ABSANZ Newsletter May 2021

CONTENTS

• Message from the President
• ABSANZ Latest News
• Hot Topic: Call for Abstracts 2021 Conference
• Upcoming Events
• What's New
• Meet an ABSANZ volunteer - this issue: Jim Hargreaves

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

As the seasons are changing, so too are things at ABSANZ. 

It gives me great pleasure to welcome Julie Harvey to the team at ABSANZ.  Julie is our new full time Association Manager supporting the Board, the Committees and of course you, the Members.  Please feel free to either give Julie a call on the new Association number - (03) 9087 9988, or drop her an email julie@absanz.org.au to introduce yourself and to say hello.  She would be delighted to assist with all things ABSANZ that you may need assistance with. All previous email addresses that you have been using as (manager@, admin@, conference@) are still active, so there is no problem with continuing to use those to communicate with us either.

To Sarah, Elaine, Mel, Kaavya and all of the other behind the scenes staff at Association Professionals, thank you for the support that you have given ABSANZ through our early years as we grew from a fledgling association to where we are now, I am grateful for your assistance.

In other news, Sean Lansley has resigned from the Board. Sean has had a career change, and as a result feels that he is no longer the best person to meet the needs of our growing Association. We are grateful for his contribution, and whilst he is retaining his membership, we hope that should he ever return to science, that he will put his hand up to take a leading role in the Association.

The 2021 conference preparations are steaming ahead. With a broad theme of "Biosafety at the Crossroads - where to from here?", I have seen some of the work that the Conference Committee are developing, and it is looking like an amazing program. To be held at the Adelaide Convention Centre from 22 - 26 November, we are hoping that you will be able to join us to celebrate a COVID belated 10 year anniversary of ABSANZ, as well as a host of other engaging, topical and innovative subjects.  Please see furter information on 'Call for Abstracts' below.

This past week I have been busy visiting testing and diagnostic laboratories who are keen to ensure that their facilities have critical containment infrastructure in place so that they are not the index cases for any leaked COVID. Unfortunately, despite some pretty heavy lobbying and also a 10 second grab on ABC talkback radio, I still haven’t been able to bring the authorities attention to the ABSANZ membership and our incredible skillset to assist with the return traveller quarantine. We will continue to reach out, and would be interested to hear any suggestions from you, our members, on what you feel ABSANZ can contribute.

I am very much looking forward to the next period of ABSANZ where we continue to grow as a maturing Association.

Stay safe and stay well everyone.

Stephen 

ABSANZ LATEST NEWS

Regulatory Liaison Committee

The NZ Facility Standard for Biological Products has been revised and is likely to be released in the next few months. The main changes from the current standard are that all references to A/NZ Standard 2243.3 have been removed and instead there will now be a requirement to carry out a risk assessment for all imported biological materials of animal origin.

Work has halted on the review of the NZ Biosecurity Act and a reset is being looked at but no timetable for this has been released as yet.

The NZ Ministry for Primary Industries has released for consultation a draft PI Import Health Standard (IHS) for laboratory specimens – this has a focus on non-animal goods being imported into laboratories for research etc.  This will necessitate amendments to other IHS’s to move some non-animal goods out of those and into the new IHS.

The NZ Environment Protection Authority has called for expressions of interest to deregulate  some organisms. They are seeking input on which new organisms should no longer hold regulatory status as “new” because they are effectively resident in Aotearoa NZ. This deregulation process in conducted under the Hazardous Substance and New Organisms Act, for species that arrived after 29 July 1998 and are now established in NZ. Organisms will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and a shortlist will be released by the Minister for the Environment for further public consultation prior to Cabinet making the final decision deregulation. Submissions are due by May 6th.

Submissions have been reviewed for A/NZ Standard 2243.3 and the standard is in the final stages of preparation.

Michelle McConnell, Chair

ABSANZ Membership - changes to come...

Do you know someone who could benefit from being an ABSANZ member? There are many exciting and innovative changes coming to the Association over the next few months as we head towards our annual conference, so now is the time to join.

You'll hear about Early Bird specials AND be the able to be the first to register for presentations. As an evoling and developing sector, Biosafety is in the news now more than ever before, so your membership will continue to add value by keeping you abreast of change, innovation and regulatory announcements. We will be the first to release trends, news and hot topics, so please share the newsletter and encourage your peers to join.

ABSANZ Member Discussion Forum

We encourage ABSANZ members to support and share your knowledge, ideas and resources. The Member Only discussion forum is to facilitate the connection and interaction of Australasia’s Biosafety and Biosecurity community. If you have something to say, to add, toshare, then please start a discussion and support other members to stay informed. Alternatively, email julie@absanz.org.au and contribute to this newsletter.

HOT TOPIC: CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

2020 was one heck of a year for everyone, including ABSANZ.  Our conference planned for Adelaide in 2020 had to transform itself into an on-line Virtual Summit as the COVID-19 pandemic bit hard.

Little did we realise 18 months ago that our community of interest would be so topical.

Now the word BIOSAFETY is in the common parlance, and we are back with a vengeance with the 2021 Conference in Adelaide.

Around the theme 'Biosafety at the Crossroads – where to from here?" we are planning an engaging and topical three days with tours of important South Australian research facilities into the bargain.

Call for Abstracts for oral presentations and posters - 24 May

Early Bird resgistration opens - 23 June

More to follow...

UPCOMING EVENTS

Knowing your Autoclaves Webinar - last minute registration available due to postponement

Date - Tuesday 25 May 2021 

Time - 12.00pm to 1.00pm AEDT

Venue - Webinar (via computer)

Pricing: $33 Members | $88 Non-Members.

Watch this space for a full calendar of facility tours, interesting workshops and webinars that ABSANZ will offer in 2021!

WHAT'S NEW

Keep an eye out for latest news throughout the month which is published on the website.

AS/NZS 2243 review update

AS/NZS 2243.3:2019, Safety in laboratories, Part 3: Microbiological safety and containment review status. - click here to read more

Aerosol virus spread & hotel quarantine issue document by Neil Walls

Neil Walls has written to Chief Health Officers regarding COVID 19 risk management - click here to download.

Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL), 6th Edition

This edition of BMBL includes revised sections, agent summary statements, and appendices - click here to download

WHO Laboratory Biosafety Manual (LBM), 4th Edition

The WHO Laboratory Biosafety Manual (LBM) has been in broad use at all levels of clinical and public health laboratories, and other biomedical sectors globally, serving as a de facto global standard that presents best practices and sets trends in biosafety - click here to download

IFBA Updates

The International Federation of Biosafety Associations is pleased to spotlight the Japanese Biological Safety Association (JBSA), our member biosafety organization in Japan, and Dr. Sri Handayani Irianingsih, an IFBA Certified Professional in Biorisk Management in Indonesia.

The IFBA is inviting applications for a NuAire funded grant to cover examination fees towards obtaining the IFBA’s Professional Certification in Biosafety Cabinet Selection, Installation and Safe Use. NuAire Laboratory Equipment has a long tradition of supporting Biosafety Associations as an educational effort to further understanding and knowledge in support of the life science community. This certification identifies individuals with demonstrated competencies in the fundamental principles & practices of selecting and safely using biosafety cabinets for the handling of infectious materials. Candidates applying for this certification must have successfully complete the prerequisite IFBA’s Professional Certification in Biorisk Management before they are eligible for this grant. For more information about the IFBA’s certification in Biosafety Cabinets please refer to the attached exam content and study guide. 

Individuals who are interested in applying for the grant are requested to fill out the attached application form. The deadline to submit your completed application is May 7, 2021. To learn more about NuAire please visit: www.nuaire.com

MEET AN ABSANZ VOLUNTEER - THIS ISSUE: JIM HARGREAVES

Jim is passionate about biocontainment facility design and is always available to talk about the “nuts and bolts” of related aspects, but on a more personal note:A member of ABSANZ Regulatory Liaison Committee, Jim Hargreaves is a senior design manager and the southern technical lead for the Science and Research sector, with Jacobs Australia. He is also an authorized Third Party Assessor for DAWE.

Married with one daughter, like everyone, has a hectic lifestyle. Being able to switch off from work is difficult sometimes, but for health and well being it is really important. Running provides and outlet.

Jim is fortunate that he has a small hobby farm in the far eastern suburbs of Melbourne with a few sheep, horses, and two Golden Retriever dogs that keep him busy on weekends to reclaim some serenity.

ENEWSLETTER MEMBER CONTRIBUTIONS

• Do you have any updates about the industry?
• Have there been any exciting developments in your workplace which you would like to share?
• Have you recently published an article?
• Would you like to share your story about how your career has evolved the fields of biosafety and/or biocontainment?
• Would you like to contribute to the eNewsletter or larger Newsletter?

Please email us to find out more.