Assistant Biosecurity Officer

APS 2 - $61,889 - $65,954 per annum plus superannuation
- Biosecurity Plant and Science Services Division
- Mickleham, VIC
- _Enhance Australia’s agriculture & environment through regulation and partnership._
- _Six non-ongoing vacancies - possibility of ongoing employment in next 18 months._
- _Work with animals in a state-of-the-art facility._

**Who we are**
The Post-Entry Quarantine Group (PEQ) is responsible for the post arrival quarantine of plants and animals at the Mickleham Post-entry Quarantine Facility located on the outskirts of Melbourne. The Mickleham PEQ Facility is purpose built for accommodating high risk plants, horses, cats, dogs, ruminants, birds and bees while undergoing post-entry quarantine. Working in partnership with plant scientists and veterinarians, we ensure that all plants and animals passing through the facility meet all necessary requirements to demonstrate compliance with the regulatory requirements for their safe import and that the health and welfare of the plants and animals is maintained throughout the period of their stay in PEQ.

The Animal Team facilitates the import of cats, dogs and horses for industry stakeholders and clients. The management of cats, dogs and horses within quarantine is undertaken in low to medium biosecurity containment facilities with all activities being performed to manage risk associated with biosecurity and animal welfare. This is a seven day a week, 24 hours a day operation.

**The Jobs**
The role of an Assistant Biosecurity Officer - Animal at the PEQ consists of working across commodities such as dogs, cats and horses as well as specialised roles in our enabling services. These roles play an important part in managing biosecurity risk associated with imported animals. These roles can be physically demanding and involve working with animals and lifting, pushing, carrying and cleaning animal crates and pens. The duties of these roles will include some or all of the following:

- Cleaning and disinfection of kennels, crates and work areas.
- Cleaning dishes and laundering bedding.
- Assisting Biosecurity Officers to clean cat and dog pens and change the animals water.
- Assisting Biosecurity Officers to unload crates and release animals to the assigned pen.
- Assisting Biosecurity Officers in crating and transferring animals to the release area.
- Assisting Biosecurity Officers with veterinary checks and other animal husbandry tasks.
- Contributing to the management of biosecurity risks of imported animals.

**Please note** that this recruitment process will initially be used to fill **six non-ongoing vacancies for an initial period of twelve months** with the possibility of extension up to a maximum period of two years in total. These non-ongoing positions **may become ongoing in the next eighteen months**. Should a position become ongoing then the merit pool established through this selection process, which is valid for a period of eighteen months from the date the vacancy was advertised in the Public Service Gazette, may be used to fill the vacancy on an ongoing basis.

**What we are looking for**
**Knowledge and experience**
- A sound knowledge of animal husbandry principles.
- Experience with cleaning and disinfection tasks.
- An understanding of biosecurity and quarantine principles.

**Eligibility and other requirements**
The successful applicants must:

- hold and maintain a valid Australian motor vehicle drivers licence
- note that the physical requirements of the role(s) involve a combination of outdoor and office-based work
- note that the position may require them to participate in an on-call roster (for which an appropriate restriction allowance will be paid) and be available to perform duty outside standard hours
- note that you may be required to perform occasional out-of-hours and weekend work
- wear an official uniform supplied by the department, including during field operations (as applicable), in accordance with the department’s uniform policy
- wear appropriate protective personal equipment and clothing to comply with departmental Work Health & Safety policies and procedures
- note the requirement to perform work duties in a PC2 environment under challenging conditions at times, including undertaking personal decontamination measures which may include showering in and out and the removal of jewellery and piercings
- note that they may be required to drive a light rigid vehicle in the collection of animals
- complete the course of rabies pre-exposure vaccination (PrEP) organised and funded by the department.