Think Tank with Bonny Cumming

Dr Bonny Cumming from AMRRIC challenged us to think differently about how we design sustainable surveillance. A key principle from AMRRIC is “no survey without service” — if communities contribute their knowledge, time, access and participation, there should be tangible value for them in return.

Bonny’s message was that disease detection is an outcome of system design. Surveillance depends on relationships, trust, local capability and participation. These aren’t separate from surveillance; they help create the conditions for it to work.

The AMRRIC Biosecurity Pilot Project demonstrated this in practice. By combining animal health services with local partnerships, training, employment and data collection, the project delivered both biosecurity outcomes and tangible local benefits.

Across 25 communities, it trained 126 people, generated 328 days of employment, surveyed 7,945 animals and treated 7,398.

The lesson for Australia is an important one: we don’t need to choose between good surveillance and community benefit. When activities are designed with communities, rather than simply for them, the two can reinforce each other.