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AusTrakka Governance

AusTrakka's governance ensures proper oversight and management of genomic data sharing across Australian jurisdictions while maintaining data security and appropriate custodianship access controls.

AusTrakka Governance Protocol for Pathogen Surveillance​

AusTrakka System
Austrakka Governance Protocol

The AusTrakka Governance Protocol for Pathogen Genomics Surveillance describes the agreement for sharing approved genomic and epidemiological data to AusTrakka. It is built on the principles of collaboration, evidence-based best practice, and adaptability to new advances in technology and improvements in protocols.

The protocol outlines AusTrakka’s principles for:

  • Data custodianship
  • Data sharing
  • Minimum data requirements
  • National surveillance policies
  • Outbreak investigation policies

The protocol was nationally endorsed by the Australian Health Protection Committee (AHPC) in November 2025 and establishes consistent national arrangements for sharing, analysing and reporting pathogen genomic data for national surveillance and outbreak investigations.

Pathogen-specific national routine surveillance protocols​

The AusTrakka Governance Protocol for Pathogen Genomics Surveillance also includes appendices for pathogen-specific national routine surveillance protocols. These appendices outline the specific data sharing and analysis requirements in AusTrakka for each priority pathogen. Currently AusTrakka has pathogen-specific national routine surveillance protocols for:

  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Salmonella Enteritidis

Operational Governance​

The AusTrakka Executive Group (AEG)​

The AEG is the decision-making body responsible for overseeing its operation and governance.

The AEG comprises representatives from public health laboratories (PHLs) across all Australian jurisdictions, the AusTrakka program and at least one representative from the Australian CDC, and relevant AHPC sub-committees where appropriate.

The group ensure the optimal operation of the AusTrakka program in alignment with both current and future national requirements for national pathogen genomics enabled outbreak response and surveillance across Australia and where applicable, New Zealand. This includes:

  • Overseeing the AusTrakka National Analysis Team
  • Managing platform structure and workforce
  • Facilitating analysis requests
  • Reporting on AusTrakka’s outputs to key stakeholders

The AusTrakka National Analysis Team (ANAT)​

The ANAT coordinates the day-to-day operations of AusTrakka and undertakes routine and ad-hoc national genomic analysis and reporting based on sequence data and metadata uploaded to AusTrakka, in line with the requirements of the AusTrakka Governance Protocol for Pathogen Genomic Surveillance.

The ANAT consists of bioinformaticians and genomic epidemiologists and includes representatives from all jurisdictions across Australia.

Collaboration with Australia’s Public Health System​

AusTrakka sits within Australia’s public health ecosystem. As such there are are appropriate communication channels established with the Australian CDC, AHPC and relevant subcommittees including the Communicable Diseases Genomics Network (CDGN) and the Public Health Laboratory Network (PHLN). This ensures that any investigations are approached in a cohesive and integrated manner in the context of work conducted by Public Health Laboratories and Communicable Disease Networks.

AusTrakka is funded by the Australian CDC.