The AGM was held on 11 May 2018 at 4.00 pm at the office of Agserv, Unit 6, 105 Derby Street, Silverwater.
The AGM was well attended. Mr John Murray from Flick Anticimex and Mr Greg Moon (Life Member). were welcomed to the meeting to talk about the case for a review of the current Urban Pest Management Training Package.
Nominees for the State Council were:
Mr Patrick Legey (Austrapest), Mr Gary Stephenson (Gary Stephenson Pest Industry Consultants), Mr Geoff Bryce (Bryce Pest Control), Mr Colin Urey (Drop Dead Pest Control), Mr Don Wilson (Wilson’s Pest Control), Dr Chris Orton (UNSW/ PIMACS), Mr Greg Moon (All Pest and Termite Solutions and Life Member), Mr Kevin Parson (Globe Australia), Mr Richard Doyle (Rentokil Pest Control), Mr Dio Naaktgeboren (Flick Anticimex), Mr Shayne Reynolds (Pelican Pest Control), Mr Ed Covey (Termitus Pest Management and retired). All nominees are now AEPMA NSW ACT State Council members for the next two years.
Mr Patrick Legey was re-elected as Chairman
Mr Ed Covey was re-elected as Vice Chairman
Mr Gary Stephenson was re-elected as NSW ACT Delegate to the National Board
Mr Greg Moon was re-elected as alternate delegate to the National Board
Mr John Murray addressed the meeting and tabled documents to explain the process of training package reform which is currently underway at the direction of the COAG Industry & Skills Council and the Australian Industry & Skills Committee (AISC). Artibus Innovation has been engaged by the AISC as the Skill Services Organisation (SSO) to manage this process. Artibus Innovation has established an Industry Reference Committee (IRC) to review and develop training packages in line with the Australian Government’s reform process. Artibus Innovation has as part of their 2018/2019 work schedule the requirement to review and reform (if required) the Pest Management training package.
The first step of this process has been to develop a business Case for Change project. “Project 5 – Urban Pest Management” will examine the content, structure, training delivery and student outcomes of the CPP30115 Certificate III in Urban Pest Management. The rationale, priorities, plan and scope of the project is outlined in their documents. As training package reform needs to be industry driven, Artibus are seeking further consultation/engagement with all industry stakeholders to obtain feedback on this project. They have requested assistance from AEPMA, as the largest industry representative, in getting this message out to their members. John Murray is representing AEPMA on the relevant IRC and is assisting with the consultation process. It was suggested that AEPMA might undertake an online survey via newsletter and social media channels to obtain feedback from members and that Artibus Innovation be invited to attend and possibly speak at the AEPMA Conference later in 2018.
For the next NSW ACT State Council meeting and Pest Managers around Australia, it was suggested it may be a good idea to look at what should be changed in the current training package as John will be attending the meeting of the 4 June 2018. It was suggested that the biggest issue raised by people in the last two years has been the use of “complex” in units 2, 7 & 43 and how better it would have been if the word “sensitive” had been used instead of “complex”.
We would like to know your experience. Please email your comments to the Council at: Patrick@austrapest.com.au or the National office at
info@aepma.com.au.
NSW EPA have almost finished their Code of Practice for the use of Pesticides in Urban Pest Management and there will be plenty of discussions to be held concerning this. NSW council will be meeting with NSW EPA to discuss this matter as well as the trainee registrations plus the conditions attached to it.
We will let you know when more information is available.
It was also noted the AEPMA National Board has taken the position that advanced pest management training would be provided by way of courses based on AEPMA Codes of Practice.
Chairman’s and Office Bearer’s Report for the previous 24 months
Mr Patrick Legey tabled his written report for 2016/18. Mr Legey thanked especially the Agserv, Globe and Ensystex teams for their assistance in providing venues, facilities and refreshments to enable the AEPMA NSW ACT Branch to meet and the support of the Associate members.
There have been four State Council meetings per calendar year, all in Sydney except for the Hawk Nest/ Tea Gardens meetings.
Again, hot topics have been Pest Management Licencing and Training. Some members attended PMITAG training meetings.
There have been many meetings with NSW EPA regarding their Pest Management Licencing. NSW ACT Council worked with them on their Draft Pesticide Regulation 2017 and related issues. Unfortunately, we were informed that business registrations and licencing had been temporarily moved over to align with the progress and implementation of national licencing reform. A proposal for national pesticide licence categories and minimum training requirements has been released through the Agvet Chemical Task Group.
Registration for Pest Management trainees will start from 1 July 2018 and some conditions will apply.
Some Council members have helped on the review and the making of the several Codes of Practice such as for Termite Management during Constructions, for Termite Management (existing Buildings) and Prior to Purchase Timber Pest Inspections.
Council members have contributed to AEPMA National Newsletter and PPM with various articles and photographs as well as responding to emails/ phone calls helping members or National office regarding various matters associated with Industry in NSW.
Several NSW new members were welcomed to the Association.
It was reported that a new NSW EPA Code of Practice for the use of Pesticides in Pest Management would be released soon.
Patrick Legey thanked Gary Stephenson (previously Flick -Anticimex and now Gary Stephenson Pest Industry Consultants) for his work as NSW ACT Delegate to the AEPMA National Board. This position requires a lot of work and dedication and Gary has done that very well during the last two years.
Patrick Legey also reported that they were sad to lose Council member Chris Mills to Queensland and wished him well for the future.
Patrick Legey also gave a big thank you to the other AEPMA NSW ACT State Council members: Ed Covey (Vice Chairman, Termitus Pest Management), Kevin Parsons (Globe Australia), Dr Chris Orton (PIMACS/ UNSW), Greg Moon (All termites and Pests solutions/ Life Member), Shayne Reynolds (Pelican Pest Control), Geoff Bryce (Bryce Pest Control), Richard Doyle (Rentokil), Don Wilson (Wilson’s Pest Control) and the people who provided such a great help especially during the working with NSW EPA … Mal Trotter (Life member/ Pink Pest Services), Kelvin Lawrie (Rentokil), Andrew Knight (Ensystex), Gary Byrne and Keith Farrow (Rapid Solutions), Colin Urey (Drop Dead Pest Control). He also gave thanks to Colin and Jodi Urey (Drop Dead Pest Control) for supplying their board room and refreshments at their office in Menai for the 13 November 2017 meeting.
Patrick Legey then said that the Industry is privileged to have all those people working together towards a common goal!
Patrick Legey indicated that he would also like to put on record his thanks to Shayne and Lynn Reynolds (Pelican Pest Control) who had again hosted for the last two years the Tea Gardens/ Hawk Nest meetings/ weekend away which he believed was again one of the highlight for the State Council members who attended.
On behalf of the AEPMA NSW State Council and members, Patrick Legey also thank to the team from AEPMA National Office for another 24 months of great work.
The next AEPMA NSW/ ACT State Council meeting will be held on 4 June 2018 at 4 pm at the office of Ensystex, 4-6 Junction Street, Auburn (Sydney)
Any queries, contact Patrick Legey on 0438 022984 or email: Patrick@austrapest.com.au or contact the National office at info@aepma.com.au.
Patrick Legey - Chairman for the AEPMA NSW ACT State Council
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