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    Xylella

    Protect against unwanted plant pests

    Our biosecurity system helps protects us. Everyone has a role in supporting our biosecurity system.

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Department of Agriculture

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  1. Home
  2. Biosecurity and trade
  3. Biosecurity
  4. Biosecurity in Australia
  5. Public awareness and education
  6. Be a Junior Biosecurity Officer

Sidebar first - Biosecurity

  • Public awareness and education
    • Australian biosecurity webinar series
    • Detect and Protect podcast
      • Series 1 - How our biosecurity system works
      • Series 2 – Detector dogs
    • Australian Biosecurity Awards
      • Current Australian Biosecurity Award recipients
      • Past Australian Biosecurity Award recipients
    • Pacific engagement
      • Exporting to Australia from the Pacific
      • Working together with our Pacific neighbours
      • Australia's biosecurity system
      • Inside the department
        • Meet the team
      • Your local authority
    • Be a Junior Biosecurity Officer
    • Visual resources

Be a Junior Biosecurity Officer

Banner - cartoon images of biosecurity puppies playing and a circled icon with a paw print in the centre, saying "junior biosecurity officer"

Do you like to go on holidays? Help in the garden? Care for animals?

You can help protect our natural world, the food we eat and our pets. Be a Junior Biosecurity Officer!

Read on to learn more and find some fun activities. For kids aged 5 to 10.

What is Biosecurity?

Bio – means living, like a person, an animal or plant.

Security – means to keep things safe.

Biosecurity is how we protect our plants, animals, food and nature.

Can you imagine if you had giant slimy snails in your backyard? Or if lots of smelly brown marmorated stink bugs moved into your house?

These are pests. Pests can make it hard for us to enjoy everyday life. Some pests are bad for our plants and animals too.

We have good news for you! Australia is one of the only places in the world that doesn’t have these pests.

We are lucky to be free from lots of pests and diseases.

But when we travel overseas or send items in the mail, we can bring in pests and diseases.

It’s ok… we can stop them!

How can I be a Junior Biosecurity Officer?

Look out for pests or diseases in food, gifts, mail, luggage, or other items! Tell your family and friends if you see anything.

How you can help

Explore useful learning resources and videos.

Icon of a package with an exclamation mark on top of it

Pests in the mail

See how we check mail when it arrives in Australia.

Icon of a biosecurity detector dog

Our dogs at work

See how dogs like Sam help sniff out pests and diseases.

Icon of an outline of Australia

Across northern Australia

Meet Costa the Garden Gnome and Dirtgirl and learn more about biosecurity in the top end of Australia.

Download these activities

View and download the following activities.

Icon of a beetle

Be a Junior Biosecurity Officer

A colouring in activity sheet to learn about biosecurity.

  • Download PDF - 442 KB
Icon of a pencil

Colour me in

A colouring in activity about our detector dogs.

  • Download PDF - 161 KB
Icon of an aeroplane

Where do threats come from?

An activity sheet where you can learn about where threats come from.

  • Download PDF - 241 KB
Icon of a maze

Follow the maze activities

Two maze activities.

  • Download PDF 1 - 341 KB
  • Download PDF 2 - 983 KB
icon of a magnifying glass

Word find activities

Two word find activities.

  • Download PDF 1 - 734 KB
  • Download PDF 2 - 236 KB
Icon of a pig

Animal diseases

An activity about animal diseases.

  • Download PDF – 328 KB
Icon of a cat sitting next to a food bowl

All about quarantine

An activity sheet to learn more about Australia’s post entry quarantine facility.

  • Download PDF – 337 KB
Icon of pen and paper

Fill in the blanks activity

An activity where you can fill in the blanks and learn about biosecurity.

  • Download PDF - 348 KB

Accessibility

If you are having difficulties accessing these files, visit web accessibility for assistance.

General enquiries

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Last updated: 08 May 2023

© Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.