*Lessons Learned*

Outreach targeted testing and vaccination have allowed for the communities in the remote locations of the Loddon Mallee region to have access to vaccines, and this has subsequently reduced the burden of adverse events associated with COVID-19 infection. In our report, even though we had a large outbreak, the outcome of infection was excellent, the cases were still able to perform their work, and the productivity of the industry continued.

The trust between the LMPHU, farm management, pathology service, and cultural support made all the difference with the rapid response in screening, contact tracing, and innovative thinking and outbreak management to reduce spread and maintain workforce in this critical sector. The stakeholder engagement and cultural support including translation services for reporting test results were critical in evaluating the risk and extent of the outbreak. This provided the opportunity for the industry to continue to operate with a workforce that was asymptomatic yet RAT positive, and the few negative workers were able to safely quarantine, reducing the spread of infection whilst maintaining the workforce. The farm management and its workers readily embraced the COVIDSafe training for donning and doffing PPE allowing for public health actions to be implemented and complied with. Fostering existing relationships and building new ones with key stakeholders across the Loddon Mallee region was key to managing outbreaks. The collaborations have remained critical in gathering information, providing on-the-ground support, and achieving better outcomes for those impacted.
