Former Howard Springs Quarantine Facility boss Abigail Trewin poached by Victoria

Victoria has poached the woman who kept Territorians safe throughout 2020, running the Howard Springs International Quarantine Facility.

VICTORIA has poached the woman who kept Territorians safe throughout 2020, running the Howard Springs International Quarantine Facility.

Abigail Trewin was director of disaster preparedness and response at the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre.

Now Ms Trewin has been hired to help co-ordinate the construction of Victoria’s dedicated quarantine ­facility.

The state-run facility is expected to cost at least $200m to build and could be open to overseas arrivals by the end of the year.

It comes after the management of the Howard Springs quarantine site was handed over from the federal government to the Territory government.

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Construction of the Victorian village, which will be funded by the state and federal governments, would start in September with an aim to open in January.

Ms Trewin will also be responsible for overseeing the operational management and performance of Vic­toria’s quarantine hotels and airport operations.

She said she was thrilled to be joining Covid-19 Quarantine Victoria and impressed by the work ­already under way.

“I’ve had the opportunity to visit some hotel sites and engage with staff, and I’m delighted to be a part of this critical program and the Victorian government response to COVID-19,” she said.

Former Howard Springs Quarantine Facility head Abigail Trewin is heading to Victoria to run the State’s new quarantine facility. Picture: Che Chorley

CQV Victoria state controller commissioner Emma Cassar said Ms Trewin’s experience at Howard Springs would prove invaluable.

“We are excited and pleased to have someone of Abigail’s calibre and expertise joining,” Ms Cassar said.

“We look forward to the immense contribution she will make to the Victorian hotel quarantine program.”

Ms Trewin is also Chair of the World Health Organisation’s Emergency Medical Team Highly Infectious Disease Working Group – Coordination and Operations.