Topic 4.1 Understanding Biosecurity and Public Health

Biosecurity and public health are fundamental components of infection prevention and control that extend beyond individual clinical practice. While Occupational Therapists (OTs) often focus on supporting the health, wellbeing and occupational participation of individual clients, their practice also contributes to protecting the broader community from infectious diseases. Every decision relating to hand hygiene, environmental cleaning, risk assessment, communication and service delivery contributes to wider public health objectives by reducing opportunities for disease transmission and strengthening community resilience.

Biosecurity refers to the policies, procedures and practices implemented to prevent the introduction, establishment and spread of harmful biological hazards. These hazards include infectious microorganisms affecting humans, animals, plants and the environments they share. Within Australia, biosecurity is recognised as a shared responsibility involving governments, healthcare providers, animal industries, community organisations and individual citizens. Occupational Therapists contribute to biosecurity by implementing evidence-based infection prevention measures, recognising emerging risks, supporting early reporting and promoting safe practices within healthcare and community settings.

Public health complements biosecurity by focusing on improving the health of populations through disease prevention, health promotion and coordinated responses to communicable diseases. Occupational therapy has traditionally emphasised participation, inclusion and wellbeing; however, these outcomes cannot be achieved without safe environments that minimise preventable illness. Public health measures such as vaccination programs, surveillance systems, environmental health initiatives and community education provide the foundation upon which occupational participation can occur safely.

The One Health framework provides an overarching perspective by recognising that human health, animal health and environmental health are inseparable. Infectious diseases frequently cross traditional professional boundaries, with many emerging diseases originating at the interface between people, animals and the environment. Occupational Therapists working alongside assistance animals are uniquely positioned to appreciate these interconnections and to contribute to collaborative approaches that protect both individual clients and the wider community.

This topic introduces the principles of biosecurity and public health, explores Australia’s biosecurity framework and examines the Occupational Therapist’s role in supporting population health through evidence-based infection prevention and One Health-informed practice.

Understanding Biosecurity

Biosecurity is the collection of measures used to prevent, detect and respond to biological threats that may affect human health, animal health, agriculture, biodiversity and the environment.

Biological hazards may include:

• bacteria
• viruses
• fungi
• parasites
• prions
• invasive species
• antimicrobial-resistant organisms.

Effective biosecurity seeks to minimise the introduction and spread of these hazards before they become established within populations or environments.

Biosecurity is therefore preventative rather than reactive, emphasising preparedness, surveillance and early intervention.

The Scope of Biosecurity

Biosecurity extends across numerous sectors including:

• healthcare
• public health
• agriculture
• veterinary medicine
• wildlife conservation
• environmental management
• food production
• border protection
• emergency management.

Although Occupational Therapists may not work directly within many of these sectors, their everyday infection prevention practices contribute to Australia’s broader biosecurity system by reducing opportunities for disease transmission within healthcare and community settings.

Understanding Public Health

Public health focuses on protecting and improving the health of populations rather than treating illness in individual people.

Public health aims to:

• prevent disease
• promote health
• prolong life
• reduce health inequities
• strengthen community wellbeing
• improve environmental conditions
• prepare for public health emergencies.

Unlike clinical healthcare, which generally focuses on individual diagnosis and treatment, public health addresses the underlying factors influencing the health of entire communities.

Core Public Health Functions

Public health activities commonly include:

• communicable disease surveillance
• vaccination programs
• outbreak investigation
• health promotion
• environmental health
• food safety
• occupational health
• emergency preparedness
• disease prevention
• public education.

Many infection prevention activities undertaken by Occupational Therapists align directly with these broader public health objectives.

Australia’s Biosecurity Framework

Australia has one of the world’s most comprehensive biosecurity systems due to its unique biodiversity, geographic isolation and significant agricultural industries.

Australia’s biosecurity framework aims to:

• prevent entry of exotic diseases
• detect biological threats early
• contain outbreaks rapidly
• minimise impacts on human health
• protect livestock and companion animals
• safeguard native wildlife
• preserve environmental health.

Biosecurity responsibilities are shared across Commonwealth, state and territory governments, healthcare providers, veterinary professionals, industry and the general public.

Occupational Therapists contribute by recognising risks within their own professional practice and following relevant organisational and legislative requirements.

The One Health Perspective

Many infectious diseases affecting humans originate in animals or are influenced by environmental change.

Examples include:

• influenza
• COVID-19
• Hendra virus
• Q fever
• avian influenza
• leptospirosis
• salmonellosis.

The One Health framework recognises that preventing these diseases requires collaboration between:

• healthcare professionals
• veterinarians
• public health practitioners
• environmental scientists
• governments
• community organisations.

Occupational Therapists working with assistance animals should consider how their infection prevention decisions influence both human and animal health.

Occupational Therapy and Population Health

Although Occupational Therapy traditionally focuses on individuals, practitioners also contribute to population health.

Examples include:

• educating clients regarding infection prevention
• supporting vaccination access through health promotion
• implementing evidence-based hygiene practices
• promoting accessible healthcare environments
• reducing barriers to public health information
• supporting community participation during outbreaks
• advocating for inclusive public health responses.

Occupational Therapists therefore play an important role in translating public health principles into everyday occupational practice.

Shared Responsibility

Effective biosecurity depends upon shared responsibility.

Occupational Therapists should recognise that protecting community health requires collaboration between:

• clients
• families
• healthcare organisations
• public health agencies
• veterinarians
• educators
• employers
• government
• the wider community.

No single profession can manage biological threats independently.

Shared responsibility is a central principle underpinning both Australian biosecurity policy and the One Health framework.

The Occupational Therapist’s Role

Occupational Therapists contribute to biosecurity and public health by:

• implementing evidence-based infection prevention measures
• recognising biological hazards
• supporting early identification of infectious disease risks
• educating clients and carers
• collaborating with multidisciplinary teams
• promoting accessible public health practices
• supporting One Health initiatives
• balancing public health protection with occupational participation and human rights.

These responsibilities reinforce the Occupational Therapist’s role as both a clinician and a contributor to broader community health.

Key Practice Principle

Biosecurity and public health are shared responsibilities that extend beyond individual healthcare encounters. Occupational Therapists contribute to protecting human, animal and environmental health by implementing evidence-based infection prevention practices, recognising emerging biological risks, collaborating across disciplines and supporting public health initiatives that enable safe, inclusive and meaningful occupational participation within a One Health framework.