- Celebrating 10 years of Biosecurity Blitz and the MyPestGuide Reporter app
- Western Australian's encouraged to sign up to become citizen scientists
- Community reporting vital part of Western Australia's biosecurity defences
Western Australians are encouraged to become citizen scientists and sign up for the State's annual Biosecurity Blitz, as National Biosecurity Week kicks off around the country.
National Biosecurity Week highlights the vital role biosecurity plays in protecting our environment, agriculture industries and food supply, economy, and way of life.
The annual awareness week provides a great opportunity to focus on the crucial role community reporting plays as part of the State's biosecurity defences.
This year, WA is celebrating 10 years of community-based reporting of pests and diseases to help protect Western Australia's environment, agriculture and aquatic industries.
October will mark 10 years since the launch of the MyPestGuide Reporter app and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development's (DPIRD) annual Biosecurity Blitz.
The MyPestGuide Reporter app has become a critical tool empowering Western Australians to report pests and contribute directly to protecting WA's environment and primary industries.
First launched in 2015, thousands of reports have been made by farmers, agronomists and citizens using the suite of MyPestGuide tools.
This information has been crucial part of WA's surveillance program as well as demonstrating the absence of pest and diseases to protect the State's market access.
Biosecurity Blitz will run from 16 October to 16 November 2025 and will focus on community-powered surveillance.
To sign up to this year's Biosecurity Blitz, visit DPIRD's website www.dpird.wa.gov.au/biosecurityblitz
MyPestGuide Reporter app is available to download for free from Google Play and Apple App Store
As stated by Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis:
"National Biosecurity Week is a great opportunity to highlight Western Australia's robust surveillance and reporting systems and how community reports help build a stronger biosecurity system and support early detection efforts.
"It's also a timely moment to celebrate a decade of community-driven vigilance and innovation through the MyPestGuide Reporter app and Biosecurity Blitz.
"The MyPestGuide Reporter app is a fantastic community surveillance tool which is easy to use to make reports anywhere from the paddock or the backyard.
"Every report made - whether it finds something or not - helps build a clearer picture of pest presence or absence in Western Australia.
"I encourage all Western Australians to become citizen scientists and sign up early to join this year's Biosecurity Blitz to help protect the State from invasive pests and diseases."
