APCOVE Newsletter
June, 2026
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 | Applied Field Epidemiology Training, Timor-Leste June 2026
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Dear APCOVE colleagues, partners, and friends,
As we reach the midpoint of 2026, I am delighted to share a newsletter rich with milestones that reflect the energy and dedication across our consortium.
This quarter saw an important step forward in Timor-Leste, where 12 trainees launched six-month field projects spanning surveillance, brucellosis, biosecurity, and food safety. This work speaks directly to the region's animal and public health priorities. Across our intermediate training, trainees in the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam continue to advance field projects on a remarkable breadth of priority diseases.
I am delighted to note that our Teacher and Mentor Training program has been accredited by the Academy of Medical Educators, providing independent validation of the quality our team has built. Our work is also reaching global audiences. The One Health team will present at the AEA meeting in Fiji, while other team members will be featured at GAVIS in Putrajaya and at ASME.
It is also a pleasure to celebrate our people. I encourage you to read the story of our alumnus Ardi Budi Prakoso, whose work controlling infectious disease in Indonesia shows how APCOVE training translates into real change on the ground. I would also like to congratulate Dr Shumaila Arif, our Activity 2 Senior Technical Officer, on completing her Master of Public Health in Data Analytics. Achievements like these, across our alumni and our team, are a reminder of why this work matters.
As we look toward the second half of the year, with field projects beginning in Papua New Guinea and planning underway across the region, I am confident the best of APCOVE is still ahead.
Warm regards,
Navneet Dhand
Director, APCOVE
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| APCOVE Phase II Activity Updates
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Activity 1: Applied Field Epidemiology Training
Update by Professor Joerg HenningA successful workshop has been held in Timor-Leste to commence six-month field-based research programs aimed at strengthening animal health systems in the region. Held in early June, the workshop was facilitated by Professor Joerg Henning (University of Queensland) in collaboration with Professor Abrao Pereira from the National University of Timor-Leste (UNTL) and the Timor-Leste APCOVE team. The workshop was held on UNTL Hera campus and was attended and supported by international mentors Dr Jeniffer Manyweathers (Charles Sturt University) and Dr Peter Atkinson (University of Adelaide) and local mentors Dr Alipio de Almeida and Dr Hanna Sidjabat.
A total of 12 trainees are participating across four field projects, each reflecting key priorities for animal and public health in Timor-Leste:
- Evaluation of Post-Vaccination Antibody Titer Against Newcastle Disease in Local Chickens in Timor-Leste - evaluating Newcastle Disease vaccination efficacy and risk factors for disease outbreaks
- Seroprevalence and Knowledge-and-Practices Survey on Brucellosis in Small Ruminants – assessing disease burden and identifying gaps in awareness and management practices
- Biosecurity in Pig Production – evaluating farm-level biosecurity measures to reduce disease risks in an important livestock sector
- Hygienic Practices at Local Slaughterhouses – examining food safety practices to improve public health outcomes
Trainees take full ownership of the research process, from project design through to data collection, analysis, and reporting, supported by a network of local and international mentors. The local news reported on the workshop and can be seen here - video.
Looking ahead, six-month field-based research projects are being designed in Papua New Guinea, with data collection due to commence in the second half of 2026. Planning is also underway for tabletop simulation exercises to be held in Cambodia, Laos, and Papua New Guinea.
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Applied Field Epidemiology Training, field projects workshop, Timor-Leste June 2026
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Activity 2: Intermediate Field Epidemiology Training
Update by Dr Shumaila Arif As part of Activity 2, Mid-Field Project Progress Sessions were conducted for trainees in the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia, with the Vietnam session scheduled for 25 June 2026. The sessions provided trainees with an opportunity to present the progress of their field projects, discuss challenges encountered during implementation, and receive feedback from APCOVE, team mentors, and country partners. The projects cover a wide range of priority animal health topics, including foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), rabies, leptospirosis, bovine viral diarrhoea, Johne’s disease, antimicrobial resistance, biosecurity, disease surveillance, and risk factor investigations.
Provided by Anastasia Diva, an APCOVE trainee from Indonesia, this video offers a glimpse into the practical fieldwork being undertaken as part of APCOVE II. It highlights the application of epidemiological and field investigation skills developed through the program to address real-world animal health challenges within local communities.
Watch the video here:
We thank all trainees, mentors, and country partners for their active participation and ongoing support of APCOVE II and look forward to the successful completion of the field projects in the coming months.
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Intermediate Field Epidemiology Training, mid-project meeting, Indonesia June 2026
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Activity 3: One Health Training
Update by Dr Sandra SteelePlanning is well underway for the next phase of the APCOVE Applied One Health Training Program, with intermediate-level training workshops scheduled for early 2027 in Indonesia, and Vietnam. Development of the training materials is currently being finalised, with strong co-design input from consortium country partners. This collaborative approach has helped to ensure that the program is relevant, practical, and aligned with regional priorities.
In addition to these preparations, the team has achieved an important milestone in knowledge sharing and regional engagement. A conference presentation has been accepted for the Australasian Epidemiological Association (AEA) 2026 Annual Scientific Meeting, to be held from 13–15 October in Fiji. The presentation will be delivered by Dr Simon Firestone on behalf of the Activity 3 team and will highlight the Delphi prioritisation process used to establish regional One Health core competencies. Dr Sandra Steele also recently attended the ASEAN +3 FETP Frontline One Health workshop in Laos, increasing APCOVE’s engagement with other One Health training opportunities in South-East Asia and confirming the APCOVE Applied One Health Training Program’s fit and complementarity to this existing frontline-focussed technical training.
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APCOVE friends and colleagues, ASEAN +3 FETP Frontline One Health workshop, Laos May 2026
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Activity 4: Teacher and Mentor Training
Update by Deborah McGregor
This activity has reached a significant milestone, with the completion of the co-design of ten eLearning modules to support teacher and mentor capacity building. These modules will be implemented and evaluated by a cohort of 20 Teacher and Mentor Training (TMT) participants from September 2026, before being made openly accessible in 2027.
In another noteworthy achievement, the APCOVE TMT program has been accredited by the Academy of Medical Educators (AoME). This accreditation provides independent validation of the program’s quality, confirming alignment with the Academy’s Professional Standards. AoME accreditation recognises excellence in education and training for medical, dental, and veterinary professionals, further strengthening the program’s credibility and impact.
The APCOVE team also looks forward to showcasing its work at upcoming global forums. Professor Jenny-Ann Toribio has been invited as a plenary speaker at the Global Animal Veterinary Innovative Symposium (GAVIS) 2026, to be held from 21–23 July in Putrajaya. She will present in the Zoonosis & One Health stream, contributing to global discussions on emerging challenges and innovations in animal and public health.
Professor Annette Burgess will present at the Association for the Study of Medical Education (ASME) conference, taking place from 30 June to 2 July 2026. Her oral presentation, Teaching Skills in Veterinary Epidemiology: A Modified Delphi Study, highlights research into the teaching capabilities needed to support high-quality training in veterinary epidemiology.
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Inform APCOVE's GEDSI trainingWe are currently developing Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) components for APCOVE training materials and we would value your feedback.
GEDSI aims to ensure everyone – regardless of gender, ability or social status – can participate in, contribute to and benefit from development.
Why GEDSI matters for APCOVE:
- Improves the quality and relevance of training
- Helps to recognise and respond to different people’s needs
- Supports inclusive participation in training and workforce development
- Strengthens outcomes for diverse communities and contexts
Please take 5-10 minutes to complete our short online feedback form. Your insights will help us to identify GEDSI-related training needs and priorities, improve the relevance and accessibility of APCOVE training, and support more inclusive participation across the project.
Participation is voluntary and anonymous, unless you choose to provide your contact details.
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or scan the QR code with your phone’s camera or a QR scanner app.
Thank you in advance for your feedback!
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Outbreak Investigation Workshop: Perspectives from the fieldby Heng Theng, APCOVE Field Coordinator in Cambodia
The recent Outbreak Investigation Workshop brought together provincial veterinarians from across Cambodia for four days of intensive learning and practical field experience. The workshop combined two days of classroom sessions with two days of field investigation exercises involving both cattle and poultry farms.
Participants expressed strong interest in the hands-on activities, especially the practical sessions on biosafety and biosecurity measures, swab and blood sample collection, and interviewing animal owners. Many participants highlighted that practicing directly in farm settings helped them better understand how to respond during real outbreak situations. The opportunity to work in teams and communicate with farmers was also considered highly valuable, as it strengthened both technical and communication skills.
In classroom discussions, participants actively engaged in designing questionnaires, analyzing field data, and discussing effective approaches for communicating with animal owners and stakeholders during disease investigations. Some participants shared that the workshop improved their confidence in conducting outbreak investigations and interpreting collected data for decision-making.
Overall, the workshop provided an excellent platform for strengthening field epidemiology capacity among provincial veterinarians in Cambodia. Participants appreciated the balance between theory and practice. However, they have recommended similar practical training opportunities in the future to further and more focusing on data collection and analysis to enhance outbreak preparedness and response capacity.
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Applied Field Epidemiology Training, Outbreak Investigation Workshop, Cambodia March 2026
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APCOVE contributes to FAO regional workshop on strengthening the veterinary epidemiology workforceA/Prof Anke Wiethoelter, from APCOVE’s Executive Committee, represented the Consortium at the FAO regional workshop “Building Stronger Veterinary Epidemiology Workforce through FETPV Programmes in Asia-Pacific: Quality, Impact and Collaboration”, held in Bangkok from 12-14 May 2026.
The three-day workshop brought together more than 50 participants from across the Asia-Pacific region. Discussions focused on how Field Epidemiology Training Programmes for Veterinarians (FETPV) can be strengthened to deliver a high-quality, sustainable veterinary epidemiology workforce that is well integrated into national veterinary services.
Through a highly interactive format, participants mapped current ‘pain points’ and identified key enabling factors that make FETPV programmes effective at individual, institutional, and system levels. Sessions explored practical ways to enhance training quality, improve the pathway from training to operational impact, and define feasible options for post-training support to help alumni maintain and apply their competencies. APCOVE looks forward to ongoing collaboration with FAO and regional partners to implement the workshop’s recommendations and further strengthen veterinary epidemiology capacity across the Asia-Pacific.
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FAO Regional Workshop, Bangkok May 2026
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Celebrating our APCOVE colleagues
Congratulations on your graduation, Shumaila!
Congratulations to Dr Shumaila Arif, APCOVE Activity 2 Senior Technical Officer, on completing her Master of Public Health in Data Analytics at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). This significant achievement reflects her commitment to strengthening data-driven approaches in One Health and will further support APCOVE’s work in advancing veterinary epidemiology and capacity development.
APCOVE alumni publication success
Congratulations to APCOVE I alumna Elaine Hevoho on the publication of her project, “Seroprevalence of Japanese Encephalitis in Pigs in Central Province, Papua New Guinea.” The study highlights the importance of integrated One Health surveillance in understanding and managing zoonotic diseases. Conducted as part of the APCOVE Veterinary Field Epidemiology Training program, the work reflects strong collaboration between international and in-country partners - Read more
APCOVE Director joins TEPHINET Steering Committee
A/Prof Navneet Dhand has been selected as a member of the newly established TEPHINET Steering Committee. This appointment recognises his expertise and leadership in the field, and his commitment to strengthening global public health networks. TEPHINET welcomed a distinguished group of professionals to the committee, which will play an important role in guiding the organisation’s strategic direction. TEPHINET is the global network of Field Epidemiology Training Programs (FETPs) building a workforce to protect all people from public health threats - Read more
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| APCOVE Alumna impact story - Ardi Budi Prakoso
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Tell us a bit about yourself
I am Ardi Budi Prakoso (Ardi), and I am incredibly grateful to be an APCOVE alumnus from Cohort 1 (2022-23). My veterinary journey began with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from Universitas Airlangga in 2016. Recently, I returned home to Indonesia equipped with a Master of Science in Animal Science from Aberystwyth University in the UK (2024–25), a milestone made possible by the Chevening Scholarship, funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)
In my current role as a junior expert veterinary officer and authorised veterinarian for the Food and Agriculture Department, Pangkal Pinang City Government, my day-to-day work focuses heavily on infectious disease control in livestock, companion animals, and wildlife to safeguard public health using the One Health framework.
My greatest professional passions lie at the intersection of veterinary epidemiology and antimicrobial stewardship. Ultimately, my ongoing goal is to contribute to meaningful research that addresses antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in livestock and combats infectious diseases like Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD).
What was the most important thing you learned from the APCOVE Field Epidemiology Training?
The most valuable takeaway from the APCOVE programme was learning how to bridge the gap between technical epidemiological research and actionable policy implementation. While the training provided me with a comprehensive foundation across 36 modules, encompassing critical competencies like outbreak investigation, surveillance, data analysis, and risk assessment, it fundamentally shifted my perspective on how data should be used collaboratively. Conducting my APCOVE field project on the clinical investigation and risk factors of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in Pangkal Pinang City was a pivotal learning experience - Read more
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APCOVE I Field Project - FMD in Pangkal Pinang City, Indonesia.
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APCOVE visit strengthens regional tiesDr Anuwat Wiratsudakul, Associate Professor of Epidemiology at Mahidol University (Thailand), recently visited the Sydney School of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney. During his visit, he met with academic and professional staff, including A/Prof Navneet Dhand and Professor Jenny-Ann Toribio, to explore opportunities for collaboration. He also gained insight into the university’s research environment, including the APCOVE project.
Dr Wiratsudakul’s work focuses on zoonotic diseases and the interactions between humans, animals, and the environment. His research integrates epidemiology and spatial analysis to better understand and predict emerging infectious diseases. He is actively engaged in regional and international initiatives, including roles with MoZWE and the Southeast Asia Wildlife Health Network, contributing to public health policy in areas such as rabies, avian influenza, and urban wildlife management. As a passionate teacher who enjoys guiding students, he is also interested in the e-learning resources that APCOVE is currently developing to improve the teaching & mentoring approaches of veterinary epidemiology teachers.
Steve Unwin, Program Manager for the International One Health Program at Wildlife Health Australia, also joined the visit, further strengthening connections within the One Health community. The visit highlighted shared research interests and reinforced the importance of international collaboration in addressing global health challenges. It also provided a valuable opportunity for APCOVE to build relationships that may support future partnerships in capacity development, education, and policy development.
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APCOVE's Navneet Dhand and Jenny-Ann Toribio welcome Anuwat Wiratsudakul and Steve Unwin
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Notes- We publish four newsletters per year—feel free to share this with anyone who might be interested.
- You’re receiving this because you attended an APCOVE training, participated in a workshop, or expressed interest in our programs. If this was forwarded to you and you’d like to subscribe, use the link in the footer to join our mailing list. If you prefer not to receive future newsletters, you can unsubscribe using the same link.
- APCOVE is funded by the Indo-Pacific Centre for Health Security, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australian Government.
- We value your feedback! Share your thoughts at apcove.team@sydney.com.au.
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In case you missed it- From the Director
- APCOVE II Activitie Updates
- Inform GEDSI training
- Outbreak investigation workshop, Cambodia
- FAO regional workshop
- Celebrating our colleagues' successes
- APCOVE Alumna impact story - Ardi
- Strengthening regional ties
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