Indonesian animal science students build skills and relationships in the Northern Territory

The Indonesia-Northern Territory Biosecurity Program (INTBP) is a development program for young Indonesian animal science students to build skills and relationships across industry and governments in the Northern Territory and Indonesia with a focus on improving biosecurity practices in Indonesia. It entails 4 weeks of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) animal science students in the Northern Territory in Australia, where they spend time in a biosecurity laboratory, livestock research station, live export facilities and cattle stations. Students have received training in cultural awareness, biosecurity, OH&S and animal handling and after returning to Indonesia the students will develop and implement biosecurity projects to utilise their new knowledge.

The four students that participated in this program visited Katherine Research Station (KRS) in mid-March and learned about how livestock biosecurity is monitored in the Top End. KRS staff treated them to a working dog demo, visit to Eva Valley Meats and they learned about managing soil and pasture from local producers.

Pictured: The students with KRS technical officer Will and his dogs, and the students got to meet some friendly bovines at the research station.