The AEPMA National Office will be closed over the Christmas and New Year period from Wednesday 22nd December – Monday 10th January 2022.

During this time however we will be still monitoring our emails and will do our best to answer any questions in a timely fashion!   

If you have an urgent enquiry, please contact our Executive Director Stephen Ware on 0418 976 643

Pest Doctors – Winner of the Micro Category 

Tell us a little about Pest Doctors? 

Pest Doctors is a family owned and operated company working in the greater SE Queensland area. We offer a wide range of services to all our clients from standard pest control, Termite treatments, birds and possums to name a few. We Service Domestic, commercial and Heritage properties. Being diverse has really helped us to navigate the ever changing market pressures due to Covid. We aim to offer our customers the highest level of service. 

How was this year’s judging process? 

This years judging was a little difference to previous years. We were super excited to hear we had been chosen for the top 3 in the Micro category. Due to work commitments we had to complete our video interview onsite at a cafe which comes with its own challenges. The whole process works well and allows us to really review our business on multiple levels.

Any tips for next year’s nominees? 

Go for it, don’t let the opportunity pass you by. The greatest thing with the Pest Manager of the Year award is that it's not just about winning. By completing the application form it makes you assess your business, this allows you to identify strengths and weakness within your business. We actually completed our application the previous year but didn’t lodge it as we wanted to work on a few more areas within our business. 

How will winning this year’s Micro category help your business? 

Winning the micro category will allow us to promote our business and team as a one of the industry’s best. This also gives our customers some confidence in choosing our team to protect their property.

NSW AEPMA Branch Update - Patrick Legey 

The last NSW branch meeting took place on the 18 October 2021. 

I will take the opportunity on the behalf of the AEPMA NSW ACT State Council Delegates to wish you (the members) and your families a Merry Christmas and a Happy and safe New Year 2022.
I sincerely hope it will be better than 2020 & 2021.

Due to the pending introduction of a Timber Pest Licence or Termite Pest Management Technician Licence. I would like to clarify with you, a few things.

First, a bit of history of which I know many of you would be aware of:

For many years, Pest Managers, including myself, have complained about the “shonks” doing bad termite work and cheap, without been qualified and giving the good guys (us) a bad image (does that sound right?). 

AEPMA has tried for many years to raise the bar on the education level for the industry however in NSW, WorkCover, who was administrating the Pest Management Industry had no intention to go down the path of licencing termite work as it was not in their work charter. They were only interested in health and safety (not if you were qualified to do the job). 

Read more here

______________________________

 QLD AEPMA Branch Update 

The Qld AEPMA Branch General Meeting & Christmas Dinner was held on 1st December 2021 at Gino’s Restaurant, Kingsford Smith Drive, Hamilton and was well attended.  John Murray chaired the meeting with main items on the agenda relating to: Qld Pest Management Regulations, Qld Red Imported Fire Ant program, West Indian Drywood Termites, and National Training. Minutes of the meeting have been circulated to members. 

The Qld Medicines and Poisons (Pest Management, Poisons, and other Regulated Substances) Regulations 2019 have now been released but with a further opportunity for industry input in a meeting with Qld Health planned for February 2022.  Most of the concerns expressed by AEPMA in the consultation process have been addressed although some issues remain to be resolved including definition of “high risk” and “sensitive sites”.  Qld Health have issued a revised, A guide to what a Pest Management Technician needs to know (health.qld.gov.au) and has introduced improvement to the online licensing system that should be welcomed by Qld Members. 

Qld AEPMA continues to maintain close contact with Biosecurity Queensland (DAF) in relation to both the Red imported fire ants (RIFA) and West Indian Drywood Termite (WIDT) control programs.  Although AEPMA Qld has concerns over the quality and consistency of training in relation to the RIFA program, AEPMA’s position is to still support ongoing training in RIFA treatment by pest managers and participation of AEPMA members in RIFA control activities.  

Tim Fischer, Qld Biosecurity (DAF) presented on WIDT at the Qld AEPMA meeting in October 2021 and reported on changes from a QDAF funded program to a user pays system.  Qld AEPMA will continue to liaise with DAF on the transition process including research into what alternatives to fumigation are available for treatment of WIDT.  

Licensing and Training remain key topics and areas of focus for Qld AEPMA, as it is in other States and at National Board. A property services industry reference group has been formed as the nominated Qld Training & Skills advisor and Qld AEPMA will take an active involvement in this group as part of a national review on training.   

Next Qld Branch meeting is planned as a breakfast meeting at National office at 0730 on Thursday 3/2/2022. If you would like to attend the meeting please RSVP by the 31st January by calling the AEPMA National Office on 1300 307 114  or via email at info@aepma.com.au 

______________________________

Victoria Branch Update 

After such an arduous few months in lockdown VI I suspect everyone is relieved to get to the end of the year.  Although, speaking to colleagues it is clear we are a resilient Industry.  It’s harder for and Industry such as ours to ‘ pivot’, but there were still innovative ways of ensuring we didn’t lose touch or relevance with our Customers over these months.  It’s certainly a relief to see everyone finally return to normal speed.

On Branch activities, we are planning our next Branch meeting in early February, 2022, which Dr. Don has kindly offered to host our meeting at his training facility in Coburg. 

This will provide a great opportunity to reflect on the past few months and look ahead at the issues for 2022.  Hopefully, next year will provide tangible opportunities for people to meet face to face again. 

On this point If there are issues you believe should be discussed sat our next Branch meeting please get in touch with your ideas.

We will formally post the meeting date and Agenda in coming weeks.

In the meantime, Happy Christmas everyone and enjoy the holiday period.

The renewal invoices will be sent to all members on the 1st February 2022.
SAVE TIME – RENEW ONLINE! 
1. Go to https://aepma.com.au/
2. Click on Industry Portal
3. Log in with your username and password (valid for current members)
4. Click on “Manage My Account”, then go to “Memberships”, click on “Renew/Upgrade” button 
5. Fill in the online payment form
6. Your membership will automatically be updated
7. IMPORTANT – Check your profile details and amend if necessary.

Agsafe’s ChemClear program is holding a collection in New South Wales in March 2022.

Agvet chemical users can now register their unwanted or obsolete agvet chemicals for collection by visiting the ChemClear website, www.chemclear.org.au or by calling 1800 008 182. Registrations close on 28 January 2022.

All successful registrations are acknowledged by email or post.  A reference number relating to each of your Group 1 and 2 chemical registrations will be provided. Once your chemicals are registered with ChemClear, continue to store the chemicals safely and securely.

An appropriate quantity of storage stickers will be sent out by post, one month after your registration with ChemClear.  These stickers will display your registration reference number and are provided for placement on the containers you have registered for disposal.  These stickers will aid safe storage and identify the chemicals to your employees, auditors and others as being registered for disposal.

ChemClear will contact you directly to advise the location and date of the collection point in your local government area.  If you have registered any Group 2 classified chemicals, you will be provided with a quotation on a per lt/kg basis for the collection and disposal of these products.

When a collection is scheduled in your area ChemClear will contact you and provide the following information:

• the address of the collection site
• a date for the collection
• an appointment time to deliver the chemicals to the collection team

To register your chemicals, please visit:

www.chemclear.org.au/register-your-chemical

Further information can be downloaded here, or please contact ChemClear on: 1800 008 182

The Pest Management team at Bayer has announced the introduction of its 1L Smartline bottle to its range of insecticides currently being sold in 1L chamber packs.

As part of its commitment to continuous improvement and its focus on health and safety, Bayer has recently completed an internal audit and review of its product packaging to ensure all packs meet the Australian Standards.  

“The result of this review is a streamlined range of Smartline packaging”, said Daryle Swarz, National Sales & Marketing Manager (Pest Management) at Bayer.  Daryle said “The chamber packs will be replaced with a 1L Smartline bottle - the same bottle as some of our other insecticides, such as Aqua K-Othrine® and Perigen® Defence.  Feedback received from our customers is that the Smartline bottle is easy-to-use, even with gloves on and we’ve now added a measuring cup on its lid (See photo).

Daryle said “The other benefits of the Smartline bottle include: Improved handling – with a seal-free closing system and more comfortable grip; more secure – with tamper-proof caps; and reclosable for partial use.

“We want to let our customers know that this change will be happening and the newly packaged product will be on shelves by mid-February 2022.”

We all know what it's like – if a prospective client doesn’t go ahead before Christmas, chances are they won't say yes until February or even March...or not at all. That means that you don't have long to win as much business as possible before the holiday period!

Luckily, our friends at QuickFee have the perfect solution. Win more quotes by offering payment plans and get money in the bank today. 

Why QuickFee?

QuickFee's payment solutions can provide your clients with reduced payment stress and improved cash flow making it so much easier for them to say “yes”!

Your clients spread your fees over manageable monthly instalments that suit their budget, helping ease their cash flow concerns while you win the work and get paid. 

After the year we've had….who knows what 2022 will bring? So why not utilise QuickFee to ensure you've ended the year well and enjoy a well-earned break…with more cash in the bank!

Contact QuickFee today to discuss how to be set up in under 30 minutes.

Since 2015, the use of rodenticides in the UK has been controlled through the CRRU stewardship regime.

In a new BPCA video, the association’s technical and compliance manager, Natalie Bungay, explains what the CRRU code of best practice covers and what you need to consider in order to comply with it.
Watch the video here 

Credit – Pest Magazine.co.uk 

Australian research into cockroach feeding behaviour has led to the development of a gel bait to overcome potential of pesticide resistance or bait aversion. 

“It might not sound very glamorous,” said David Priddy, C.E.O at Sundew Solutions, “But spending countless hours studying the behaviour of cockroaches, repeatedly fed the same gel bait has provided us exciting insights into developing solutions to overcome bait aversion and pesticide resistance.”

Everyone in our industry is aware that as part of good Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practice that pesticide groups should be rotated on a regular basis, especially for pests like cockroaches which have the potential to produce large numbers of offspring in very short timeframes.  

“Like pesticide resistance, bait aversion develops within a single population and starts slowly – but grows more prominent as long as the same bait is being applied over and over,” explained David.  

Over the years you’ve probably seen cockroaches that won’t eat gel bait X, or they’ve stopped feeding on gel bay Y at commercial sites.  This isn’t necessarily because there is something wrong with bait X or Y.  It’s more likely that over time the present population doesn’t have a ‘taste’ for the bait being used.  As this population of cockroaches reproduces, the offspring also don’t have a ‘taste’ for the gel being repeatedly applied.  Before long you have a population of insects not interested in what is being presented.

Read more here 

Whether your business looks like Santa’s workshop or you shut over the holiday period, our information will ensure you’re meeting your obligations:

Public holidays by state or territory
Asking employees to work public holidays and public holiday pay
When overtime applies
Managing annual leave requests
Directing staff to take annual leave during a shut down
Reviewing annualised salaries to ensure you’re paying staff correctly.

2021 saw FMC launch Biflex Mikron which revolutionised the general insect control space in the Australian market with;
• Clear Formulation – helps eliminate the possibility of staining or messy, visible residue.
• Better Insect Penetration – smaller particles are more readily absorbed through an insect’s cuticle for faster control.
• Increased Uniform Coverage – the increased number and even distribution of particles on a treated surface create a higher probability of insects coming in contact with an effective dose.
• Stays in Suspension – once mixed, Biflex® Mikron remains in suspension and does not require constant agitation.
The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and can be found on our webpage Biflex Mikron – FMC 
 
As well as launching an online resource page and distributing weekly tech notes, with over 26 and counting these have been extremely well received. Don't miss out, view them and sign up here: Resources – FMC 
 
To thank our customers for their continued support FMC have decided to give away 15 more 15 L centre console fridges! Simply purchase any Biflex product and enter online. 
 
Most importantly, FMC staff and management would like to wish you and your family a safe and joyful holiday period.
 

The team at Rapid Solutions wishes everyone in the pest control industry a very safe and happy Christmas.

Whilst the traditional peak season brings the benefits of boosted income, it can also be tough on pest control businesses. We’ve put together this short blog article to support your team and your customers through the summer months.

https://www.rapidsolutions.com.au/2021/11/04/peak-season-cope-summer/

Our Rapid office will be closed for a short Christmas break from 5pm Thursday December 23, reopening 9am Monday January 10. If you’re in need of insurance or claims assistance during this time, please head to our website for emergency contact details.

Organisers of an annual community Christmas event in Waikerie have been forced to downsize because of a termite infestation in the host building.

The Santa's Cave event at the Waikerie Institute has been running for more than 25 years and organisers say at this stage it is still going ahead pending further checks.

Read more here 

Credit - ABC News

SAVE THE DATE!

AEPMA Membership Renewals – February 2022

AEPMA QLD Branch - Breakfast Meeting 2nd February 2022 @ 7.30am (AEPMA National Office) 

AEPMA PestiCon 2022 – 6th – 8th June 2022 Star Gold Coast

AEPMA welcomes any contributions or suggestions for articles that you feel are relevant to the industry. Simply forward to info@aepma.com.au.

Or do you have something to say about an article you’ve read in the Newsletter? Why not leave your feedback on our Facebook page.