The AEPMA National conference “Pesticon 2023” was held at the Star Gold Coaston 16-18 August 2023 What Customers want.
While the comments were very appreciative of the contents and good attendance, there werediscussions on the Termite Conference and the need for 2 consecutive conferences four weeks apart.
Next AEPMA Conference Pesticon date: 14-16 August 2023
As usual, the NSW ACT State Council would like to congratulate all the winners of the 2023 PestManager of the Year Awards.
- Winner of the Kylee Enwright Micro Business Award: Eagle Pest Control W A
- Winner- South Pacific Pest Manager of the Year: Quality Hygienix
- Winner- Pest Management firm employing fewer than 10 people:
- Scorpion Pest Management TAS
- Winner- Pest Management firm employing 10 or more people:
- Conquer Termites Northside QLD
- Winner Pest Manager of the Year: Conquer Termites Northside QLD
Our best wishes go to all Pest Management business who have nominated especially thosefrom NSW / ACT. This State Council encourages you to keep trying next year.
Many thanks to BASF for again supporting the Pest Manager of the Year Awards.
Thank you to Ensystex who sponsored the inaugural Sustainability Award
Winner: Scorpion Pest Management TAS
Thank you to Envu who sponsored the Innovation Award
Winner: Flick Anticimex’s Smart Pest Control Excellence
Congratulations Motion to Patrick Legey was moved by Chris Orton for recent awards at the AEPMA 2023 National Conference.
That AEPMA NSW ACT Council Members congratulated Patrick Legey for being awarded LifeMembership of AEPMA and the Envu Individual Excellence Professional Pest Management Award 2023 at the AEPMA Conference. For recognition of service to the Commercial Pest Management Industry beyond expectation and endeavours in the areas of customer service and individual excellence.
NSW Pest Management Licencing
An email was sent to EPA NSW Director Technical regarding the problem associated with registering a person for a Pest Management trainee permit and the requirement of EPA NSW to have this person enrolled in a Pest Management course with an RTO from day 1 to be able to gain the permit. All this at considerable cost to the Pest Management business especially if the person is not suitable for the job.
We received an email back from EPA NSW that they agreed with our suggestion that it would beworth meeting to discuss the issues raised in our email to assist the EPA considering whether a conditional exemption may be a feasible as a shorter-term option. A meeting was held on Tuesday 12 September between AEPMA NSW ACT (Patrick Legey,Gary Stephenson, Paul Enwright (who raised the matter and Colin Urey) and EPA NSW (Martin Bowles, Anthea White, Luke Formosa and Julian Thompson). Currently, if a company hires a potential technician and wants to see if the candidate is going to be a good fit within the business or a new employee genuinely needs to ascertain if he or she is interested in pest management as a career, the EPA currently requires that the‘probationary’ employee must have a Trainee Permit issued by NSW – EPA, in addition to being enrolled from day 1 in a Pest Management Training Course aligned to Units 5, 6 & 18 CPP30911 Cert 111 in Pest Management for Licensing in NSW. This is impractical, onerous and costly for PM Businesses, remembering that people often accept employment not fully understanding what is involved in the task and can quickly decide, especially during summer, that pest management is not a desired career path for them and often quit.
We asked for a “probation” period of 2-3 months with registering for a trainee permit onDay 1 as it is the case today, however, to drop the compulsory requirement for enrolment in a Pest Management during probation period. EPA NSW members present at the meeting understood the problem we are facing and will get back to us as soon as possible (we will let you know when we get a reply).
Other topics of discussions included the recent and continuous audits of Pest Management technicians and businesses and the result of these audits.The interesting fact was some PMTs still had no ideas that we have to keep records of most Pesticide uses, Mandatory Notifications for multiple occupancy, containing Pesticides andpotential spills in vehicles, keeping records for trainees (we will let you know when we received their full report). If ensure about the legal requirements, go the EPA NSW website or ask for help.
It is interesting that EPA NSW has asked AEPMA NSW ACT for co-operation when the Pesticide Regulations 2017 is up for review sometimes next year subject to ministerial approval.
Please make sure, if you have not done already, to register for the Timber Pest Management Technician (TPMT) if you want do carry out termite treatments. The date is approaching fast so don’t delay (don’t wait till 17 December 2023).
NSW PMITAG
Summary Report of PMITAG NSW meeting 13/09/23 by Chris Orton, Secretary, PMITAG NSW (from Proposed Draft Minutes for AEPMA NSW Council meeting 20/11/22).
The last PMITAG NSW meeting was held on 13 September, by Zoom with 6 members participating and 9 apologies. The main topics discussed were:
1. Condolence motion to Paul Enwright
PMITAG NSW Members are greatly saddened at the passing of Kylee Enwright and we offered our deepest condolences to Paul and the whole Enwright family in a formal motion on her loss.
2. Congratulations motion to Patrick Legey
PMITAG NSW Members congratulated Patrick Legey in a formal motion for being awarded Life Membership of AEPMA and an Envu Excellence Award at the AEPMA 2023 Conference. These awards are richly deserved, long overdue and were presented in recognition of his many contributions to the Australian urban pest management industry and to AEPMA.
3. The PMITAG NSW Training Package Review - Survey
A survey of RTOs (Registered Training Organisations) that was emailed to all RTOs offering the current PM Training Package has been put on hold while the government makes decisions on the future of Training Package reviews. Instead, PMITAG NSW will concentrate on adding to our Continuous Improvement Register to document ways to improve the next Training Package when it is reviewed.
4. 2023 CPD Events
The CPD events of 2023 were discussed. It was pleasing to see the supplier roadshows resumed with useful offerings. The AEPMA 2023 National Conference was reported as being the best offered and attended in recent times and the PPM Termite Conference had very informative high quality technical presentations. It was particularly useful to hear new research-based information on the comparative effectiveness of chlorfluazuron and fipronil in termite baits. Members felt that some form of co-ordination between the organisers of these two major events should be attempted if time-clashes occur in future. The same applies for the apparently competing bodies representing Women In Pest Management.
5. AEPMA Code of Best Practice and Field Biologist Training courses
These are considered to be an extremely important AEPMA initiative, to give strong support to AEPMA’s Codes of Best Practice and have strong potential to contribute to raising the bar on the quality of Australian urban pest management.
6. Liaison with government on licensing requirements and problems of unqualified people carrying our pre-purchase building inspections
Reports were discussed on these two areas where liaison is ongoing between AEPMA NSW (including PMITAG) and NSW Government staff. New licensing requirements for timber pest managers are soon to come into force in NSW. From 17 December 2023 all PMs undertaking termite management in NSW must hold a basic PMT license and have completed Units 8 and 10. It is NOT automatic that PMs who have carried out termite management for years will automatically be assumed to have Units 8 and 10. They need to be able to produce documentary evidence and prior-to-competency-based qualifications (before 1998) probably will not be recognised.
If you need any assistance, I can be contacted at Patrick@austrapest.com.au or Phone: 0438 022984 or you can contact the AEPMA National Office at info@aepma.com.au or any of your State Council Delegates.
The next AEPMA NSW Branch meeting will be a zoom meeting on 20 November 2023 at 3.30pm.
If anyone wishes to attend, please contact the AEPMA National Office
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