Peta-Anne Zimmerman1
1Graduate Infection Prevention and Control Program, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Griffith University
Biography:
Dr Peta-Anne Zimmerman is an internationally respected clinician, educator and researcher in infection prevention and control. Dr Zimmerman’s experience includes consultancy work with the World Health Organization (WHO), the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), AusAID, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Pacific Community (SPC). Her expertise has led her to work extensively in China, South East Asia, and the South Pacific, directly on outbreak response, and the development of comprehensive infection prevention and control programmes, infrastructure development and renovation, and integration of public health and acute care response in infectious disease emergencies in low- and middle-income country settings. Peta-Anne is a Board Director of the Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control (ACIPC), ACIPC representative and senior faculty for the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN), and member of the ACIPC Credentialling and Professional Practices (CAPS) Committee.
Peta-Anne directs the Graduate Infection Prevention and Control Program at Griffith University and is a Visiting Research Fellow with the Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service, Australia. Her research focus is infection prevention and control, public health, and outbreak response, including novel approaches to the teaching and learning of this discipline, and health education in general.
Abstract:
In alignment with the WHO GOARN Strategy 2022–2026, the Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control (ACIPC) advanced its role in global outbreak preparedness and response throughout 2025. ACIPC contributed to GOARN’s strategic themes of capacity strengthening, collaborative response, and workforce development through targeted training, mentoring, and operational engagement. Key achievements included delivery of Tier 1.5 training to over 40 professionals, senior faculty leadership in Tier 2 simulation training for the sixth time, and regional mentoring initiatives with KDCA and APHSAF. ACIPC also participated in global coordination forums and supported outbreak operations across multiple regions. This voluntary engagement enhances member access to international deployment pathways, strengthens IPC leadership in the Western Pacific Region, and supports GOARN’s mission to deliver timely, community-centred public health responses. The presentation will outline ACIPC’s contributions, member benefits, and future goals aligned with GOARN’s strategic priorities.