Hot topics

Protect staff from swine flu with the free vaccine

The Federal Department of Health and Ageing has advised the Trusted Information Sharing Network that the Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza (or swine flu) vaccine will be free to businesses wanting to provide staff vaccination programs.

The pandemic resurfaced in the northern hemisphere earlier than the usual flu season and new cases and deaths are being reported daily. While the number of new cases in Australia has slowed they have not stopped, and new cases of infection with the influenza continue to be reported.

It is inevitable that some tourists arriving over the summer months will be infected with the virus. Staff vaccinations will reduce the chances of infections breaking out in workplaces over the summer months and into the 2010 winter. Vaccination is particularly important for staff considering overseas travel.

There are several corporate providers which can manage vaccination programs. These providers can get the free vaccine from local state or territory health departments.

For more information on the national vaccination program, including contacts for State and Territory health departments, visit www.healthemergency.gov.au, or call the Pandemic Hotline on 180 2007.

(November 2009)

Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (human swine influenza)

For information on the Pandemic H1N1 2009 situation please visit the following websites:

www.healthemergency.gov.au – this site is administered by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing and provides information about health emergencies, specifically H1N1 influenza.

www.flupandemic.gov.au – this site is also administered by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing and provides general information about pandemic influenza. It also provides links to the Australian Health Management Plan for Pandemic Influenza 2008 (AHMPPI), the National Action Plan for Pandemic Influenza (NAP) as well as jurisdictional health authority websites.

www.who.int – this is the official website for the World Health Organisation

The Emergency Management Australia Industry briefs have been discontinued. Archived copies of these briefs can be accessed from the Hot Topics archive 2009 page. Should the Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza situation deteriorate, the Industry Briefs will be reinstated to provide information on developments in Australia and internationally.

A national hotline has been established for anyone with questions about the influenza outbreak – 1802007.

Up to date travel advice can be found at www.smartraveller.gov.au.

Other useful links include:

www.pantrylist.com.au – the pantry list provides information and advice on how to stock your pantry to ensure households have an adequate supply of essential items to cope with a prolonged emergency situation.

www.innovation.gov.au – the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research has developed a Business Continuity Guide and Small Business Kit to help Australian businesses consider what impact a human influenza pandemic might have on their businesses, and actions to put contingency plans in place.

EMA Institute Business Continuity Management Courses

The next Business Continuity Management (BCM) course will run from 31 August to 4 September 2009.

The cost of the course is $2,500, which includes tuition, course materials, accommodation, all meals and transportation from Tullamarine Airport to Mt Macedon and return. Nominations can be made via the website:

(June 2009)

Cyber Storm III

Cyber Storm III is planned for the last quarter of 2010. You can download the fact sheet from the Publications area.

(May 2009)

AHMPPI 2008

The Office of Health Protection, Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, is pleased to provide the Australian Health Management Plan for Pandemic Influenza (AHMPPI) 2008. The AHMPPI and other government pandemic resources are available on the Department of Health and Ageing's Pandemic Influenza website.

Hard copies of the AHMPPI 2008 can be ordered from National Mailing and Marketing (resource code AIC 29)

Phone: (02) 6269 1000
Fax: (02) 6260 2770
Email: nmm@nationalmailing.com.au

(January 2009)

New e-Security reports

The Information Technology Security Expert Advisory Group (ITSEAG) has developed two new reports on defence-in-depth and user access management. It has also updated its report on wireless security.

The Defence-in-Depth report assists the owners and operators of critical infrastructure to enhance the security of their information by providing a practical method for implementing enterprise information security via a systematic, layered approach.

The User Access Management report provides greater detail on the implementation of a key layer within the defence-in-depth approach to enterprise information security - the management of user access to information systems.

The latest revision of the Wireless Security report provides an updated guide to addressing these challenges, centred upon emerging wireless communication standards and protocols.

These reports are available from the e-Security publications page.

(3 November 2008)

Good Security-Good Business

A new edition of the booklet Good Security—Good Business, which aims to help small-to-medium businesses develop risk management and business continuity plans, is now available for download from the organisational resilience publications page.

The second edition includes information on the new National Counter-Terrorism Alert System which was introduced on 1 October 2008.

Please note: Special ordering arrangements are in place for hard copies of Good Security—Good Business.

Follow this link to place orders for up to 10 copies or call 1300 656 863.

For bulk orders (more than 10 copies) please email cip@ag.gov.au or call 02 6272 6138.

(16 October 2008, updated 12 December 2008)

Pandemic influenza planning for the energy industry

The Energy Infrastructure Assurance Advisory Group has developed a guide for human influenza pandemic planning for the energy industry. It is designed to complement existing crisis management and/or business continuity arrangements, and to inform research and contacts with relevant jurisdictions.

The templates can be adapted for use by other industries.

The guide comprises several documents, which can be downloaded from the following links:

Further information can be obtained from the Energy IAAG secretariat by e-mailing eiaag.secretariat@ret.gov.au.

(9 October 2007)

Preparing for pandemic influenza

The Australian Government has prepared a range of tools to help business owners prepare for a human influenza pandemic. These are available from the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research website.

Common questions and answers about Australia’s pandemic preparedness, national medicines stockpile, antiviral drugs and vaccines, quarantine, the ability of the hospital system to cope with a pandemic, the risk of a pandemic occurring, and regional efforts can be found at the Department of Health and Ageing website.

Organisations wishing to plan for the possible impact of an influenza pandemic may find it useful to access the DVD on the Department of Health and Ageing web site, which contains information on infection control and personal protective equipment for respiratory diseases.

Archive

The documents in this archive may have been superseded and are provided as a matter of record only.