecurity Group is a mechanism under the Biosecurity and Agricultural Management Act (2007) (BAM Act) that enables landholders to come together and establish a coordinated approach to declared pest control in their area.

It supports what they are required to do as individual land managers. This piece of legislation also provides the basis for shared responsibility and access to funding to control declared pests. It enables communities and industry to partner with a range of organisations, including State Government agencies.

Biosecurity Groups are DPIRD’s preferred partnership arrangement for declared pest management. It’s important to understand that this mechanism is about managing pests that are declared under the BAM Act; funds raised and allocated to recognised groups can only be spent on declared pests. However, a recognised group will have the capacity and opportunity to raise and attract alternative funds for other priorities. All funds and activities will need to be accounted for as required by the relevant fund sources.

Once established with a declared pest rate in place groups can only determine a declared pest rate where there is a declared pest the community wants to undertake management of and pests that actually declared by DPIRD as ‘declared’

This report covers aspects including:

A checklist that shows each of the stages a group will complete to become self-sustaining.

The importance of community engagement and information is provided around how groups can effectively engage with communities in regard to pest management.

A section on the governance that biosecurity groups need to become ‘recognised’ by the Minister as a legitimate group.

The process to determine a Declared Pest Rate (DPR) in your community is provided.

For those who would like to know the background there is a brief historical account of biosecurity over the years and how the methodology of biosecurity groups has come about.

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There are links to other websites and referrals to particular stakeholders throughout the report.

It is expected that over time, this information will date and processes will change. However in the meantime biosecurity groups can use this document as a guide in their development.

Biosecurity in WA

Established weeds and pest animals are recognised as a significant economic, environmental and social burden for regional communities in Western Australia

Until recently, pest management interventions in Western Australia have been mostly government led, driven by economic outcomes, and relied on traditional methods such as regulations, incentives and educational campaigns to encourage participation. The approach required large amounts of government resources that created a culture of dependency for government to lead and manage.

This situation required a change in focus. Nationally, the emerging sustainable model for established pest management is based on a committed community with industry/landholder leadership rather than a culture of government driven approaches underpinned by enforcement.

This national framework also provides principles and clear rationale for this to occur. The framework states “the role of government for established pest management is to focus on providing support where there is sustained collective action to manage an established pest by an industry or community”.

The national framework was developed as a part of a biosecurity reform in Australia under the Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity (IGAB), to which Western Australia is signatory.

In Western Australia, the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act (BAM Act) was proclaimed in 2007. The BAM Act supports the nationally agreed principle that biosecurity is a shared responsibility, and provides mechanisms for the community to take action on declared pests through forming recognised groups and raising funds through a Declared Pest Rate (DPR).

The opportunity to form biosecurity groups and manage pests on a landscape scale is occurring, the mechanism has been successfully operating in the rangelands for multiple species and has now progressed to the south-west agricultural regions, with groups being recognised focusing on a range of declared pest issues.

The guiding worksheet provided below, identifies a number of milestones that groups need to achieve in their growth and development in becoming a biosecurity group. Below is the guiding worksheet for Biosecurity Groups to seek recognition and is a key set of guidelines for biosecurity groups.

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Recognition checklist for biosecurity groups

The following points are an important checklist that biosecurity groups can use to guide them through the process to becoming recognised. It reflects the four basic attributes of policy considered to be essential for groups to be recognised by the Minister. These are;

will undertake activities consistent with the Act;

can operate at a sufficient scale to control declared pests at a landscape scale;

has the capacity to manage any public funds it receives; and

has legitimacy within its community to decide how to allocate these funds. This includes or is demonstrated by or through community consultation processes.

It’s important to note that the sequence of events is not lineal; tasks can occur in different order and concurrently and should not be seen as prescriptive. How a group reaches a state of self-determination and self-reliance will be up to the group themselves. DPIRD has developed this checklist in order to provide assistance to groups and to satisfy requests for guidance and information.

Biosecurity Group Name:………………………………………………………………………… Checklist completed by:………………………………………………….. Date: __ / __ / 20

Item # Phase Yes/No Comments/Notes

Phase One – Trigger Event

1 Has the group documented its intentions? (i.e. How will it address declared pests and what are the targeted declared pests?)

PHASE COMPLETE?

Phase Two – Informal Group

2 Date of initial meeting or when decision was made to pursue RBG status?

3 Is there evidence of above meeting? E.g. minutes, email, attendees list, agenda, other record)

PHASE COMPLETE?

Phase Three – Formal Organised Group

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Item # Phase Yes/No Comments/Notes

4 Has the biosecurity group determined its name?

5 Is the group Incorporated or hosted under an Incorporated association?

6 The group will need to develop a Constitution. This should include a purpose of managing declared pests under Section 169 of BAM Act in a specified Shire area’. Where a group is hosted, has the constitution been amended to allow the group to manage declared pests as stated above?

7 Does the group have Australian Business Number (ABN)?

8 Has the group registered with ATO for GST? (if annual turnover is >$75,000/year)

9 Does the group have a bank account to hold funds? or utilises account of a host Incorporated association?

10 Has the group procured or in the process of procuring public liability insurance?

11 Has the group compiled a register of its Committee, Members and Stakeholders?

12 Have the operational boundaries of the group been clearly defined. Any potential overlaps or gaps with a neighbour (potential or actual RBG) have been resolved and documented?

13 Has the group developed an Operational Plan to guide its overall activities? This should include, but is not limited to stating the group’s overall purpose/vision, long and short-term goals/objectives, key actions to achieve the goals, timelines, who’s responsible for implementing actions, community engagement, and annual budget.

PHASE COMPLETE?

Phase Four – Initial Operating Group

14 Operational plan is being implemented? including community engagement activities

PHASE COMPLETE?

Phase Five – Pre-Recognition

15 Has the group held a minimum of 3 community meetings / events conveying the group’s intentions and have they explained the RBG model to the community? These

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Item # Phase Yes/No Comments/Notes

meetings/events should be widely advertised in each specified Shire operational area with meeting records kept.

17 Has the group liaised with relevant DPIRD officers on recognition processes, development and community engagement activities?

18 The Incorporated group or its host Incorporated association seeks and consents to its recognition as a biosecurity group by submitting a completed DPIRD letter template “Expression of interest for recognition” addressed to the Minister for Agriculture and Food – for a decision. Notes: ** An EOI letter template is available from

DPIRD. **It is highly recommended groups discuss

this step with relevant DPIRD Officer, before finalising submission.

PHASE COMPLETE?

Phase Six – Seek formal status as a Recognised Biosecurity Group Note: DPIRD internal process

19 DPIRD receives Expression of Interest for recognition from Biosecurity Group and assesses that the group meets all requirements.

20 DPIRD prepares a Briefing Note to the Minister recommending Recognition of the Group under section 169(1) of BAM Act.

21 Minister reviews the application and may (a) approve and recognise the group under section 169(1) or (b) seeks further information or discusses with group with the regards to area of concern.

22 (a) Minister approves the application and recognises the group. (b) Minister advises Group and engages with Group to resolve/address issue(s).

23 Group receives recognition instrument. Instrument identifies the specified area of responsibility.

PHASE COMPLETE?

Phase Seven – Prescribing RBG Area (SKIP if area is currently prescribed in the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management (Declared Pest Account) Regulations 2016)

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Item # Phase Yes/No Comments/Notes

24 The recognised group has provided evidence to demonstrate community consultation:

Dates of consultation events or information provided to the community

An issues register including feedback and responses Community feedback and issues or concerns raised, see step 16

How has the group addressed community issues and concerns? This requires evidence of how the groups have responded to community issues.

25 DPIRD prepares Preliminary Impact Assessment (PIA) to initiate process to prescribe the RBG’s geographic area (preferably along shire boundaries)

26 DPIRD conducts appropriate community consultation (if required) and finalises the PIA.

27 DPIRD submits the PIA to Regulatory Gatekeeping Unit for initial assessment and advises the group on consultation requirements

28 If Regulatory Gatekeeping Unit determines that no further assessment is required, DPIRD commences and completes the process to prescribe the area in the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management (Declared Pest Account) Regulations 2016.

29 The area is prescribed via publication in Government Gazette. The rate can be determined by the Minister following required annual consultation and gazettal.

PHASE COMPLETE?

Groups to progress following business with DPIRD

Item # Phase Yes/No Evaluation comment

Phase Eight – Putting in place the Declared Pest Rate to form a self-determining biosecurity group

30 RBG develops a Strategic 3-5 year Plan. This informs the annual operational plan which must include a section about how the

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Item # Phase Yes/No Evaluation comment

group is going to manage the funds from the declared pest rates. (Groups to include a Hyperlink to the plan or relevant website).This is a requirement for auditing and reporting purposes). The Minister requires an annual operational plan showing the amount of money the group wishes to raise through the declared pest account for that financial year, how they will raise those funds and how they will spend those funds. Groups may have a separate annual operational plan that they call a declared pest rate/annual plan (DPAP) or they may combine this plan in with a longer term strategic plan. There is no set rules about this as long as they can proved a declared pest annual/rate plan each year as part of the rates process A Community Engagement and Communications plan needs to be included in the group’s strategic and operational plan.

31 RBG submits to their annual Operational plan to DPIRD

32 Group has well established governance and annual reporting systems in place (a Directions Notice will request an annual progress report and audited financial statements)

Annual progress report template provided

33 Minister consults the community as per regulations and determines the annual declared pest rate guided by the RBG’s budget.

Ministerial consultation usually conducted March/April

Rates determined and gazetted by 30 June

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Item # Phase Yes/No Evaluation comment

34 RBG accessing funds from the Declared Pest Account

A request will be sent to groups to raise an invoice in July.

DPA match funds in August

Rates income usually available Feb/March

PHASE COMPLETE?

Congratulations, the group is now sustainable and self-determining. Next is to celebrate the group’s success with all key stakeholders.

The biosecurity group now has mature governance structures and has capacity to address community declared pest issues at a landscape scale

The group is self-determining and legitimate – effective community engagement and strategic planning

The group maintains and develops a relationship with DPIRD and relevant government agencies (e.g. Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions, local shires)

The group has prudent and effective financial management systems in place

The groups has the capacity to engage the community for planning and implementing annual and long-term declared pest management programs

Additional comments: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………………………………………………………………………………..……………………………………………

The current and most thorough source of information regarding governance processes are held and administered by the Division of Consumer Protection through their Associations and Clubs section. This website is an essential reference to help guide biosecurity groups through their governance systems. Getting governance systems in place is one of the biggest challenges for many biosecurity groups. Developing governance systems takes time and effort to achieve and is a minimum requirement before a group can focus on pest management operations. Following is a list of governance systems that groups will need to have in place:

Writing a Constitution

Setting up a Committee

Appointing an Executive Officer

Collecting Members/stakeholders of the biosecurity group

Insurance for group activities

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Setting up a bank account

BAS preparation & payment

Registrations — As an incorporated association you’ll need to register for an ABN and GST.

AGM legal requirements

DPIRD has found appointing an Executive Officer as early as possible in the process is hugely beneficial in establishing these governance systems; having someone with experience and time to dedicate is a big benefit in establishing a biosecurity group.

Insurance

To enable funds to be transferred from government to groups, DPIRD require groups to have public liability and professional indemnity insurance. The level of insurance will vary depending on each group activities and level of risk.

Biosecurity groups are encouraged to seek advice from a qualified adviser (such as an insurance broker or lawyer) to determine its insurance obligations. As is the case with any incorporated association DRIPD advises a regular check and review of each group’s risks on a regular basis to assess whether its existing insurance program provides appropriate cover.

DPIRD can advise that some insurance is compulsory, for example, it is compulsory for an incorporated association that employs staff to have workers' compensation insurance. DPIRD ask that each year biosecurity groups provide copies of certificates of currency for insurance premiums held by the group. In addition, in some cases, financial institutions will insist that the association has public liability insurance.

Risk management is a term used to describe a formal and structured process of identifying and managing risk. Generally speaking, it involves assessing, and then actively managing, an organisation’s potential exposure to loss, damage or litigation. Buying insurance is one part, but not the only part, of a risk management programme. By paying the premium, the insured transfers some of its risk to a third party insurer. In many cases, effective practical strategies for reducing risk, such as safety protocols and security devices, can work together with insurance to reduce risk exposure. Indeed, some risk management strategies may result in reduced insurance costs by reducing the likelihood of claims.

Information regarding insurance for community groups can be found at the Division of Commerce.

The Department’s role

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DPIRD manages the biosecurity group’s development process. They are responsible for administering the Biosecurity and Management Act 2007 and are one of the best sources of information for pest management. One of the key concepts about the biosecurity development process is that Biosecurity Officers are available to each biosecurity group for guidance, support and assistance. It is the responsibility of both DPIRD and biosecurity groups to build and grow and develop a link with each other, use each other for information and organise events and activities together as required. Keep in mind that both DPIRD staff and biosecurity group staff and members will also change on a regular basis.

The RBG model is currently the only declared pest rate model in Australia where a state government matches dollar-for-dollar landholder Declared Pest Rates. This matched rate obviously doubles the funds available to carry out a coordinated declared pest species control program. If a community believes that a well-funded community program would be beneficial then it is worth investigating a Declared Pest Rate.

The rate could be used to employ an executive officer or a coordinator to carry out the work of organising community lead control events. Landholders have previously commented that they do not have the time to coordinate control activities, but will happily be involved in the actual control program. The RBG model and rate is a very good mechanism to provide that coordination.

In 2017, biosecurity and project staff from DPIRD held a number of pest control workshops in partnership with biosecurity groups throughout the south west of WA. These workshops are a great way to interact with the community and to provide information about pest control. It would be beneficial for groups to run a pest control workshop in their area at least once a year and to source a diverse range of speakers to present on local pest control practices.

RBG jurisdictions

DPIRD encourages biosecurity groups to form jurisdictions based on the boundary lines of multiple Local Government Authority’s rather than individual species basis. There are a number of benefits in groups forming across multiple shires:

If a declared pest rate is being determined then having multiple species will ensure a range of issues are being addressed keeping the groups mission interesting and engaging in the community.

There is almost always at least one declared pest in all parts of the south west community, so tackling a number of issues will be better financially.

Department biosecurity staff believe the community prefers paying a declared pest rate when an issue that affects them is being addressed by the biosecurity group. Having multiple species allows for this to occur to meet community concerns.

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Biosecurity Group’s roles and responsibilities

Having clearly defined the roles and responsibilities for your group can help with managing expectations. Some of the main roles are:

The Executive Officer’s role – through the TRBR project a Position Description template was developed to help groups understand the role and responsibility of the Executive Officer. DPIRD encourages groups to use this template and modify it to suit your specific needs. (Please see attached for the position description)

Community Members Role – Make it clear to the community what their role is in all this. Provide this information to each member so they understand their duty as a member.

Members of the Biosecurity Group Committee – Over time it will help each group if they can develop a list of roles and responsibilities for each member of the committee.

Some of the roles biosecurity committee members will need to carry out are:

Provide direction

Provide leadership

Formulate policy

Make decisions

Manage the finances

Compliance

Look after the assets

Provide services

Consult

Communicate and network

Research and review

Fundraise

Committee Members may also have these specific responsibilities:

Undertake operational and budget planning as part of preparing annual work programs

Carry out operations or engage contractors to manage declared pests

Undertake surveillance and reporting on new and emerging declared pests, and assist with compliance if necessary

Promote best practice pest management to landholders in their area, and develop and engage networks that encourage community involvement in biosecurity

Provide community input into state and national policy on pest management

Undertake community consultation

Biosecurity Group Plans

Biosecurity group plans are ongoing and evolving. As biosecurity groups grow and develop so will their plans, visions, aims, actions, achievements and so on. Executive Officers are often responsible for pulling the group’s plan together, with help from their Committee and a range of other stakeholders including local government and DPIRD.

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The Department also noted during the process of developing plans with biosecurity groups that some groups preferred to have one overall plan that included the strategic planning elements plus the operational planning elements. Other groups preferred to have a separate strategic plan and a separate operational plan. Groups will navigate their way through this process; however following are a list of the sections that will guide you in developing your plan:

Introduction

History

Aims and Objectives

Management Committee

Stakeholders

Funding/Budget

Communication Strategies

Community Engagement Strategies

Appendix 1 includes an example of a Biosecurity Group Operational plan developed in 2016 by the Central Wheatbelt Biosecurity Group. It is important to note that community engagement underpins the level of support given to the biosecurity group by the community. With this is mind, the CWBG plan has cleverly incorporated community engagement through its plan.

Declared Pest Rate Planning The BAM Act allows a rate to be raised for the purposes of controlling declared pests in

a recognised group’s operational area. This rate is known as the Declared Pest Rate

(DPR). The rate funds are matched dollar for dollar by the State Government.

This rate provides RBGs with an ongoing, annual funding opportunity which they can

access through recommending the determination of a declared pest rate in their area of

operation. The group’s planning process will be used to inform what funds are required

to carry out the priority work that the group has set.

The rate to be charged is determined and set by the Minister following consultation with

affected landholders. The rate is set to raise money required by a Recognised

Biosecurity Group (RBG) to fund activities for the control of declared pests in their

specified area.

Prior to the Minister setting the rate, DPIRD reviews and approves plans submitted by

RBGs on priority declared pest control activities and budgets. RBGs are responsible for

the funds disbursed to them and are required to produce an annual activity report and

audited financial statement each year.

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Community Engagement Planning

Biosecurity groups will gain credibility in their community if they are able to demonstrate their work reflects the needs of local landholders. Other benefits of having landholder involvement in your pest control activities are:

People understand what you’re trying to achieve and what part they can play in achieving the goal.

People can have a say in the group’s decision making

Landholders will support your decisions if they’ve been involved in the process

The level of community engagement being carried out by the biosecurity groups will likely determine the long-term success of those groups. Community engagement is critical in this whole process of running an effective biosecurity group. Between 2015 – 2017 DPIRD provided training and work in the community engagement space. All biosecurity groups, local governments, NRM groups and DPIRD staff were invited to attend a two day Community Engagement in Pest Management Training Course. This course will be available through DPIRD in the future and it is encouraged that Executive Officers and Committee members of biosecurity groups attend that training.

Refer to the Behaviorally Effective Communications form Invasive Animals Management – a Practical Guide for a great resource in understanding community engagement in regard to pest management. Some of the techniques in that resource help biosecurity groups to engage with local communities and include:

Framing a message – change the message to suit the values of people, and remember we all have a range of values so find the one for the right message for each stakeholder.

Key messages – key messages will change over time and at some point the community will begin to learn the groups’ key message. Continue to reinforce key messages in written articles, reports, radio interviews, media articles, websites, Facebook, social media, at AGM’s and so on. We know that messages need to be constantly reinforced.

One of the key messages that groups may consider including is “Pest management is a landholders responsibility”

Debunking myths – there are a lot of misunderstood and incorrect information about pest management. Biosecurity groups will need to not only determine what is incorrect but ensure they actively debunk those myths.

Identifying Barriers and Drivers for landholder involvement in pest management. We know from research that if you can identify why people don’t engage in pest management then biosecurity groups are able to

Through a partnership research has been carried out to investigate barriers to landholders adopting pest control options and the drivers that will change people’s behaviour. This research was primarily done to help biosecurity groups and key stakeholders in pest management with their community engagement and bringing people along on the journey and breaking down barriers that exist around pest management in communities.

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Local Champions – use individuals in your local community who naturally drive initiatives and demonstrate leadership skills. They will be known in their community and we know from research that getting key messages out there or informing people needs to include the local champion to get that information out there. This opportunity of working with local champions, meeting with them and asking them to help the group will be a critical factor in your community engagement strategies.

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Goal of engagement

Inform Consult Involve Collaborate Empower

Briefly describe the level of participation from community / stakeholders.

Informing is a way of communicating with the public, it is balanced and objective information about the biosecurity group, who makes up the team, the pan of the group, the goals of the group, the journey towards raising a rate, what is involved with the rate, etc.

Gain as much feedback as you can from people in your area, stakeholder’s feedback, listen to people, record feedback, and provide an opportunity for the public to give you feedback.

The local community need to feel as though you have heard their feedback and you are ensuring their concerns have been taken on board. Here is about gaining trust with your members and the community and stakeholders.

Partner with the community on each decision. You don’t have to agree with the decision but if you don’t agree then state what your preferred solution is and why. Needs a strong committee with a clear understanding and vision here. Here you are solving complex issues e.g.: the rate.

This is where you have reached a point where you have gained the trust of the community. The biosecurity groups can make decisions on behalf of the community without a backlash occurring. You will begin to achieve your operational goals and aims.

Examples of how to engage at this level (e.g. information sheet, meeting, site visit).

Fact Sheets

Website

Facebook

Public Meetings

Newspaper/articles/radio

Focus Groups

Surveys

Interviews

Panels to discuss the communities feedback

Collaborative decision making sessions sometimes called a charrette

A local biosecurity task force

Study circles

Notice significant changes in the pest problem e.g.: absentee landholders managing cottonbush and engaged in the process

Operational goals being achieved

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Stakeholder management

Biosecurity groups will benefit from mapping stakeholders and noting details such as:

Primary and secondary stakeholders

Potential barriers that may arise for those stakeholders

Strategies to overcome barriers

o The department and the Invasive Animals CRC carried out a number of research initiatives relating to Invasive Animal management, landholders response to biosecurity groups, groups perspective’s on landholder participation and the activities of commercial producers versus recreational landholders.

Values for each stakeholder

Some of the key stakeholders that all biosecurity groups will need to liaise with are:

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

Minister – refer to the checklist for documents the Minister Requires throughout the biosecurity development process.

Potential funders

Local Government Authorities

Community members, including local business

Community volunteers who give up their time to develop the biosecurity group

Department of Biodiversity, Conservations and Attractions

WALGA

Promoting Biosecurity Groups

As with any business, organisation, or club you’ll need to develop a healthy mutual relationship with stakeholders. The legitimacy of your group in the community will determine the level of pest control that is undertaken. Good, detailed community engagement strategies in the group’s planning will be the key in achieving this. Regular community events that heighten awareness of local pest issues will lead to positive behaviour change in the community. Using local champions is a great strategy all biosecurity groups could consider to help get those key messages out there, to help promote the achievements of the group and run great events.

Biosecurity groups need to make sure that they use all the tools available to engage and communicate. Social media, websites and an “e” presence is a must.

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Websites for Biosecurity Groups - Most recognised biosecurity have a website which is a great way to provide a pathway that allows the community to come to the group. The DPIRD website hosts a section relating to biosecurity groups in the South West Land Division. If this section needs updating please contact your local DPIRD biosecurity officer. Speak to your stakeholders about cross promoting each other via your respective websites to ensure your local community are directed through to your group.

Social Media for Biosecurity Groups - Many groups use social media (Facebook and Twitter) to promote the group’s activities. Creating social media channels could be done early in the establishment phase to help promote messages and information to the community. Tell stories of landholders that are successfully controlling pests and tell the story from the landholder’s perspective.

YouTube may assist with this if you record a short interactive video of landholder’s stories. Video has much greater impact in showing landholders and community members speaking directly of their motivations for involvement, the challenges experienced and the changes made. Coming straight from the storytellers’ mouth adds power to this medium.

The following videos are available to biosecurity groups to help promote biosecurity groups development:

https://youtu.be/pp3srkrlH4I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqTg68hAV-o&feature=youtu.be

https://youtu.be/Ho2oXhtGmNQ

https://youtu.be/WTKHNa0Qs2w

https://youtu.be/VsWQF9MxbUY

https://youtu.be/iuMG715Of9g

If you are holding an event and you wish to promote it please list your event through the ABC Rural Events Diary. Just go to http://www2b.abc.net.au/rural/diary/index.htm to list your event.

Biosecurity Group Case studies Between 2015 and 2017 three case studies were developed by the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research centre (IACRC) in partnership with DPIRD about the following three biosecurity groups:

Esperance Biosecurity Association Inc.

Peel Harvey Biosecurity Group

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Blackwood Biosecurity Group These case studies have been developed with wide consultation from a range of biosecurity stakeholders and capture the formation of the biosecurity groups, the issues faced by the groups, the barriers groups are dealing with and how these issues were dealt with regarding each group. They are a great read for new biosecurity groups that are forming so that they may learn from the experiences of other groups. Biosecurity groups need to develop their own identity if they are to succeed in gaining community trust and acceptance. The changing role of government in biosecurity management has created an opportunity for local communities to take leadership on these issues. As this case study has revealed, there are challenges to be faced and community members and government staff must be prepared to learn from previous experience. Community-led efforts can complement the compliance and regulatory functions of government. They can also develop local skills and capacity to address biosecurity problems, assisting landholders to meet their obligations under the BAM Act 2007. However, these community efforts need to be underpinned by good governance, strong planning and financial stability, if they are to gain the support and acceptance of their community members. Government has an important role to play in enabling the community-led effort to succeed. Beyond financial support, community groups need access to high quality information about biosecurity threats and management options. Although the Declared Pest Rate is an incentive for groups to apply for recognition through the Minister, there are other considerations such as landholder willingness to pay, that groups must address before raising a rate. In the end, groups need to make their own decisions about the value of applying for recognition, and when to do it.

We hope these resources will be used when working through biosecurity issues. We encourage the case studies to be used in presentations and workshops.

Training and Capacity Building

Between 2015 and 2017 community engagement training called Community Engagement in Pest Management was offered to key biosecurity group stakeholders hosted and led by DPIRD. The purpose of that training was to build capacity and help people understand the techniques of community engagement. This course is available to all members of the community and DPIRD guides biosecurity groups to use this course as a way of training local community champions and groups stakeholders.

Communities of Interest Over time existing biosecurity groups have developed their own capacity to meet on a regular basis to discuss issues and host a get together of other biosecurity groups.

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DPIRD encourages groups to continue this as a way of developing organisational capacity to develop and grow in the area of biosecurity group’s development. A community of interest is not a forum with an agenda or pre-determined outcomes, it is a group of people interested in the same thing (biosecurity) coming together to learn and share from each other.

Database to store information As groups advance they will develop documents that requiredata storage space. Biosecurity groups will need to consider what financial systems they require such as Financial Management Information Systems.