POSITION DESCRIPTION
SECTION A: GENERAL INFORMATION
Position title: Veterinary Officer (Disease surveillance)
Classification code: PO2
Group: Biosecurity
Type of appointment:
Branch: Animal Health
Ongoing
Section:
Temporary
Position number: PR2462
 Contract 1–5 years
Occupant:
NOC
File reference:
Position Description Approval
All excluding senior positions
Senior positions
Delegate ________________________
Commissioner for Public
Employment
_______________________________
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ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS
To be considered for this position it is essential that you have the following:
Degree registrable with the SA Veterinary Surgeons Board
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CONTEXT OF THE POSITION (why the position exists; broad purpose; group goal or objective that
the position addresses; new or continuing position, role and function, etc.)
Primary Industries and Resources SA (PIRSA) is a key economic development agency within the South
Australian Government. It is committed to sustainable and responsible development of internationally
competitive primary industries in the agriculture, horticulture, fisheries, aquaculture, minerals and petroleum
and energy regulation sectors. PIRSA has a strong business focus and works in partnership with industry to
create and maintain sustainable economic development.
The newly formed PIRSA Biosecurity Division consists of a range of services dealing with Animal Health, Plant
Health, Rural Chemicals, Meat Hygiene, Marine Biosecurity, Food Safety Policy and Emergency Management.
The Division delivers an integrated biosecurity service provided by PIRSA. Biosecurity staff operate from a
number of Adelaide and regional locations across South Australia. Biosecurity has a strong economic, political
and community dimension..
PIRSA’s Biosecurity Animal Health program protects and facilitates market access and livestock productivity,
public health and consumer confidence through the health, welfare, quality, safety and image of South
Australian livestock and livestock products.
Form 3.02: Position Description
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Global trade access for livestock and livestock products increasingly requires demonstrated minimum
standards of animal health and welfare. The PIRSA Biosecurity Animal Health Group is responsible for
provision of disease control, surveillance and response services in association with livestock industries of SA.
In response to national and state concerns about the threat of emergency animal disease and associated
overseas marketing implications, the particular focus for Animal Health veterinarians is on enhanced disease
surveillance and emergency animal disease response capacity.
As part of a state-wide Animal Health team, those occupying these positions will provide veterinary inputs to
animal disease preparedness, surveillance and control activities within a district or region.
A high level of independent work, initiative and motivation is required to ensure results are achieved.
To be successful appointees will need to identify and relate to the needs of rural communities and possess a
capacity to work collaboratively with veterinary practitioners as well as livestock producers, stock agents,
industry groups and other relevant stake holders.
REPORTING/WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
Reports to the Manager Disease Surveillance.
SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS (eg OHS&W, PSM Act, non-metropolitan location, travel requirements, frequent
overtime, etc.)
Located at the Clare District Office. Relocation to any other place in SA may be required.
Some out of hours work, intrastate and interstate travel will be required.
The incumbent will be required to maintain a safe working environment by adopting appropriate hazard
management practices consistent with the role.
The incumbent will be expected to uphold the Employee Conduct Standards contained in the Public Sector
Management Act (1995)*.
The incumbent will be gazetted as an Inspector of Stock under the Livestock Act.
SECTION B: RESULTS TO BE ACHIEVED
RESULT AREA
 Production of surveillance data
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Conduct passive surveillance including analysing and reporting on laboratory results
Conduct targeted surveillance programs to monitor disease prevalence and trends
Coordinate the National Arbovirus Monitoring Program (NAMP) and provide specialist technical
support for the Ovine Brucellosis Accreditation Scheme
Coordinate investigations of incidents of unusual, new or emerging herd/flock diseases
Collect samples for state and national disease and residue surveys
Assist in the interpretation and analysis of lab results and entry of information into state and
national database systems
Establish networks with industry to exchange surveillance data
Promote animal disease incident reporting with livestock producers and private veterinarians
Establishment of communication networks with producers/Livestock industries/other industry
participants
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Initiate and attend producer meetings and field days
Develop and maintain relationships with rural veterinary clinics
Form 3.02: Position Description
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Participate in regulatory disease control programs
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Develop specialist understanding of species specific industry economics and demographics,
endemic disease, biosecurity, animal welfare
Application of livestock health technology
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Undertake specialist training in clinical diagnosis of emergency animal disease
Undertake training in field epidemiology, control and eradication of emergency animal diseases
Assist in developing the preparedness of other government and non-government regional
agencies/ stakeholders
Develop species/industry specific knowledge as required
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Contribute to the achievements/outcomes of PIRSA Animal Health programs
Use disease control activities to develop enhanced passive surveillance
Apply defined disease control policies for major animal diseases
Undertake routine specimen collection as required for laboratory testing
Develop and maintain relevant competencies for participation in emergency disease and
disaster preparedness and response
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
Promote disease surveillance and
biosecurity /awareness and
preparedness with all relevant groups
Establish professional credibility to effectively promote Animal Health programs with Industry
Lead producers/Industry in recognising the importance of biosecurity and animal health issues
to trade access and industry prosperity
Provide technical and regulatory advice to farmers and industry stake holders
Facilitate by providing technical expertise to industry groups
Participate in field days and seminars
Communicate through mass media
Participate in coordinated extension campaigns
Prepare reports and publications when appropriate
Animal Welfare
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Ensure maintenance of appropriate livestock welfare standards by providing expert advice to
RSPCA, producers and agribusiness on livestock health and husbandry
Investigate and report on incidents of alleged animal cruelty
SECTION C: CAPABILITIES PROFILE
(The skills, knowledge and personal attributes that underpin successful job performance)
This position requires a person with the following capabilities:
Professional and Technical Expertise
Demonstrates sound knowledge across all key areas of professional/technical competence relevant to the
role, with in-depth knowledge in one or two areas; applies a sound understanding of knowledge in a range of
areas
Behaviours:
 Maintains up to date knowledge and skills of the relevant technical areas
 Explains technical information accurately and clearly to non-technical people
 Demonstrates an ability to manage complex tasks in area of expertise
 Shows high levels of technical/professional competence
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Building Networks
Maintains strong internal network and systematically builds external contacts to facilitate achieving objectives,
for exchange of information and for mutual benefit
Behaviours:
 Builds a strong network of professional contacts and actively works to maintain this
 Builds relationships of trust and cooperation with key livestock producers, identifying leaders and those
with influence
 Creates and sustains personal networks, internally and externally
 Demonstrates an outgoing and active involvement with industry groups and stakeholders in resolving
issues associated with legislative development or implementation
Communication Skills
Communicates effectively with a wide range of people and expresses ideas clearly and coherently, both
verbally and in writing.
Behaviours:
 Shares information freely and is open to receiving information
 Is an empathic listener, actively demonstrating interest and a preparedness to consider others’ ideas and
experiences
 Respects others' viewpoints and incorporates these into building understanding and making final decisions
 Builds a climate of trust to facilitate open communications between people
Planning and Organising Work
Sets own work priorities, uses tools (eg. calendar, files charts) and time efficiently to meet work objectives
Behaviours:
 Manages own time in an efficient and effective manner.
 Demonstrates a flexible approach to unplanned events and interruptions whilst maintaining focus on
priorities
 Monitors workload and communicates problems and difficulties
 Manages numerous tasks in priority order allowing sufficient time to meet deadlines
Presentation skills
Prepares and delivers informative, effective presentations to colleagues or the general public selecting
appropriate presentation style and tools; clarifies and resolves issues arising in debate
Behaviours
 Prepares thoroughly for presentation, researching audience expectations and planning accordingly
 Engages with wide range of audiences at their level and skilfully utilises a range of media to get the
message across eg visual, verbal, interaction etc
 Knows how to move, or convince people by utilising argument (rationality), feeling, and values in
presentation
 Handles opposition, debate, and issues arising skilfully
Initiative
Acts autonomously within scope of duties; looks for alternative ways to ensure work is completed; anticipates
problems and takes action
Behaviours
 Produces quality, innovative work without constant supervision
 Moves projects forward without being asked to do so
 Recognises and acts on opportunities to deal with potential problems
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Problem solving
Identifies, defines and solves complex problems relating to work role
Behaviours
 Researches appropriate sources and asks others for the benefit of their experience to explore and test
possible solutions
 Utilises a wide range of problem solving approaches including rational, intuitive, lateral and creative
 Chooses from a number of approaches to problem solving
 Maximises capability and ownership by involving others with diverse views in problem solving
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CERTIFIED CORRECT
___________________________Delegate
___________________________Occupant (if applicable)
Employee Conduct Standards (PSM Act 1995).
PIRSA employees are expected to:
 treat the public and other employees with respect and courtesy;
 utilise resources at their disposal in an efficient, responsible and accountable manner;
 deal with information of which they have knowledge as a result of their work only in accordance with the requirements of the
Government and their agencies;
 endeavour to give their best to meet performance standards and other organisational requirements; and
 conduct themselves in public in a manner that will not reflect adversely on the public sector, their agencies and other employees.
Form 3.02: Position Description