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| 21 Sep 2026 | |
| General |
MINTRAC has commenced delivery of a series of Poultry Industry Biosecurity Capability Workshops designed to strengthen preparedness and resilience across the NSW poultry industry.
Commissioned by the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) as part of the Farm Business Resilience Program (FBRP), the workshops will support poultry businesses to strengthen their biosecurity management capability, preparedness and ability to manage risk.
The FBRP supports NSW farm businesses to build the knowledge, skills and capability needed to manage risk, strengthen business planning and improve long-term resilience. The program is jointly funded by the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and the NSW Government.
The first workshop was delivered on Wednesday 23 September 2026 by MINTRAC in partnership with Avian Management Services for Pepe’s Ducks in Penrith, NSW.
“Strong biosecurity starts with preparedness. These workshops are about giving businesses the practical capability to test their plans, identify gaps and be ready to act when it matters. Working directly with the sector, government and technical experts ensures that preparedness is grounded in the realities of the workplace.”
- Mick Crouch, CEO, MINTRAC
Turning biosecurity planning into practical action
The one-day workshop brought together Pepe’s Ducks leadership and operational teams to test and further develop their site-specific biosecurity management plans.
The session combined biosecurity management theory with practical discussion tailored to the operation, including updates to the AUSVETPLAN, which provides industry guidance for the management of animal disease emergencies.
Participants worked collaboratively to examine existing biosecurity arrangements, identify opportunities for improvement and document follow-up actions for implementation on farm.
The workshop provided an opportunity to consider biosecurity not only as a compliance requirement, but as an important part of operational preparedness and business resilience.
With avian influenza presenting a real and ongoing risk to the poultry industry, having effective plans, clear responsibilities and the capability to respond to a potential biosecurity event is critical to mitigating risks to individual operations and the broader industry.
The Penrith workshop brought together representatives from industry, government and specialist biosecurity expertise.
Pictured from left are John Houston, CEO, Pepe’s Ducks; Tugrul Durali, Avian Management Services; Mick Crouch, CEO, MINTRAC; Mario Bonaccordo, Operations Manager, Pepe’s Ducks; Peta Easey, Leader Pigs & Poultry, NSW DPIRD; Kim Townsend, Development Officer Pigs & Poultry, NSW DPIRD; and Patrick Haddad, Livestock Manager, Pepe’s Ducks.
Their involvement reflects the collaborative approach behind the program, connecting practical industry experience with specialist knowledge and government support to strengthen biosecurity capability at an operational level.
Building capability across the NSW poultry industry
The Penrith workshop marks the beginning of a broader program of poultry biosecurity capability building, with MINTRAC to deliver further in-person and online workshops across NSW over the coming months.
The program will provide more poultry businesses with an opportunity to examine their own biosecurity arrangements, strengthen planning and build the practical knowledge needed to respond effectively to emerging risks.
“What made this workshop so valuable was the level of practical discussion in the room. For MINTRAC, this is exactly where we can add value - working directly with the sector to turn broader priorities into practical capability that businesses can apply in their own operations.”
- Mick Crouch, CEO, MINTRAC
Business resilience is also about people
As part of the workshop, the Rural Adversity Mental Health Program (RAMHP) provided a briefing on its mental health and wellbeing support services, including the importance of recognising stress and cumulative adversity, seeking support early and knowing where to access help.
This broader conversation complemented the practical focus on biosecurity, reinforcing that resilience means strengthening both business preparedness and the wellbeing of the people who keep operations running.
Upcoming workshops open for public registration will be advertised by NSW DPI.
Through the program, MINTRAC will continue bringing together industry experience, technical expertise and government support to help translate biosecurity planning into practical action on farm.
