About ACERA
The Australian Centre of Excellence for Risk Analysis
The Australian Centre of Excellence for Risk Analysis (ACERA) was established in the School of Botany at the University of Melbourne on March 1st, 2006, a result of a Federal Government election commitment. It will develop the practice of risk analysis by creating and testing methods, protocols, analytical tools and procedures. Its work will aim to benefit Government and the broader Australian community.
The Centre’s funding agreement is managed by the Bureau of Rural Sciences in the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Federal Government and partner contributions, including from the University of Melbourne, the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute and the Australian Research Centre for Urban Ecology, provide funding of close to $2 million per year until June 30, 2009.
ACERA is a research network including initially the University of Queensland, the University of New South Wales, Monash University and the CSIRO. It will draw on expertise throughout Australia and overseas.
The objectives of ACERA are to:
- research and develop state-of-the-art risk analysis methods across areas of interest to the Australian community. An early priority for the Centre will be the biosecurity risks confronting Australia
- engage the range of skills and sciences relevant to the analysis of risk, to ensure that Australia remains at the forefront of practical risk assessment. These skills and sciences relevant to the communication and perception of and response to risk
- document and communicate research findings to ensure governments and others engaged in risk analysis have access to state-of-the-art risk analysis methods and raise the community’s understanding of risk
- work to promote excellence in risk analysis in Australia
- work with the government in influencing international standards in risk analysis.
View the Research Strategy Rationalisation paper.
View ACERA's promotional flyer.