Exercise management Design Exercise Odysseus was a complex program of activities that required a structured approach to manage its design, planning, conduct and evaluation. In recognition of this, the Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources established the National Exercise and Evaluation Program (NEEP) to coordinate and oversee each phase. The following governance structure was established for the program (Figure 1): A Steering Committee, chaired by a senior executive-level officer from the Australian Government Department of Agriculture. A Planning Team, also chaired by a senior executive-level officer from the Australian Government Department of Agriculture. National-level Working Groups, chaired by NEEP staff: Exercise Odysseus - Writing (Scenario) Group Exercise Odysseus - Communication Working Group Exercise Odysseus - Evaluation Working Group. Figure Exercise Odysseus governance structure and functions Reaching agreement on a common governance structure and arrangements early in the program ensured all program activities were designed, planned, conducted and evaluated in a coordinated and consistent manner. This was assisted by training provided by the Australian Emergency Management Institute (AEMI) in Exercise Management, undertaken by a number of planning team members. Exercise Odysseus was designed as a graduated series of jurisdictional and national discussion activities, supplemented by one or more state and territory-based field activities. Contributions from jurisdictions and industry organisations to the exercise program were in kind, using existing physical and financial resources, with jurisdictions and industry organisations funding their own participation in the exercise program. This was an important consideration in the planning and conduct of activities. The Department of Agriculture funded travel and accommodation costs for members of the Planning Team and Working Groups to assist with participation in face-to-face meetings. Planning During the planning phase, the Planning Team developed and the Steering Committee agreed on the exercise’s aim, objectives, scope, participants and style. It was recognised that not all government agencies and industry organisations would have the same needs and that their objectives could differ slightly to the national objectives, outlined in Part One of this report. Accordingly, flexibility was built into the program, allowing each jurisdiction and industry organisation to develop sub-objectives (see Appendix) and to determine which elements of a national livestock standstill would be exercised, when and how.
Exercise management Design Exercise Odysseus was a complex program of activities that required a structured approach to manage its design, planning, conduct and evaluation. In recognition of this, the Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources established the National Exercise and Evaluation Program (NEEP) to coordinate and oversee each phase. The following governance structure was established for the program (Figure 1): A Steering Committee, chaired by a senior executive-level officer from the Australian Government Department of Agriculture. A Planning Team, also chaired by a senior executive-level officer from the Australian Government Department of Agriculture. National-level Working Groups, chaired by NEEP staff: Exercise Odysseus - Writing (Scenario) Group Exercise Odysseus - Communication Working Group Exercise Odysseus - Evaluation Working Group. Figure Exercise Odysseus governance structure and functions Reaching agreement on a common governance structure and arrangements early in the program ensured all program activities were designed, planned, conducted and evaluated in a coordinated and consistent manner. This was assisted by training provided by the Australian Emergency Management Institute (AEMI) in Exercise Management, undertaken by a number of planning team members. Exercise Odysseus was designed as a graduated series of jurisdictional and national discussion activities, supplemented by one or more state and territory-based field activities. Contributions from jurisdictions and industry organisations to the exercise program were in kind, using existing physical and financial resources, with jurisdictions and industry organisations funding their own participation in the exercise program. This was an important consideration in the planning and conduct of activities. The Department of Agriculture funded travel and accommodation costs for members of the Planning Team and Working Groups to assist with participation in face-to-face meetings. Planning During the planning phase, the Planning Team developed and the Steering Committee agreed on the exercise’s aim, objectives, scope, participants and style. It was recognised that not all government agencies and industry organisations would have the same needs and that their objectives could differ slightly to the national objectives, outlined in Part One of this report. Accordingly, flexibility was built into the program, allowing each jurisdiction and industry organisation to develop sub-objectives (see Appendix) and to determine which elements of a national livestock standstill would be exercised, when and how.