30 mins
WA
The Queensland Biosecurity Ambassador Program is calling for industry and community representatives who want to make a tangible difference in safeguarding our environment, economy, communities and lifestyle from biosecurity threats.
Biosecurity Ambassadors play a key role in raising awareness, promoting best practices, fostering community engagement in good biosecurity measures and encouraging proactive actions to protect Queensland.
The Queensland Biosecurity Ambassador Program will appoint 9 new Biosecurity Ambassadors across Queensland in 2026 to champion biosecurity and play a key role in safeguarding Queensland from plant and animal pests and diseases.
In this cohort, successful ambassadors will include young people aged 18 to 25 and regionally based ambassadors, ensuring a broad representation of voices and perspectives from across Queensland.
Ambassadors help to raise the profile of biosecurity by attending up to 4 events during their 18-month tenure, including workshops, community meetings, agricultural shows and/or industry conferences to deliver impactful messages and engage with communities and stakeholders.
Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Deputy Director-General and Chief Biosecurity Officer Dr Rachel Chay said the program empowered Queenslanders to take a proactive role in protecting the state’s future.
“Biosecurity is everyone’s responsibility, and this program gives passionate Queenslanders the opportunity to lead by example,” Dr Chay said.
“The 2026 program includes both young and regional ambassadors, recognising the impact these champions will have across the biosecurity system.
“Biosecurity Ambassadors are empowered with the knowledge and tools to identify biosecurity risks, raise awareness and encourage those they engage with to take action to prevent the spread of plant and animal pests and diseases.”
Andrew Williams, a current Biosecurity Ambassador and a local government Invasive Animal Officer, said the program had empowered him to make a difference in his community.
“The program has given me the opportunity to reach out to different networks and make some solid connections. Every connection we make is an advantage to our biosecurity system to protect our state,” Mr Williams said.
“Some highlights for me involved the Gold Coast youth and emerging professional networks; there had been a real lack of engagement around invasive animal issues, so I found it really rewarding to help educate them and dispel some of the myths. The feedback has been really positive.”
Applications close 20 April 2026.
More information
Learn more about the Queensland Biosecurity Ambassador Program and apply to become an ambassador.
Contact
Email [email protected]
This article was originally published on the Queensland Department of Primary Industries website.