An AEPMA NSW ACT State Council meeting was held on Zoom on Monday 14 February 2022.

 

The meeting was well attended with 9 delegates and 3 apologies.

 

As usual there was discussion on the Review of the Codes of Best Practice, Field Biologist course, website. Pest Control now officially considered an essential service under the new national cabinet agreement. 

 

We talked about the Pest Management Conference which is definitively going ahead. After two years of no show due to Covid-19, I am sure we would all like to attend the AEPMA Conference Pesticon (Pest Management in the Digital Age) at the Star, Gold Coast on 6-8 June  2022. Having our Suppliers, Product Manufacturers and their Reps all under the same roof and  interaction with our Pest Management colleagues from all over Australia make it, a worthwhile experience not to be missed. See you there!!

 

There was also discussion regarding the Pest Manager of the Year Awards. Many thanks to BASF for again supporting the Pest Manager of the year awards. Our best wishes go to all people who have or are going to nominate especially those from  NSW/ ACT. The NSW ACT State Council encourages you to keep trying for this prestigious Award.

 

 

Recently, I had a call and email from a Pest Manager in Sydney who wanted to upgrade his licence with the new Timber Pest Management Licence however this was knocked back because his competency units 8 & 10 were achieved in 2002 under the 1998 Pest Management Training Package. He has worked continuously in the Pest Industry for the last 20 years.

 

After AEPMA NSW consultation with EPA NSW, they have now included all Pest Management Training Packages back to 1998. You do not have to retrain for the purpose of obtaining this Licence unless you do not have the correct paperwork. Please make sure you include with your TPMT Licence application the full transcript of your qualification especially the units 8 & 10 competency Units you have achieved. If you have not worked in the Industry for a long time or have obtained a qualification prior to this time, it will be, a case by case situation.  Like many, I did my qualification at TAFE in 1982 prior to Competency Standards came into effect and I am sure there will be some hiccups along the way. New entrants in the industry applying for the qualification should complete their units under the current Training Package. We have had confirmation that the competencies below are now formally considered equivalent by the EPA NSW.

 

Units considered equivalent  & Date introduced

 

The idea of having a Timber Pest Licence is to bring people doing termite management on the same playing field, not to disadvantage those guys who have completed the qualification some or many years ago under previous Urban Pest Management Packages. 

Please get in touch with us at AEPMA if you have a problem. You must have written evidence of having completed the appropriate courses. Advice is available on the EPA’s pesticide licensing web page for existing licence holders.

 

The next meeting will be the NSW ACT State Council AGM at Tea Gardens on the 7 May 2022 at 9.30am. It will be a face to face for people who can attend and zoom for people who want to be there but can’t travel to Tea Gardens, For people who want to be part of the NSW ACT State Council, please fill in your nomination forms and return to the National office.  More information is available here 

 

Zoom details will be sent on receipt of RSVP

 

As usual if there are any issues or matters you want to discuss or raise, you can contact me on 0438 022984 or email at Patrick@austrapest.com.au or any of your State Council members or the National Office on 1 300307114 or email: info@aepma.com.au

Patrick Legey AEPMA NSW ACT State Council Vice Chairman acting as Chairman while Kylee Enwright is away for a well deserved holiday in the UK.