Geelong's One Health talents on display

In celebration of World One Health Day on 3 November, the Geelong Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases (GCEID), Deakin, Barwon Health and CSIRO’s Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) are inviting the public to learn more about the wide range of work being done in Geelong to better understand and protect people, animals and the environment from infectious diseases, in particular those that are new, spread quickly or may infect both animals and humans.

 “One Health” is a multidisciplinary approach to managing these problems and encourages collaborations in research and applied science between human and animal healthcare providers, food producers, wildlife and environmental experts and other related fields.

Australia’s first One Health facility, GCEID is a partnership between Deakin, AAHL, Barwon Health and the City of Greater Geelong established to identify and develop treatments and mitigation strategies for new infectious diseases and deliver a coordinated and evidence-based response.

World One Health Day at GCEID will include presentations from CSIRO, Deakin and Barwon Health experts, a virtual tour of the AAHL and the chance to ask questions about the One Health work being conducted on our doorstep.

“There is so much good work being done in Geelong around animal and human health and so many organisations collaborating to prevent new and emerging infections,” explained GCEID director Professor Soren Alexandersen.

“We hope to understand how these diseases unfold from the beginning and prevent them before they become a bigger problem. It’s exciting and important research and One Health Day is a chance for everyone living in Geelong to see the great work that is happening in our town.”

One Health Day will be held from 5.30 -7.30pm, Thursday 3 November at the Geelong Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Level 1 HERB Building located at the rear of Kitchener House, 285-299 Ryrie Street. Access is via the Kitchener House driveway, then follow the signs.