Archived Media Release
8 Juni 2006
Australia and Indonesia Working Together in APEC Pandemic Response Exercise 2006
Australia and Indonesia have been working together in a regional simulation exercise to test and strengthen emergency communication across the 21 economies of APEC in the event of a human influenza pandemic. The exercise took place on 7-8 June 2006.
Senior officials from relevant agencies around the region made real-time decisions based on a hypothetical scenario. From their usual work places, they shared information and communicated as they would in a real pandemic situation – although there were no field operations associated with the exercise.
The exercise –‘APEC Pandemic Response Exercise 2006’ – was a key initiative under the APEC Action Agenda endorsed by the APEC leaders last year and part of Australia’s $100 million regional assistance package over four years to combat the threat of pandemics and other emerging infectious diseases within the region.
The exercise involved emergency management, health and Government officials from all APEC economies and several international observers, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
This simulation exercise was led by Australia under the auspices of the APEC Taskforce on Emergency Preparedness, which Indonesia co-chairs with Australia. Indonesia participated in the exercise as a ‘primary’ participant.
All 21 members of APEC participated with Chile, China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Chinese Taipei and Viet Nam also taking an active role in the scenario as ‘primary’ participants. Other APEC members – Brunei, Canada, Hong Kong China, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore, Thailand and the US will share in the information learned from the exercise.
Singapore was a co-facilitator of the exercise and will host a ‘Lessons Learned’ workshop for participants and observers in August.
The exercise, funded by AusAID, was coordinated from Emergency Management Australia’s headquarters in Canberra. Emergency Management Australia and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade are lead agencies.
Further information:
Joanna Adamson (Counsellor Public Affairs) tel. 021 2550 5290, mob. 0811 194 144