“Advanced skills in Apiculture” was identified as a priority skill area in the 2017 Agriculture, Horticulture, Conservation and Land Management IRC Skills Forecast (see page 56). Skills Impact and the Agriculture and Production Horticulture Industry Reference Committee (IRC) will take this project through a process that adheres to the 2012 Standards for Training Package Development.

Download the IRC Skills Forecast (see page 56)

Project Scope

This project will improve and update units of competency and the qualification in bee keeping so that all job functions are accurately described, with appropriate current knowledge and skill needs.

The units and qualification will be reviewed to address skills that relate to biosecurity, pollination and business management.

Scroll down to view the qualification and list of units that will be reviewed in this project.

The apiculture industry is changing, as a result of growing horticultural industries that rely on bees and an increased demand for pollination services. A Senate Inquiry into the future of the beekeeping and pollination service industries in Australia, made recommendations for improving existing biosecurity measures through implementation of a national standard or code of practice for beekeeping to promote beekeeping best-management practices and optimal biosecurity. Growing importance of pollination services that honey bees perform, including the ability to increase productivity and crop yield need to be addressed in training.

Relevant Occupations

Farm managers and bee keepers.

Key deliverables

• Review and improvement of 19 units of competency
• Review and improvement of 1 qualification (Certificate III in Bee Keeping)
• Development of up to 5 new units and/or skill sets as identified during review

Timeline

August 2017
Initial scoping

September, October 2017
Review process commencement

November, December 2017
Industry consultation of draft materials

February 2018
Industry validation of final drafts

March 2018
Finalisation of Training Package components

April, May 2018
Independent Quality Assurance, and Edit and Equity review of Training Package components

June 2018
IRC consideration for sign-off and submission for endorsement

Project Team

Subject Matter Experts

Subject Matter Experts will be drawn on throughout this project to help review and draft the revised units and qualification.

If you are interested in applying to be a subject matter expert and are able to volunteer your time to this project, please email details of your expertise to [email protected]

Opportunities for stakeholder input:

Below is a list of the current and existing qualification and units of competency that will be reviewed as part of this project. To view the qualification or a specific unit, please click on the title.

We are seeking your feedback on how the qualification and units could be reviewed or improved to address skills relating to biosecurity, pollination services and any types of marketing and business activities that would suit bee keeping.

Your feedback will help us in drafting the revised units.

To provide feedback, please email Tom Vassallo [email protected]

A workshop was held on 11 October 2017 with Bee keeping subject matter experts from five states to seek advice on the structure of the revised Certificate III in Beekeeping. Their advice will be used to inform the draft qualification and units of competency that are being prepared for industry feedback during November 2017.

Face-to-face consultation workshops to seek feedback on the draft qualification and units are also planned for the following locations and dates, with a webinar planned for those unable to attend in person. Please feel free to register for a workshop near you or a webinar by clicking the corresponding link.

Face-to-Face Consultation Workshops

9 Nov 17, 08:00 – 10:00 – Adelaide, SA – register here

14 Nov 17, 10:30 – 12:30 – Perth, WA – register here

16 Nov 17, 17:00 – 17:30 – Darwin, NT – register here

22 Nov 17, 11:00 – 13:00 – Brisbane, QLD – register here

23 Nov 17, 11:00 – 13:00 – Orange, NSW – register here

29 Nov 17, 10:00 – 12:00 – Launceston, TAS – register here

30 Nov 17, 10:00 – 12:00 – Bendigo, VIC – register here

Consultation Webinar

27 Nov 17, 14:45 – 15:30 AEST – Webinar – register here

Thank you to all those who provided feedback on the draft Certificate III in Beekeeping, skill set and related units of competency, including the new unit – AHCBEK3XXX Transport beehives by road to new apiary site. The drafts were made available on this webpage. A series of face-to-face consultation workshops and a webinar also took place throughout November.

Feedback was sought on whether the draft qualification, skill set and units accurately describe all job functions and whether they reflect the current skills standards and practices of industry. The feedback will inform the work on the final drafts, which will be available for industry validation in late January 2018.

The draft qualifications, skill sets and units that were available for industry review and feedback are listed below.