Pesticon 2022 – The new and improved AEPMA Conference - Register now & SAVE!!!

Planning is again well underway for Pesticon 2022 at The Star Gold Coast on the 6th – 8th June 2022. The change in dates has allowed us the opportunity to freshen up the program and expand our Social Networking opportunities.  After such a long time apart, we would urge all members of the pest control community to attend this important event.   

The new & improved program has topics and speakers who will provide an important insight into the future of pest control.  On the Tuesday we are thrilled to have “Technology Futurist”, Shara Evans as our Keynote presenter.  Regarded as a leading expert on emerging technologies, cyber security, digital privacy and the future of health, humanity and work, Shara is one of those rare individuals who merges incredible technical skills with an innate understanding of the social and economic impact of new technologies.

The rest of the program is exciting and full of outstanding and interesting topics and presenters, such as a panel session on “Going Digital”; Dr Don enlightening us on Termites and the “Ask an Expert” Workshop run by a panel of AEPMA pest managers, with a wealth of experience in all things Pest Management.  Other presentations include topics such as Artificial Intelligence, Digital Marketing,  Training, Employment and Insurance – a must attend for any business owners or managers.  Visit the conference website to view the updated program     

Pesticon 2022 offers all attendees some fantastic social networking opportunities.  We’ll be kicking off the event on the Monday evening Poolside with the Welcome Reception – this year kindly sponsored by Sentricon – a chance to catch up with old friends and make new connections.

PWAPM will be hosting their networking breakfast on the Tuesday morning, sponsored by Ecolab.   A variety of prominent female speakers and panelists from within the Pest Management Industry, will present on industry trends, business learnings and opportunities.  The event aims to connect and foster constructive conversations between women in the pest management industry. The event is open to all PWAPM Members and women delegates attending the conference.  With limited seating, don’t delay in registering to attend.  More information can be found on the AEPMA Conference website.

Following the day’s presentations on Tuesday afternoon, we see the introduction of a fantastic new event, “Demand the Best Happy Hour” drinks being held in the Exhibition Hall from 4:30-6:30pm - kindly sponsored by Syngenta.   Demand the best, double the happy hours!!  

Finally we will end the conference with a bang with the Conference Gala Dinner and the much anticipated announcement of the “Pest Manager of the Year” for 2022 – kindly sponsored by BASF.  At this year’s event, we have been fortunate to secure comedian, Andrew Nason to perform and MC the awards ceremony.   Andrew has been a stand up comedian for over 25 years, with his style as a great storyteller, exceptional one liners and bantering with the crowd - he is sure to entertain the audience. Why not get a group together at the conference and make a table at the dinner!!  

 With registration rates remaining the same, delegates now get more for their registration price.   Attractive early bird rates are now available.  Full delegate packages starting at $450 for members and $475 for non-members with further savings for 2 or more delegates.   Why not bring your partner to the Welcome Reception, Happy Hour & Gala Dinner with a special rate of $275 for all three!

Don’t delay! Secure your place early - BOOK NOW & SAVE!!  It’s an event not to be missed!!!   For further details regarding the conference, and to register online, simply visit the AEPMA Conference Website

2022 PWAPM Awards - NOMINATIONS ARE NOW OPEN FOR THE PWAPM AWARDS 

PWAPM Excellence Award 2022 - Don’t Just Say Your Nominee is outstanding – Prove It!

Proudly sponsored by BASF, the 2022 PWAPM Excellence Award seeks to recognise and highlight the achievement of a women who has advanced in the pest management industry. 

Nominations are now open for inspiring women within the industry who embody leadership qualities and embrace the principals of corporate responsibility. 

The PWAPM Excellence Award winner will be recognised as a woman in the pest control industry that has not only shown outstanding leadership but has dedicated her time and energy in making notable contributions to the development and growth of others within the industry. 
Nominations are open to women working in upper management, sales representatives, manufacturers, technicians, insurance, and research organisations within Australia. 

For more information and to nominate please here
 

Female Administrator of the Year Award 2022 - NOMINATIONS ARE NOW OPEN!

Proudly sponsored by PCT International, the PWAPM Female Administrator of the Year Award recognises an outstanding Administrator working in the Pest Control Industry.
For many Pest Control businesses, the Administrator is the backbone; the hub that keeps it together; the cog that keeps the wheels turning.

Do you know of an outstanding female Administrator that has gone above and beyond in their role?
Your nomination should include examples of how the Administrator has shown excellence in her work, as an individual and as a member of a team, as well as how she has contributed to our industry in a broader sense.

For more information and to nominate please click here

Female Trainee of the Year Award 2022 - NOMINATIONS ARE NOW OPEN!

Proudly sponsored by BAYER, the PWAPM Female Trainee of the Year Award recognises an outstanding Trainee working in the Pest Control Industry.

Trainees are the future of our industry.  We want to recognise a female that has strived for and achieved success, best practice, and innovation in training.  

Do you know of an outstanding female Trainee that has gone above and beyond in their role? 
Your nomination should include examples of how the Trainee has shown excellence in her work, as an individual and as a member of a team, as well as how she has contributed to our industry in a broader sense.

For more information and to nominate please click here

NOMINATIONS FOR ALL AWARDS CLOSE FRIDAY 29th APRIL 5pm.  

PWAPM - 2022 National Networking Breakfast

The 2022 PWAPM Networking Breakfast sponsored by Ecolab will host a variety of speakers and panels from women who have advanced in the pest management industry. The breakfast will be held at The Star, Gold Coast – AEPMA (Pesticon) Conference on Tuesday 7th June.

Breakfast guests will present on industry trends, business learnings and opportunities. This event aims to connect and foster constructive conversation between women in the pest management industry.

The winners of the Trainee and Administrator of the Year Award will be announced at the breakfast. 

This will be an opportunity to be in a room with like-minded people and meeting experts and leaders face to face. This is an opportunity for women to meet some of their business influences, having the opportunity to be in the same room as them and listen to how they approach business.

This breakfast is open to PWAPM Members and women delegates attending the Pesticon conference. There is limited seating so you will need to register, and it will be on a first in basis. 

Please click here to book

Thank you to our major sponsor Ecolab

AEPMA Membership 2022/2023

SAVE TIME – RENEW ONLINE! 
1. Go to www.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
IMPORTANT – Check your profile details and amend if necessary.

Important Membership Information

Once an AEPMA membership is renewed or if you are a new AEPMA member, you automatically have access to the membership portal on the AEPMA website.

On this membership portal you can 

• Download your current AEPMA membership certificate.
• Input 10 postcodes for our “find a pest manager” search function on the AEPMA website (these 10 postcodes are included with your AEPMA membership and further postcodes can be purchased for $1.00 each)
• Once you have inputted the postcodes for the areas your company can service, you will now be visible to any potential customers looking for a pest controller in your area.
• Your company profile can be updated via the membership portal and any changes to phone numbers or addresses can be made.  You can also upload your company logo. 

If you have any difficulty accessing the AEPMA membership portal, please do not hesitate to contact the AEPMA office and we will gladly assist! 

AEPMA AGM Notice 

Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of the Australian Environmental Pest Managers Association will be held on the 6th June 2022 4.30pm - 4.45pm at the Star Gold Coast.  
 

The AEPMA Branch AGM dates are as follows:

• AEPMA QLD Branch 27th April 2022 @ 9am (Microsoft Teams)
• AEPMA NSW Branch 7th May at Tea Gardens/ Hawks Nest / Zoom (Time to be confirmed)

Proxy forms and minutes from the 2021 AGM will be distributed to all current AEPMA members shortly.

**Please note only current AEPMA members can attend an AGM**

AEPMA Branch Updates

New South Wales – Kylee Enwright AEPMA NSW Branch Chair

As Vasili has mentioned in his opening article, Patrick Legey is stepping aside from his role as AEPMA NSW Branch Chair.

I have had the pleasure of knowing Patrick for several years now, first from the pest conferences and then in the past 2 years from being on the NSW/ACT AEMPA Committee.

Patrick has contributed to the industry for many years, and as chairman for NSW/ACT Committee for over 12 years and was previously on the national board volunteering his valuable time. Patrick has been involved with many industry associations in his pest management career. 

It is easy to see Patrick is so passionate about the industry and has enjoyed working with everyone, making some lifelong friends. 

I have taken the position of acting Chairperson until the next AGM, and have very big shoes to fill, Patrick has been mentoring me over the last few years and will continue to do so in his role as acting Vice Chairperson.

I look forward to working with everyone in the future.

Kind Regards

Kylee Enwright

Patrick Legey – AEPMA NSW Vice Chair

The last AEPMA NSW ACT State Council meeting was held on the 14 February 2022. 
This meeting was well attended with 10 delegates.  We will provide more information in the April edition of the AEPMA eNewsletter.

It was agreed at the meeting to have the State Council AGM on the 7 May 2022 in Tea Gardens/ Hawks Nest for a face to face meeting for people who want/ can attend in Tea Gardens and Zoom for people who can’t. Having been there so many times, I encourage you all to attend if you can. All delegates, their partners and children are welcome. We would love to also see people who have previously attended this fantastic venue. 

Our host Mr Shayne & Lynn Reynolds (previously Pelican Pest Control and Rentokil) will make sure as usual that you have fond memories of one of the most beautiful places in our great State of NSW.

For any information, please feel free to contact me on 0438 022984 or at patrick@austrapest.com.au or our new State Council Chairperson Kylee Enwright - CPR Pest Management admin@cprpestmanagement.com.au or the National Office at info@aepma.com.au

Minutes from the previous AGM and the Agenda will be emailed by the National Office as soon as possible as well as nomination forms for the State Council for 2022-24.

Please make an effort and join, for whatever we take, we give some back. No need to complain unless you get involved!

On another note, we have had confirmation by NSW EPA that they will accept unit 8 & 10 from any of the training packages for Timber Pest Licencing.

What it means and as we at AEPMA expected, is that if you have achieved Competency in units 8 & 10 from the current Urban Pest Management Training Package or previous packages and can show evidence of having successfully completed these units you should not have a problem getting your Timber Pest Licence.

Any issues get in touch with us

Patrick Legey on 0438 022984 or at patrick@austrapest.com.au on behalf of the AEPMA NSW ACT State Council                                          

FMC Biflex – Last chance to enter our prize draw!

Last chance to win a 15 L centre console fridge!
To enter, purchase any FMC Biflex® product and complete the online form.
The draw is March 16th, get your entries in now!
Current Offers & Promotions – FMC (fmcaustralasia.com.au)

New look Starycide® - no change to formulation

The Pest Management team at Bayer would like to advise its partners, distributors and customers of a recent change in the appearance of its Starycide Insect Growth Regulator and reassure them there has been no impact to the formulation.  
 
For many years, Starycide has had a light brown appearance, however a change in the supplier of one of the formulation inerts has brought about a colour change to the NEW grey. Bayer can assure customers that the colour variation is within the product specification and that no other attributes have been affected. 

Starycide still contains 48 g/L triflumuron in a suspension concentrate formulation. Starycide is a chitin synthesis inhibitor in insecticide mode of action group 15. 

Daryle Swarz, National Sales and Marketing Manager (Pest Management) at Bayer, said: “The new look Starycide appears to be a grey colour, rather than brown, however both colours have always been part of the product description (e.g. as described in the safety data sheet). I’d therefore like to reassure everyone that the new look Starycide is within specification and there has been no impact to the formulation”.  

Starycide has a very selective mode of action which provides a high level of safety to higher order vertebrates (like mammals) and has very strong residual activity.  It also provides slow, selective, but inevitable population decline in target pests, such as cockroaches, fleas, silverfish and mosquito larvae.  It is an ideal accompaniment to applications of synethetic pyrethroids which will provide a quick knockdown and kill of insect adults and nymphs.  Starycide is also HACCP-certified.

 If you have any queries or would like further information, please contact your Bayer Territory Business Development Manager:

• NSW/ACT Wendell Arnett (m) 0407 396 232
• QLD/NT/NZ Ken Ferguson (m) 0457 862 223
• VIC/SA/WA David Fielder (m) 0474 749 796

Sundew MaxumPRO 125 g/L beta cyfluthrin has been a long-trusted product widely used across Australia since 2011, but now boasts exciting new pest claims that presents extra income opportunities. 

“MaxumPRO is a product that was developed from the ground up specifically for the professional pest segment of Australia,” said David Priddy, C.E.O at Sundew Solutions.  “From the time it was launched in 2011 pest professional have built their reputations on it.”

MaxumPRO is a water based suspension concentrate boasting the active ingredient beta cyfluthrin.  Beta cyfluthrin is a potent refined version of the original cyfluthrin active.  

“MaxumPRO is affectionately known as a ‘Great All Rounder’ by those that have used it over the years,” explained David. “In recent times we’ve been asked by pest management professionals and reseller partners if we could do additional field research to expand the label to make it even more versatile.  We have set about not only looking at new pest claims to add to the label, but also new market opportunities.” 

“Over the past few years we’ve seen issues of mass infestations of insect pests occurring in domestic situations, in particular pests such as armyworm and sawfly larva.  As MaxumPRO has an excellent plant safety profile and broad spectrum of activity it was our natural choice in doing screening field trials,” said David.  “MaxumPRO was trialed on a broad range of turf, ornamental, native and flowering plants as well as a plethora of differing insect pests.  The end result is a vastly improved label with over forty pest claims.”

What Does This Mean for Pest Management Professionals?

“MaxumPRO has long been trusted by pesties who use it because it does a great job each and every time.  Now with the addition of these new claims they can now confidently treat a broad range of turf and vegetative pests in domestic/commercial situations adding extra services and income streams for their businesses,” concluded David.

MaxumPRO 125 SC is available from Agserv, David Grays, Garrards and Globe.  

The new label improvements will be an exciting upgrade for pest management professionals across Australia.  You can read more at sundewsolutions.com.au or call Sundew on 1800 SUNDEW to learn more.

Once again, twice in fact, the High Court has come down on the side of the written word in determining the true relationship of contracting parties. 

Eschewing multifactorial tests or post-engagement behaviour as ways to resolve a dispute over the true character of a relationship, the Court said the focus is to be on the written terms of the contract.

The two cases centred on whether the relationship involved was one of employment or independent contractors. The first involved a company placing a worker with one of its clients, claiming it was merely ‘a finder of labour’. But the Court highlighted that the contract document between the company and the worker included numerous obligations on the worker, and, without these the company wouldn’t have had a business, which was in reality, labour hire.

Read more here 

2022 Environmental Biosecurity Webinar Series – ‘Prevent. Detect. Respond Protect.

The registration page is now open for the 2022 Environmental Biosecurity Webinar Series – ‘Prevent. Detect. Respond Protect.’

The 6-part series will explore a range of case studies, policies, initiatives and research from across the biosecurity system that work together to protect our environment, cultural heritage and way of life from the impacts of invasive pests, weeds and diseases.

Each webinar will be 90 minutes, including three speakers and 30 minutes of dedicated discussion time where you can ask questions to the presenters. 

To register for the webinar series CLICK HERE to visit the Eventbrite registration page. Once registered, you will receive a confirmation email from Eventbrite. Joining details (the Microsoft Teams link) and full program will be emailed from the Environmental Biosecurity Office prior to each webinar. 
Our first webinar on 31 March will cover Australia’s live import assessment process and biosecurity on Kangaroo Island. 

Webinar dates

Dates for each webinar are below. Please remember to add a reminder in your calendar so you don’t forget!

Prevent 

• Webinar 1 - Thursday 31 March, 12:30-14:00 (AEDT)
• Webinar 2 - Thursday 12 May, 12:30-14:00 (AEST)

Detect 

• Webinar 3 - Thursday 23 June, 12:30-14:00 (AEST)

Respond

• Webinar 4 - Thursday 4 August, 12:30-14:00 (AEST)

Protect 

• Webinar 5 - Thursday 15 September, 12:30-14:00 (AEST)
• Webinar 6 - Thursday 27 October, 12:30-14:00 (AEDT)

If you would like to watch recordings from last year’s webinar series, please visit the 2021 Environmental Biosecurity Webinar Series information page. 

SAVE THE DATE!

• AEPMA QLD Branch AGM – April 27th April 2022 @ 9am via Microsoft Teams
• AEPMA NSW Branch AGM – 7th May 2022 at Tea Gardens/Hawks Nest (time to be confirmed)
• AEPMA AGM – 6th June @ 4.30pm (Pesticon) Star Gold Coast
• 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.

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