Managing public response during the varroa mite crisis
Issues and risk management | stakeholder management | media managementINDUSTRY: pollination
The client:
The Victorian Government, responding to the incursion of varroa mite; the parasitic mite threatening bee populations and agricultural productivity across the country.
The challenge:
The detection of varroa mite near the Victorian border triggered swift biosecurity measures, including movement restrictions that disrupted almond production and affected local agricultural operations. Working as part of the Incident Response Team in Victoria’s north-west, we were tasked with managing media, public information and stakeholder engagement during a rapidly evolving situation with high operational and community impact.
Our delivery:
Serving as Public Information Officer as part of the Incident Response Team, communications were drafted under pressure:
Responding to media enquiries with clear, coordinated messaging
Leading proactive media briefings and government updates
Monitoring and responding to public sentiment across digital channels
Liaising with growers, apiarists and peak industry bodies
Translating technical biosecurity policy into accessible, accurate information
Our impact:
Amid a volatile, fast-changing situation, we helped the response team maintain credibility and public trust. Accurate information reached the right people at the right time and a complex policy response was made clearer for the communities it affected most.