APCOVE Newsletter
September, 2025
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| Timor Leste Stakeholder Consultations 21-22 August 2025
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Dear APCOVE Community,
As we move through the third quarter of 2025, I'm delighted to share the remarkable progress we've achieved across all four APCOVE activities. This edition highlights the tangible impact of our collaborative efforts in strengthening veterinary epidemiology capacity throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
Our project teams have been exceptionally active, conducting critical stakeholder consultations in Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste that will shape tailored training programs for these nations. Meanwhile, our 2025 cohort of 80 trainees from Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines continues to excel in their intermediate field epidemiology training, approaching the completion of their online components before transitioning to face-to-face workshops and field projects.
The One Health activity has reached important milestones, with comprehensive workforce assessments completed in the Philippines and Vietnam. Our teacher and mentor training initiative continues to advance with innovative eLearning modules for veterinary epidemiology educators taking shape through our dedicated co-design teams.
I'm particularly proud to celebrate Professor Jenny-Ann Toribio's prestigious 2025 Kesteven Medal and the inspiring impact story from Indonesia's Isnaniah Bagenda, which demonstrates the real-world impact of our training programs. We're also pleased to introduce three dedicated field coordinators from Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam who are essential to our country-level coordination.
As we prepare for the intensive face-to-face training phases ahead and continue deepening our partnerships across our eight partner countries, I remain grateful for the dedication of our consortium partners, country coordinators, and trainees who make this vital work possible.
Thank you for your continued commitment to building a more resilient and capable veterinary workforce across the Asia-Pacific.
Warm regards,
Navneet Dhand
Director, APCOVE
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APCOVE Phase II ActivitiesPhase II aims to strengthen the capabilities of the animal health workforce across the Asia-Pacific region, equipping them to effectively prevent, detect, and respond to disease outbreaks. Over the last quarter, we have made significant progress in achieving this objective through the following key activities:
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Activity 1 Update: Applied Field Epidemiology Training Led by Prof Joerg Henning
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In July and August 2025, APCOVE advanced its work under Activity 1 with country-level capacity assessments aimed at strengthening field veterinary epidemiology capacities across the region. These assessments are providing an evidence base for the development of tailored training programs that respond to country-specific needs. The process brings together government agencies, academic institutions, and animal health professionals to examine outbreak investigation and response capacity, identify existing strengths, and highlight areas where further support and training are required. Insights from these consultations will guide the design of upcoming training programs and ensure that they address priority gaps in field epidemiology practice.
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| Activity 2 Update: Intermediate Field Epidemiology Training Led by A/Prof Navneet Dhand
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Since the June edition of the newsletter, the 2025 cohort of 80 trainees, comprising 20 participants each from Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines, has successfully completed Competency C, Surveillance and Data Analysis, and Competency D, Risk Assessment and Disease Control. This month, they are completing Competency E, One Health and Biosecurity. The online training continues to progress well, with each competency introduced through an opening session led by the competency leader and followed by an interactive session delivered by invited experts. The interactive session for Competency C was led by Dr Khairina Akmar Binti from Malaysia and Dr Yuni Yupiana from Indonesia. At the same time, Competency D was supported by contributions from Dr Nguyen Thanh Lam from Vietnam and Dr John Weaver from Australia. For Competency E, the interactive session featured Dr Michelle Wille from the University of Melbourne and Dr Melanie Pescadilla from the Philippines. Trainees will complete the online component in October, before advancing to the face-to-face workshops scheduled for November and December in Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
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| Activity 3 Update: One Health Training Led by Dr Caitlin Pfeiffer
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Since our last newsletter, APCOVE’s One Health activity has focused on detailed consultations with each of our partner countries about strengths and gaps in the One Health skillsets of sub-national workforces across human health, animal health and environmental sectors. In this process, each country has convened a group of experts in the current state of the One Health workforce, representing the different sectors and stakeholders relevant to One Health. These expert groups are participating in two surveys and two virtual workshop sessions to share their perspectives. Discussion focuses on gaps that are common across sectors in each country, and how ‘core’ (non-technical) competencies of One Health, such as communication, collaboration and leadership, can help in advancing One Health. This work has already been completed in the Philippines and Vietnam and is scheduled to be completed in the six other APCOVE partner countries by the end of 2025. We thank every contributor for their time and insights, and look forward to being able to share a regional overview, integrating results from all eight contributing countries, which will serve as the foundation for the training curriculum for APCOVE’s One Health training program to be delivered in 2026 and 2027
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| Activity 4 Update:
Epidemiology Teacher and Mentor Training Co-Led by Prof Annette Burgess and Prof Jenny-Ann Toribio
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Now wrapping up Phase 1 of Activity 4, we have determined the core competencies required for university and government veterinary epidemiology educators in the region. With input from 25 APCOVE members from across eight countries, we identified five domains encompassing 27 core competencies: Design and plan learning, 2) Teach and facilitate learning, 3) Assess learning and development, 4) Educational scholarship and evidence-based practice, 5) Mentorship and educational leadership. In August, Annette Burgess, Professor of Medical Education, Sydney Medical School, presented an update on the project at the International Association for Health Professions Education (AMEE) 8th International Conference on Faculty Development held in Barcelona, and also discussed findings at an AMEE symposium “Glocalization in Action: Exploring Opportunities for Advancing Innovations for Locally Relevant Education Practices Informed by Global Insights”. Phase 2 of this activity is now well underway, with 10 module teams involved in the co-design of the online Teacher and Mentor training package.
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Stakeholder Consultations in PNG and Timor-Leste
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APCOVE conducted stakeholder consultations in Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Timor-Leste (TL) in collaboration with national partners to understand the current epidemiologic capacity and identify the gaps.
In PNG, focus group discussions were held from 14 to 16 July 2025 by Professor Joerg Henning (University of Queensland), Professor Naomi Cogger and Dr Katja Isaksen (Massey University, New Zealand), and Professor Bruce Gummow (James Cook University, Australia), in partnership with the National Agriculture & Quarantine Inspection Authority (NAQIA) and the PNG APCOVE project leader, Andy Yombo. A total of 15 participants contributed to discussions on local outbreak response and training needs.
In Timor-Leste, focus group discussions took place between 21 and 22 August 2025, led by Professor Joerg Henning (UQ) and Professor Marta Hernandez-Jover (Charles Sturt University, Australia), in collaboration with Universidade Nacional Timor Lorosa’e (UNTL) and the Direção Nacional de Veterinária (DNV), and supported by the TL project leader, Abrao Pereira. These sessions engaged 26 participants, offering valuable perspectives on current response systems and future capacity building.
The focus group discussions in both countries provided an opportunity to evaluate outbreak investigation and response capacity, highlight priority training gaps, and design programs tailored to local needs. In addition, APCOVE teams met with project coordinators to plan a questionnaire survey with the frontline veterinary workforce and discuss the structure and logistics of four six-month mentored field research projects to be implemented in each country.
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Celebrating Professor Jenny-Ann Toribio: A Leader in Veterinary Epidemiology and Education
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We are delighted to celebrate the outstanding achievements of Professor Jenny-Ann Toribio, Co-Lead of APCOVE Activity 4 – Teacher and Mentor Training, who was recently presented with the prestigious 2025 Kesteven Medal at Vet Science Week 2025.
This accolade, awarded by the Australian Veterinary Association and the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists, recognises her distinguished service in international veterinary science, particularly her technical and scientific support for assistance to low- and middle-income countries.
Professor Toribio's dedication to strengthening veterinary epidemiology capacity across the Asia Pacific region is evident through her extensive work in research, capacity building, and training.
Currently, Professor Toribio is actively contributing to the co-design of APCOVE eLearning modules, aimed at enhancing teaching and mentoring in veterinary education. These modules are being developed in collaboration with APCOVE partners in Vietnam, Laos, Timor-Leste, Cambodia, the Philippines, and Indonesia.
Read the full University of Sydney article here: https://www.sydney.edu.au/sydney-southeast-asia-centre/latest-news/news/2025/08/11/veterinary-epidemiologist-honoured-for-global-impact.html
Congratulations, Professor Jenny-Ann Toribio! Well-deserved recognition for her unwavering commitment to advancing veterinary science and education across the Asia Pacific.
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Collaborating for One Health: APCOVE at the Canberra Symposium
In June, a number of APCOVE’s Australian consortium partners attended the One Health Symposium 2025 in Canberra, Australia. At this event hosted by the interim Australian Centre for Disease Control in partnership with the Australian Government’s One Health Network, experts across Australian Government, state and territory governments, academia, industry and non-profit organisations came together to explore some of Australia’s most pressing health and ecological challenges. APCOVE’s participation in this event recognises the important role our consortium members are playing in advancing One Health approaches at both the country and regional levels. We thank the interim Australian CDC for the opportunity to be involved and look forward to ongoing collaborations.
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Dr Sandra Steele, APCOVE One Health Senior Technical Officer, with APCOVE consortium partners A/Prof Victoria Brookes and Prof Jane Heller.
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Tell us a bit about yourself
I am Isnaniah Bagenda, a participant in the APCOVE Epi Training Batch 1. The journey started from studying independently through e-learning modules until being selected to represent Indonesian participants on a visit to fellows at Melbourne University and Murdoch University for 4 weeks.
As a veterinarian, I work for the Animal Health Centre of the Agriculture and Food Department, Polewali Mandar Regency, West Sulawesi Province, Indonesia.
Apart from being a veterinarian, I also hold a managerial position as head of the animal health centre unit since 2009, with a working area covering 16 sub-districts and 167 villages.
My role as head of the animal health centre, commanding the duties of veterinarians and paravets in animal health services in the work area.
I also serve as a Regional i-SIKHNAS Coordinator, Regional Veterinary Authority Official (POV), and as a member of the Indonesian Veterinary Medical Association (PDHI), as well as a member of the non-territorial organisations AEEVI (Indonesian Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics Association), ASKESMAVETI (Indonesian Veterinary Public Health Association) and AMERVI (Indonesian Reproductive Medicine Association).
What was the most important thing you learned from the APCOVE Field Epidemiology Training?
Batch 1 training, which began in January 2022, has opened up invaluable opportunities for me as a veterinarian who deals with animal diseases daily. I was able to learn directly from 40 APCOVE epidemiologists from veterinary schools in Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and the Asia-Pacific region. It was truly remarkable. Six months of independent study of e-modules, followed by a six-month field project and writing a scientific article, have provided tremendous benefits to my confidence in controlling animal diseases in my work area.
Epidemiological studies, not the only thing I got in this training, but improving the ability to pair field experience with the science of epidemiology is really interesting. Building networks with fellow participants from the Asia Pacific countries has also increased my capacity to develop appropriate strategies in animal disease situations, which are currently a national priority to eradicate.
The title of my field project is a Benefit-Cost Analysis of Brucellosis Vaccination Program in Beef Cattle in Polewali Mandar Regency, West Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. I chose this study because the prevalence of brucellosis in my area continues to increase annually, but no control measures have been implemented due to limited local government funding. I have presented the results of this study to the regional head and will soon be authorised to implement control measures. Making a real contribution to controlling animal diseases in my work area is my biggest goal after completing this training
How have you applied or used these skills in your work?
During this training, I was tasked to coordinate the control of the Jembrana, FMD and ASF outbreaks that occurred simultaneously in my work area, where we had to implement control measures with a limited number of animal health officers. Leadership skills in mobilising our officers are crucial for initiating action and coordinating with all relevant government agencies. Implementing Modules A through F, Leadership, in the e-learning module, really helped me achieve this, and I felt like I was simulating this series of modules. Interesting, isn't it? And the proudest moment we have controlled, even though there are sometimes small outbreaks of cases, until now.
In the last 2 years, there has been an increase in reports of animal diseases in my work area. The ability to detect disease is part of this training, and our animal health officers continue to do so by reporting animal diseases through the ISIKHNAS application as an early warning system that greatly supports us in detecting the emergence of priority animal diseases.
My main target after training is to deliver what I have learned to all animal health workers in the work area, directly in animal health service activities.
I have built an integrated animal health service innovation for farmers who are members of farmer groups and have gone through several special classes through this innovation, and am very happy to be able to do this for them.
This training has built my confidence when I had the opportunity in 2023 to be selected as a facilitator in a training program to increase the capacity of animal health workers for the prevention, mitigation, and management of infectious animal disease outbreaks in Indonesia, supported by the Indonesian Association of Veterinary Faculties (AFKHI). At another time, I also served as a field facilitator in the Integrated Outbreak Investigation Training with a One Health Approach, organised by the Ministry of Health in my work area.
Along with two APCOVE Batch 1 participants, I was invited by Murdoch University-Harry Butler Institute to present on the APCOVE module to participants at the ASEAN-Australia One Health Fellowship Program workshop in Bali, Indonesia, in November 2023.
Furthermore, this training has led me to improve the quality of animal health services, and I have been awarded as the Best Veterinarian in West Sulawesi Province in 2023 and 2024, and as the Second Best Veterinarian in the Public Service Government category from the Indonesian Veterinary Medical Association (PDHI).
Have you developed any guidelines, SOPs, or implemented significant changes in your department as a result?
I created a non-digital-based animal health service innovation in 2020 and developed it in 2024 by compiling a guideline in the form of a module, one part of which also encourages farmers to be responsive in reporting disease incidents and to be able to implement biosecurity by utilising their respective local potential. From 2024 to 2025, I have implemented this module in several technical guidance meetings for poultry, goat and cattle farmers for the village food security program.
In 2024, I participated in the Workshop on Preparation (Review) of Technical Guidance Materials for Investigation of Animal Diseases FMD and LSD, as well as the Indonesian Veterinary Field Epidemiology Program (PELVI), Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Indonesia.
What advice would you give to current APCOVE trainees?
This training is quite rare, and it may be challenging for everyone to obtain. However, nothing is impossible for people as optimistic as you. This is about how to find your own qualities as an expert in handling animal diseases, which is your main task. The learning material in this module is very interesting, supported by videos and articles, and is indeed suitable for supporting your work. You have easily been given access to independent learning.
Manage your time to complete your studies as best as possible with your main assignments, be sure that this is a valuable opportunity that does not come twice.
If you encounter any difficulties in completing the module, utilize the communication media that has been prepared to connect with other training participants and during the interactive session, the experts are really looking forward to discussing with you.
Keep working hard to complete your tasks so that the results of your study can also be presented at international conferences. I and several participants from Batch 1 were sponsored by this program to present the results of our field project at ISVEE 17 Sydney in November 2024. From this program, I have also learned a lot about writing scientific studies based on the results of investigating cases of infectious animal diseases in my region, and I have presented these findings at several national conferences in Indonesia.
If you have been asked to prepare your field proposal, choose a theme related to animal health issues in your work area. The scientific study you will conduct can serve as a policy consideration for your local government. This is the main objective of this training.
A little progress each day, adds up to big results.
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Introducing APCOVE Field Coordinator
We are pleased to introduce our field coordinators from Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam in this edition of the newsletter. In future editions, we will continue to introduce the field coordinators from the remaining APCOVE countries.
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Chyna Yong Suit-B- Malaysia
Chyna Yong Suit-B is a veterinarian and researcher with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) and a PhD in Epidemiology and Public Health from Universiti Putra Malaysia. She specializes in One Health, veterinary epidemiology, zoonotic disease surveillance, and qualitative research. Driven by her love for nature and wildlife, her work focuses on the human-animal-environment interface and in bridging research, policy, and practice in One Health.
She is currently a part-time Country Officer for APCOVE Malaysia. She also serves as a consultant for FAO as the AMR One Health and Environment Specialist for Asia Pacific, supporting regional and global initiatives and providing technical guidance on AMR.
Her previous experience includes leading wildlife health systems assessments and contributing to other One Health and transboundary animal disease programs as a SEAOHUN Fellow at WOAH SRR SEA, conducting systematic review for the WHO guideline on zoonotic disease risk mitigation in traditional food markets, and carrying out policy analysis and key informant interviews to inform global strategies on pandemic prevention for the Lancet-PPATS Commission on Prevention of Viral Spillover. An enthusiast for interdisciplinary collaboration, she is actively involved in professional connecting veterinary, public health, and One Health communities.
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Dea D. Novita- Indonesia
Dea D. Novita is an English Education graduate currently working as an academic staff at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia. Aside from being the field coordinator for the APCOVE Indonesian team, she handles International Undergraduate Program affairs and Students' Mobility abroad for inbound and outbound activities. You may also find her taking freelance teaching and translating jobs. She loves reading and expressing a strong interest in issues revolving around women's empowerment, human rights, justice, education, literature, and the environment. She can be contacted through deadwinovita12@gmail.com.
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Khanh Quoc Khong- Vietnam
Khanh Quoc Khong is a researcher at the Institute of Environmental Health and Sustainable Development (IEHSD), Vietnam. With over five years of research experience, Khanh has served as a member of IEHSD, where he has designed and participated in projects on various topics such as biorisk management, risk communication and community engagement, One Health economics, animal welfare, gender-responsive technical solutions, wildlife value chains, food safety, antimicrobial resistance, and local solutions for plastic pollution in Vietnam.
Khanh earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Vietnamese Studies and Development Science from Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
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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's Desk
- APCOVE Phase II Activities Updates
- Stakeholder Consultations in PNG and Timor-Leste
- Celebrating Prof Jenny- Ann Toribio: A Leader in Veterinary Epidemiology and Education
- Collaborating for One Health: APCOVE at the Canberra Symposium
- APCOVE Impact Story – Isnaniah Bagenda, INDONESIA
- Introducing APCOVE Field Coordinator
- Notes
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