Dear Member

It is with pleasure that I report to you on the activities of your Association and the exciting developments that are being worked on by your peers in the industry.

As you are all aware, in September, the FAOPMA National Conference is to be hosted by AEPMA at Sea World on the Gold Coast. The venue is exciting, the program is exciting and all pest managers who have the opportunity to attend, will I am sure not only have a good time but find the whole exercise stimulating and interesting in terms of finding out what is happening with regard to technology, and policy developments regarding the managed pest control industry in both Australia and overseas.

Part and parcel of the conference will be the release of AEPMA’s recently drafted codes of practice in respect of a Code of Practice for Termite Management during new construction, a Code of Practice for Termite Management and a Code of Practice for Training in Pest Management. These draft codes of practice in themselves would be interesting enough for the business owner of a pest control company. However the program of FAOPMA goes far beyond these codes of practice. It involves a combination of technical, marketing and information on the most up to date pest control techniques.

I look forward to seeing as many members as possible at the FAOPMA gathering as I have no doubt in suggesting that it will be one of the most successful FAOPMA/AEPMA organised conferences for a number of years.

Click here to read more.

The New Zealand government has announced a “world-first” project to make the nation predator free by 2050.

The prime minister, John Key said on Monday it would undertake a radical pest extermination programme – which if successful would be a global first – aiming to wipe out the introduced species of rats, stoats and possums nation-wide in a mere 34 years.

According to the government, introduced species kill 25m native New Zealand birds a year including the iconic ground-dwelling, flightless Kiwi, which die at a rate of 20 a week, and now number fewer than 70,000.

AEPMA has created A Code of Practice for Termite Management. A final draft is now available for review. Any members who would like to provide input on this important document are encouraged to send an email to the AEPMA National Office (info@aepma.com.au), by close of business on Friday 8th September, 2016.

To view the document, click here to download.

Millipede control is more than just an annual/six monthly chemical application. We have a firm belief that providing integrated treatment options that include a nematode release and the use of light traps, allow our clients to have far better treatment success. 

Portuguese Millipedes have become a major problem throughout the southern states of Australia and their impact is certainty being felt here in WA. Unfortunately, we are only at the beginning of our infestation cycle. Over the past 14 years of business we have seen the need for their control, significantly rise in WA. 

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Employers should be careful of the actions they take while an employee is on a period of authorised leave, as demonstrated in a recent FWC unfair dismissal case.

A 77 year old housekeeper was on four weeks’ sick leave relating to a longstanding work-related injury when her employer notified her that it was not going to renew her employment contract.

The housekeeper then claimed unfair dismissal and said that her employer told her she was too old to return to work.

She also told the FWC that she was employed on a one-year fixed term contract in 2005, which was ‘tacitly renewed’ on each anniversary date of her contract taking effect. This meant that her dismissal took effect midway through her 2015-2016 contract.

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If you run a business in the Property Services sector in Queensland, you are invited to take part in a short survey to gather feedback on matters relating to training and skills. Grant Thornton Australia are running this survey on behalf of the Queensland Government. The aggregated results of this survey will be used to inform advice to Government on future initiatives or changes in the vocational education and training (VET) area.

People who complete the survey can also enter a draw to win 1 of 3 Coles Myer Gift Cards, valued at $100 each.

This survey is open from now until 30 September, and is available through the link below. It should take less than 10 minutes to complete.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DET-Business-Survey-2016

Thank you for your participation.

Stuart McDowall | Associate Director - Public Sector Advisory

Next month the AEPMA WA Golf Day will be held at Collier Park Golf Club on 21 October 2016 with an 8.30am start.

The golf day is always a great opportunity for the industry to mingle on a social basis and catch up with old friends.

The day consists of 18 holes of golf - “carts included” - which includes a drink cart to keep players hydrated. This will be followed by lunch at a venue still to be confirmed.

The day is always well supported and enjoyed by all. The WA council would like to thank all sponsors for their continued support.

Click here for further details and to register.

Just a few words about NSW AEPMA Life Member Tom Nicol’s Funeral held on 29 July 2016 at Mona Vale which my wife Annmaree and I attended along with a good representation of the NSW Pest Management Industry including Mr Peter Meadows (Life Member) and his wife Dot, Mrs Rhonda Trotter (partner of Mr Malcolm Trotter also Life Member), Mr Brett Black, Mr Ed Covey, Mr Geoff Bryce, Mr Eris Hess, Mr Greg Moon (Life Member), Mr Graham Hellier and I am sure I missed some people. Mr Ross Nicol (one of Tom’s sons) read some very touching words from Mr Brian Inall (another AEPMA Life member).            

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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.

• 26th FAOPMA Conference - “Solving Pest Problems” to be held 14-16 September 2016 in the Gold Coast.
• Proactive Fumigation Course, Toowoomba – 10-14 October, 2016
• NSW State Meeting 17 October 2016
• WA Golf Day - 21 October 2016