Implementation Plan for the National Microbial Genomics Framework
A national plan for the integration of microbial genomics into the Australian public health system has been published this week by the Australian Government Department of Health.
This Implementation Plan was developed in close collaboration with the Communicable Diseases Genomics Network (CDGN) and in consultation with the Public Health Laboratory Network, Communicable Diseases Network Australia and other expert groups. It is the first of its kind in Australia and isin association to the National Microbial Genomics Framework 2019-2022.
The plan recognises and includes microbial genomics activities that states and territories are undertaking across various sectors, promoting collaboration, coordination and information sharing to improve national surveillance of and response to communicable diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and biothreat agents of clinical and public health importance.
Five key priority implementation areas have been identified in the plan:
1. Standardised national approach
2. Technology and data governance
3. Integration into public health
4. Access and workforce
5. Financing
The activities of the CDGN underpin many initiatives to support the key priority areas of the Framework and the Implementation Plan with several having been completed or well underway since its development.
A key activity that was fast-tracked during 2020, was the implementation of the national genomics surveillance platform, AusTrakka, in response to COVID-19. The development is being led by the Microbiological Diagnostic Unit Public Health Laboratory (MDU PHL) at the Doherty Institute with the operational governance facilitated by the CDGN. Contribution of expertise across CDGN members in all jurisdictions across Australia and New Zealand as part of this initiative has resulted in a significant upskill in laboratory staff and improvement in bioinformatics and genomics epidemiological literacy across jurisdictions enabling near real-time sequencing, analysis and reporting on SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks and transmission identified through AusTrakka.
To learn more about the Implementation plan for the National Microbial Genomics Framework 2021–2022, visit the Australian Government Department of Health website.
