Pest Management Project

Menu: Click across the green arrows to view active and completed project stages. Consultation takes place at every stage of the project.

Case for change

“Skills in pest management, including wild dogs,” was identified as a priority skill area in the 2017 Agriculture, Horticulture, Conservation and Land Management IRC Skills Forecast (see page 51). Skills Impact and the Amenity Horticulture, Landscaping, Conservation & Land Management 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 51)

Project Plan

Project Scope

This project will review the Certificate III in Pest Management and the related skill set and units of competency so that all job functions are accurately described, with appropriate current knowledge and skill needs.

Scroll down to view the qualification, skill set and list of units that will be reviewed in this project, and the various skilled activities they cover.

Pests and weeds cost farmers billions of dollars a year in livestock losses, disease transmission and controls. Skills to support various methods, regulations and standards for trapping and eradicating pests will be considered when reviewing the current qualification, skill sets and units. Specialisations in Vertebrate Pest Management and/or Pest Animal Control and Weed Management will also be considered in the review of the Certificate III in Pest Management.

Register your interest in the project

Subscribe to the Skills Impact newsletter to keep informed about project updates. Make sure to select ‘Animal Care & Management’ as your industry of interest on the subscription form.

Register your interest

 

Relevant Occupations

Wild dog control professionals, council workers, pest controllers, rangers, farm workers and managers, chemical-spraying contractors.

 

Key deliverables
  • Review and improvement of 1 qualification
  • Review and improvement of 28 units
  • Review and improvement of 1 skills set
  • 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
Sam PapasideroIndustry Facilitation Manager, Skills Impact [email protected]
Wayne JonesIndustry Skills Standards Manager, Skills Impact [email protected]
Ron BarrowSkills Development Specialist, Nestor Consulting

 

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, skill set and units of competency that will be reviewed as part of this project. To view a specific qualification, skill set or unit, please click on the title.

We are seeking your feedback on how these documents could be reviewed to address the following industry skill needs:

  • Weed control strategies
  • Vertebrate pest control strategies
  • Invertebrate pest control strategies
  • Pest animal controller (including; wild dogs, feral pigs, feral, goats, foxes, rabbits)

Your feedback will help us in drafting the revised skill sets and units.

To provide feedback, please email Wayne Jones [email protected]

 

Development

Subject Matter Experts are currently being consulted to draft the revised Certificate III in Pest Management, skill set and units. Feedback from industry on the existing qualification and units is also being considered as part of this process.

Broad industry consultation is scheduled to commence in November, when drafts will be made available for comment on this webpage.

Face-to-face consultation workshops will also take place in November across states and territories, 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, 10:30 – 12:30 – Adelaide, SA – register here

14 Nov 17, 13:00 – 15:00 – Perth, WA – register here

16 Nov 17, 15:30 – 17:00 – Darwin, NT – register here

22 Nov 17, 13:30 – 15:30 – Brisbane, QLD – register here

23 Nov 17, 13:30 – 15:30 – Orange, NSW – register here

29 Nov 17, 12:30 – 14:30 – Launceston, TAS – register here

30 Nov 17, 12:30 – 14:30 – Bendigo, VIC – register here

Consultation Webinar

27 Nov 17, 11:45 – 12:30 AEST – Webinar – register here

 

Register your interest in the project

Subscribe to the Skills Impact newsletter to keep informed about project updates. Make sure to select ‘Animal Care & Management’ as your industry of interest on the subscription form.

Register your interest

Drafts Available

Thank you to all those who provided feedback on the draft Certificate III in Pest Management, skill set and units of competency. The drafts were made available on the Skills Impact website from 9 November – 10 December 2017. A series of face-to-face consultation workshops and a webinar also took place throughout November.

Feedback was sought on whether the draft Certificate III in Pest Management, skill set and units reflect the current skills and safety requirements of industry, and whether job functions are accurately described. The feedback will inform the work on the final drafts, which will be available for industry validation in February 2018.

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

 

Qualification

The qualification has been changed to meet the needs of industry:

  • There has been a small title change to differentiate this qualification from Urban Pest management.
  • Packaging rules have been altered to provide clear separation between General pest controller, Vertebrate Pest controller and Weed Pest controller by the inclusion of streams.
  • Further flexibility has been provided by the addition of one extra unit and the ability to import units at level 3 or 4 from other training packages.
  • Changes have been made to core to reflect a more accurate base set of skills common to all pest controllers.
  • Some level 2 units of competency have been removed, where they are no longer relevant or where level 3 units are more appropriate for this qualification.
  • The qualification purpose remains the same but due to the change in the core, the qualification will not be deemed equivalent to preceding qualifications.
AHC33616 Certificate III in Rural Pest ManagementDownload draft qualification

 

Skill Set

 AHCSS00043 Vertebrate Pest Management Planning Skill SetDownload draft qualification

 

Units of Competency

AHCBIO201 Inspect and clean machinery for plant, animal and soil material unitDownload draft unit
AHCBIO305 Apply biosecurity measuresDownload draft unit

AHCEXP301 Handle and store explosivesDownload draft unit

AHCFAU201 Recognise faunaDownload draft unit

AHCINF201 Carry out basic electric fencing operationsDownload draft unit
AHCINF202 Install, maintain and repair farm fencingDownload draft unit

AHCNAR306 Conduct photography for fieldworkDownload draft unit
AHCNAR307 Read and interpret mapsDownload draft unit

Click here to download a zipped folder of all units in this group

AHCPMG201 Treat weedsDownload draft unit
AHCPMG202 Treat plant pests, diseases and disordersDownload draft unit
AHCPMG203 Work effectively in a pest management environmentDownload draft unit
AHCPMG301 Control weedsDownload draft unit
AHCPMG302 Control plant pests, diseases and disordersDownload draft unit
AHCPMG304 Use firearms to humanely destroy animalsDownload draft unit
AHCPMG305 Survey pestsDownload draft unit
AHCPMG306 Determine pest control techniquesDownload draft unit
AHCPMG307 Apply animal trapping techniquesDownload draft unit
AHCPMG308 Implement pest management strategiesDownload draft unit
AHCPMG309 Apply pest animal control techniquesDownload draft unit
AHCPMG310 Prepare, monitor and maintain biological agentsDownload draft unit
AHCPMG311 Use firearms for pest control activities from aircraftDownload draft unit
AHCPMG409 Implement a pest management planDownload draft unit
AHCPMG412 Develop a pest management planDownload draft unit
AHCPMG413 Define the pest problemDownload draft unit

AHCPCM202 Collect, prepare and preserve plant specimensDownload draft unit
AHCPCM303 Identify plant specimensDownload draft unit

Please note that the performance criteria has been updated in these units and a new new range of conditions section has been added to clarify:

  • Machinery and equipment
  • Services
AHCWRK203 Operate in isolated and remote situationsDownload draft unit
AHCWRK302 Monitor weather conditionsDownload draft unit

 

Register your interest in the project

Subscribe to the Skills Impact newsletter to keep informed about project updates. Make sure to select ‘Animal Care & Management’ as your industry of interest on the subscription form.

Register your interest

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Validation

Thank you to those that participated in the validation process for the final draft qualification, skill set and units of competency, including the new unit for applying poison baits for vertebrate pest control in rural and environmental landscapes.

All final drafts will now progress through the Finalisation stage of the project. After final quality assurance of the drafts and review and feedback from the State/Territory Training Authorities, the final drafts will be forwarded to the Amenity Horticulture, Landscaping, Conservation & Land Management Industry Reference Committee (IRC) for consideration and sign off. They will then be submitted to the Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC) to consider and approve for publication on training.gov.au.

Validation means checking and confirming that the unit is logical and factually accurate. They have been re-written to accurately describe all job functions and reflect the current skills standards and practices of industry.

The final draft qualification, skill sets and units that were available for industry validation are listed below.

New Unit

This new unit was available for industry validation between 28 March – 11 April 2018.

Feedback from the National Wild Dog Management Group about the use of vertebrate pesticides prompted the development of this new unit during the validation period for the existing pest management qualification, skill set and units (25 January 2018 – 8 February 2018).

A summary of the feedback that was received for this draft unit (between 26 February – 12 March 2018), and a description of its consideration and application in this final can be downloaded below.

 New unit – Download Summary of Feedback, Responses and Actions

AHCPMG3XX Apply poison baits for vertebrate pest control in rural and environmental landscapesDownload final draft unit

 

AHCPMG3XX Apply poison baits for rural and environmental pest animal control was developed after industry recognised a skills gap in the use of baits for Vertebrate pests and in particular wild dogs, but inclusive of other baiting programs used throughout Australia. The new unit has been developed to focus on industry best practice of using poisons and poison baits particularly those relating to S7 poisons. The use of canid poison ejectors is also part of this unit in order to bring the pest control industry up to speed with this type of specialised poison baiting technique and minimising bait drift and off target risks. The unit is relevant to all vertebrate pest controllers and local and state government pest control staff, without exception, as the methods are a foundation to their job role. As such, it has become a core specialisation elective unit for the vertebrate pest controller specialisation within the qualification.

Greg Mifsud, National Wild Dog Management Coordinator, provided feedback from the National Wild Dog Management Group and states the following:

“There is a requirement around the use of vertebrate pesticides. As discussed in Sydney at the first workshop, there is a real gap and hope to properly design and implement baiting programs not just for dogs but also foxes, pigs and to a lesser extent, rabbits. If we want to train professional pest animal controllers or even local or state government staff, then some training on best practice use of 1080, canid pest ejectors and pindone for rabbits would be very useful. The current chemical competencies do not relate to using vertebrate pesticides at all and only cover off on transport handling and storage regulations. Everything else relates to spraying herbicide which is just not relevant to baiting for vertebrate pests. We could develop a unit that has strategies and best practice methods to develop and implement baiting programs across a range of species that would be very useful and meets the requirements of various state agencies for vertebrate pest controllers and also landholders to access baits from S7 retailers. At present a landholder has to sit through 2 days of boom spray calibration to avoid spray drift just to get an accreditation that allows them to go and pick up 24 baits from the produce store. So there is a real opportunity now to get it right.”

This has been adopted and with working with Greg and other members of the group the unit of competency was been created and made available for industry consultation (between 26 February – 12 March 2018) and validation (between 28 March – 11 April 2018).

Qualification, Skill Set & Units

The final draft qualification, skill set and units that were available for industry validation, between 25 January – 8 February 2018, are listed below. Thank you to those who participated in the validation process.

A summary of the feedback that was received during the consultation period (between 9 November – 10 December 2017) and a description of its consideration and application in these final drafts can be downloaded below.

 Qualification, skill set and remaining units – Download Summary of Feedback, Responses and Actions

Comments and feedback on these final drafts is being collated for consideration by the Amenity Horticulture, Landscaping, Conservation & Land Management Industry Reference Committee (IRC). After final quality assurance of the drafts, and review and feedback from the State/Territory Training Authorities, the final drafts will be forwarded to the IRC for consideration and sign off. They will then be submitted to the Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC) to consider and approve for publication on training.gov.au.

Note: Certificate III in Rural Pest Management has been updated to Certificate III in Rural and Environmental Pest Management to reflect industry feedback and to make a clearer delineation between the Certificate III in Urban Pest Management and this qualification.

AHC3XXXX Certificate III in Rural and Environmental Pest ManagementDownload final draft qualification

 

Note: The following work has been carried out on this qualification:

The packaging rules have been updated from 12 to 14 units, which has seen the core increase from 3 to 6 units. This was carried out after consultation with subject matter experts about which core functions an individual must know to be deemed competent as a Rural and Environmental Pest Manager.

The elective units have been reduced from 9 to 8 and specialisations added to cover those who want to specialise as a Rural and Environmental Pest Management (Weed Controller) and Rural and Environmental Pest Management (Pest animal controller).

A new unit has been added into the core electives for vertebrate pests covering applying poison baits for rural and environmental pest animal control.

The addition of a unit AHCWRK309 Apply environmentally sustainable work practices has been recommended for council employed staff who use this unit for weed control into the General Electives.

This skills set has been reviewed and unchanged except for the title to reflect the intent of this skill set and the inclusion of the description.

 AHCSS00043 Pest Management Planning Skill SetDownload final draft skill set

Unit Code and TitleProposed changes based on industry feedbackLink to Download
AHCBIO201 Inspect and clean machinery for plant, animal and soil material
  • The unit has been updated to reflect the Standards for Training Package 2012.
  • There has been minor changes to the Performance Criteria for clarity.
  • A new table has been added for Foundation Skills for implicit mapping to ACSF and Skills for Work.
  • Foundation Skills have been made more specific and Performance Evidence and Knowledge Evidence components clarified.
  • More detail has also been provided in the Assessment Conditions.
  • The unit is deemed equivalent.
Download final draft unit
AHCBIO305 Apply biosecurity measures
  • The unit has been updated to reflect the The unit has been updated to reflect the Standards for Training Package 2012.
  • There has been changes to the Performance Criteria, where unnecessary repetition has been removed by consolidating Elements 3-6 into one biosecurity element.
  • Foundation Skills have been made more specific and Performance Evidence and Knowledge Evidence components clarified.
  • More detail has also been provided in the Assessment Conditions.
  • The unit is deemed Equivalent.
Download final draft unit

The unit has been updated to reflect the Standards for Training Package 2012. There has been minor changes to the Performance Criteria and sequencing, added to the Foundation Skills and clarified the Performance Evidence and Knowledge Evidence components. More detail has also been provided in the Assessment Conditions. The unit is deemed Equivalent.

AHCEXP301 Handle and store explosivesDownload final draft unit

The unit has been updated to reflect the Standards for Training Package 2012. There has been minor changes to the Performance Criteria, additions to the Foundation Skills and clarification to the Performance Evidence and Knowledge Evidence components. More detail has also been provided in the Assessment Conditions. The unit is deemed Equivalent

AHCFAU201 Recognise faunaDownload final draft unit

Unit Code and TitleProposed changes based on industry feedbackLink to Download
AHCINF201 Carry out basic electric fencing operations
  • The unit has been updated to reflect the Standards for Training Package 2012.
  • There has been minor changes to the Performance Criteria, additions to the Foundation Skills and minor changes to the Performance Evidence and Knowledge Evidence components. More detail has also been provided in the Assessment Conditions.
  • The unit is deemed Equivalent
Download final draft unit
AHCINF202 Install, maintain and repair farm fencing
  • The unit has been updated to reflect the Standards for Training Package 2012.
  • There has been minor changes to the Performance Criteria, additions to the Foundation Skills and minor changes to the Performance Evidence and Knowledge Evidence components. More detail has also been provided in the Assessment Conditions.
  • The unit is deemed Equivalent
Download final draft unit

Unit Code and TitleProposed changes based on industry feedbackLink to Download
AHCNAR306 Conduct photography for fieldwork
  • The unit has been updated to reflect the Standards for Training Package 2012.
  • There has been minor changes to the Performance Criteria, except Performance Criteria 3.7 where reference to specific detail was removed.
  • Element 4 inferred digital cameras. This element and Performance Criteria have been modified to cater for other camera media.
  • Additions have been made to the Foundation Skills, Performance Evidence and Knowledge Evidence components. More detail has also been provided in the Assessment Conditions.
  • The unit is deemed Equivalent
Download final draft unit
AHCNAR307 Read and interpret maps
  • The unit has been updated to reflect the Standards for Training Package 2012.
  • There has been minor changes to the Performance Criteria, changed reference to GIS and preplaced with GPS in Element 3.
  • Additions have been made to the Foundation Skills, Performance Evidence and Knowledge Evidence components. More detail has also been provided in the Assessment Conditions.
  • The unit is deemed Equivalent.
Download final draft unit

Click here to download a zipped folder of all units in this group

Unit Code and TitleProposed changes based on industry feedbackLink to Download
AHCPMG201 Treat weeds
  • The unit has been updated to reflect the Standards for Training Package 2012.
  • There has been minor changes to the Performance Criteria and the consolidation of 1.1 and 1.2.
  • Additions have been made to the Foundation Skills, Performance Evidence and the Knowledge Evidence has been expanded to reflect requirements of the unit. More detail has also been provided in the Assessment Conditions.
  • The unit is deemed Equivalent
Download final draft unit
AHCPMG202 Treat plant pests, diseases and disorders
  • The unit has been updated to reflect the Standards for Training Package 2012.
  • There has been minor changes to the Performance Criteria with the consolidation of 1.1 and 1.2 and the removal of unnecessary Performance Criteria 3.4.
  • Additions have been made to the Foundation Skills, Performance Evidence and the Knowledge Evidence has been expanded to reflect requirements of the unit. More detail has also been provided in the Assessment Conditions.
  • The unit is deemed Equivalent.
Download final draft unit
AHCPMG203 Work effectively in a pest management environment
  • The unit has been updated to reflect the Standards for Training Package 2012.
  • There has been minor changes to the Performance Criteria. Additions have been made to the Foundation Skills. The Performance Evidence and Knowledge Evidence components have been clarified. More detail has also been provided in the Assessment Conditions.
  • The unit is deemed Equivalent.
Download final draft unit
AHCPMG301 Control weeds
  • The unit has been updated to reflect the Standards for Training Package 2012.
  • There has been minor changes to the Performance Criteria. Additions have been made to the Foundation Skills. The Performance Evidence and Knowledge Evidence components have been clarified. More detail has also been provided in the Assessment Conditions.
  • The unit is deemed Equivalent
Download final draft unit
AHCPMG302 Control plant pests, diseases and disorders
  • The unit has been updated to reflect the Standards for Training Package 2012.
  • The unit is about control, but the Elements and Performance Criteria content has referred to Management. Have rewritten Elements and Performance Criteria to reflect control. Additions have been made to the Foundation Skills. The Performance Evidence and Knowledge Evidence components have been clarified. More detail has also been provided in the Assessment Conditions.
  • The unit is deemed Equivalent.
Download final draft unit
AHCPMG304 Use firearms to euthanise animals
  • Title has been changed from “humanely destroy” to “euthanise”, as it is more appropriate terminology.
  • The unit has been updated to reflect the Standards for Training Package 2012.
  • There has been minor changes to the Performance Criteria. Additions have been made to the Foundation Skills. The Performance Evidence and Knowledge Evidence components have been clarified. More detail has also been provided in the Assessment Conditions.
  • The unit is deemed Equivalent
Download final draft unit
AHCPMG305 Survey pests
  • The unit has been updated to reflect the Standards for Training Package 2012.
  • There has been minor changes to the Performance Criteria. Additions have been made to the Foundation Skills. The Performance Evidence and Knowledge Evidence components have been clarified. More detail has also been provided in the Assessment Conditions.
  • The unit is deemed Equivalent
Download final draft unit
AHCPMG306 Determine pest control techniques
  • The application statement has been updated with the removal of any reference to vertebrate, invertebrate and weeds and now states this unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to select a pest control technique for a strategic approach to pest management. This now aligns the title to the units intent.
  • The unit has been updated to reflect the Standards for Training Package 2012.
  • There has been minor changes to the Performance Criteria. Additions have been made to the Foundation Skills. The Performance Evidence and Knowledge Evidence components have been clarified. More detail has also been provided in the Assessment Conditions.
  • The unit is deemed Equivalent
Download final draft unit
AHCPMG307 Apply animal trapping techniques
  • The unit has been updated to reflect the Standards for Training Package 2012.
  • There has been minor changes to the Performance Criteria, including removal of unnecessary Performance Criteria. Additions have been made to the Foundation Skills. The Performance Evidence and Knowledge Evidence components have been clarified. More detail has also been provided in the Assessment Conditions.
  • The unit is deemed Equivalent
Download final draft unit
AHCPMG308 Implement pest management strategies
  • The unit has been updated to reflect the Standards for Training Package 2012.
  • Consolidated two Performance Criteria into one with minor changes to the other Performance Criteria. Additions have been made to the Foundation Skills. The Performance Evidence and Knowledge Evidence components have been clarified. More detail has also been provided in the Assessment Conditions.
  • The unit is deemed Equivalent
Download final draft unit
AHCPMG309 Apply pest animal control techniques
  • The unit has been updated to reflect the Standards for Training Package 2012.
  • Consolidated two Performance Criteria, one from Element 1 and one from Element 2, including other minor changes to the other Performance Criteria. Additions have been made to the Foundation Skills. The Performance Evidence and Knowledge Evidence components have been clarified. More detail has also been provided in the Assessment Conditions.
  • The unit is deemed Equivalent
Download final draft unit
AHCPMG310 Prepare, monitor and maintain biological agents for weeds
  • The unit has been updated to reflect the Standards for Training Package 2012.
  • Added “for weeds” to the title to reflect content.
  • Consolidated Performance Criteria’s to remove unnecessary wording in each element. Minor changes to the other Performance Criteria. Additions have been made to the Foundation Skills. The Performance Evidence and Knowledge Evidence components have been clarified. More detail has also been provided in the Assessment Conditions.
  • The unit is deemed Equivalent.
Download final draft unit
AHCPMG311 Use firearms for pest control activities from aircraft
  • The unit has been updated to reflect the Standards for Training Package 2012.
  • There has been minor changes to the Performance Criteria. Additions have been made to the Foundation Skills. The Performance Evidence and Knowledge Evidence components have been clarified. More detail has also been provided in the Assessment Conditions.
  • The unit is deemed Equivalent
Download final draft unit
AHCPMG409 Implement a pest management plan
  • The unit has been updated to reflect the Standards for Training Package 2012.
  • Consolidated Performance Criteria in Element 1 and Element 2. Minor changes to the other Performance Criteria. Additions have been made to the Foundation Skills. The Performance Evidence and Knowledge Evidence components have been clarified. More detail has also been provided in the Assessment Conditions.
  • The unit is deemed Equivalent
Download final draft unit
AHCPMG412 Develop a pest management plan
  • The unit has been updated to reflect the Standards for Training Package 2012.
  • There has been minor changes to the Performance Criteria. Additions have been made to the Foundation Skills. The Performance Evidence and Knowledge Evidence components have been clarified. More detail has also been provided in the Assessment Conditions.
  • The unit is deemed Equivalent.
Download final draft unit
AHCPMG413 Define the pest problem
  • The unit has been updated to reflect the Standards for Training Package 2012.
  • There has been minor changes to the Performance Criteria. Additions have been made to the Foundation Skills. The Performance Evidence and Knowledge Evidence components have been clarified. More detail has also been provided in the Assessment Conditions.
  • The unit is deemed Equivalent.
Download final draft unit

Unit Code and TitleProposed changes based on industry feedbackLink to Download
AHCPCM202 Collect, prepare and preserve plant specimens
  • The unit has been updated to reflect the Standards for Training Package 2012.
  • There has been changes to the Elements and Performance Criteria to reflect other forms of collecting plant specimens. The original wording inferred pressing plants and did not allow for other forms i.e. freezing, drying etc. Additions have been made to the Foundation Skills. The Performance Evidence and Knowledge Evidence components have been clarified. More detail has also been provided in the Assessment Conditions.
  • The unit is deemed Equivalent.
Download final draft unit
AHCPCM303 Identify plant specimens
  • The unit has been updated to reflect the Standards for Training Package 2012.
  • There has been changes to the Elements and Performance Criteria for clarity. Additions have been made to the Foundation Skills. The Performance Evidence and Knowledge Evidence components have been clarified. More detail has also been provided in the Assessment Conditions.
  • The unit is deemed Equivalent.
Download final draft unit

Unit Code and TitleProposed changes based on industry feedbackLink to Download
AHCWRK3XX Operate in isolated and remote situations
  • The unit has been updated to reflect the Standards for Training Package 2012.
  • The unit outcomes are better aligned to AQF level 3 and the unit has been recoded to reflect this change.
  • There has been minor changes to the Performance Criteria. Additions have been made to the Foundation Skills. The Performance Evidence and Knowledge Evidence components have been clarified. More detail has also been provided in the Assessment Conditions.
  • The unit is deemed Equivalent.
Download final draft unit
AHCWRK302 Monitor weather conditions
  • The unit has been updated to reflect the Standards for Training Package 2012.
  • There has been minor changes to the Performance Criteria. Additions have been made to the Foundation Skills. The Performance Evidence and Knowledge Evidence components have been clarified. More detail has also been provided in the Assessment Conditions.
  • The unit is deemed Equivalent.
Download final draft unit

 

Register your interest in the project

Subscribe to the Skills Impact newsletter to keep informed about project updates. Make sure to select ‘Animal Care & Management’ as your industry of interest on the subscription form.

Register your interest

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Next stage of the project

Once industry has validated all final drafts they will be submitted to the Agriculture and Production Horticulture Industry Reference Committee (IRC) for consideration and sign off. After final quality assurance of the drafts, they will be submitted to the Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC) to consider and approve for publication on training.gov.au.

 

Finalisation

On the 12 September 2018, the Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC) approved the Case for Endorsement for the updated and revised qualifications, skill sets and units of competency, along with a Companion Volume Implementation Guide.

The final qualifications, skill sets and units of competency are now published on training.gov.au, which means they are available for use by registered training organisations (RTOs). They are published within the AHC Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation and Land Management Training Package version 3 (published on 19/12/2018). Click here to view the training package.

This project involved a review of the Certificate III in Pest Management and its related skill sets and units of competency so that all job functions are accurately described, with the appropriate current knowledge and skills needed to support various methods, regulations and standards for trapping and eradicating pests.

What does this mean for training providers?

Registered training organisations (RTOs) may now apply to have the updated qualifications, skill sets and units added to their scope of registration. RTOs who already have the qualifications, skill sets and units that have been updated as part of this endorsement have 12 months to transition to deliver the updated qualifications, skill sets and units, from the date of publication. For more information, visit the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) website. 

A Companion Volume Implementation Guide has also been produced to help training providers implement the new and revised qualifications, skill sets and units. It can be downloaded from VETNet.com. 

Summary of consultation

Initial consultation took place with a group of Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), to gather information that informed the draft qualification, skill set and units. Public consultation and feedback workshops were held in Bendigo, Perth, Darwin, Brisbane, Adelaide, Launceston and Orange. Broad consultation took place via the website, where the draft documents were made available for download and feedback for a four week period and again, for an additional two weeks, when the drafts were revised for validation. A webinar also took place on two separate occasions with the Queensland Agriculture Industry Sector Panel covering the agriculture and horticulture sectors.

Summary of project outcomes
  • AHC30318 Certificate III in Rural and Environmental Pest Management (The title of the qualification was changed to ensure separation from urban pest control activities and invertebrate agriculture/horticulture pest control activities).
  • 29 units of competency.
  • 1 skill set – AHCSS00072 Pest Management Planning Skill Set
Case for Endorsement

Please see the Case for Endorsement for more information about the work that was undertaken and why:

  Download the AHC Case for Endorsement

Note that qualifications, skill sets and units developed out of the following projects were also approved as part of this Case for Endorsement:

Please find below links to the final qualifications, skill sets and units on training.gov.au

 

Qualification, Skill Set & Units

AHC30318 Certificate III in Rural and Environmental Pest ManagementView qualification on training.gov.au

 

 AHCSS00072 Pest Management Planning Skill SetView skill set on training.gov.au

 

AHCBIO201 Inspect and clean machinery for plant, animal and soil materialView unit on training.gov.au
AHCBIO305 Apply biosecurity measuresView unit on training.gov.au

 

AHCEXP301 Handle and store explosivesView unit on training.gov.au

 

AHCFAU201 Recognise faunaView unit on training.gov.au

 

AHCINF201 Carry out basic electric fencing operations View unit on training.gov.au
AHCINF202 Install, maintain and repair farm fencing View unit on training.gov.au

AHCNAR306 Conduct photography for fieldworkView unit on training.gov.au
AHCNAR307 Read and interpret mapsView unit on training.gov.au

AHCPMG201 Treat weedsView unit on training.gov.au
AHCPMG202 Treat plant pests, diseases and disordersView unit on training.gov.au
AHCPMG203 Work effectively in a pest management environmentView unit on training.gov.au
AHCPMG301 Control weedsView unit on training.gov.au
AHCPMG302 Control plant pests, diseases and disordersView unit on training.gov.au
AHCPMG304 Use firearms to humanely destroy animalsView unit on training.gov.au
AHCPMG305 Survey pestsView unit on training.gov.au
AHCPMG306 Determine pest control techniquesView unit on training.gov.au
AHCPMG307 Apply animal trapping techniquesView unit on training.gov.au
AHCPMG308 Implement pest management strategiesView unit on training.gov.au
AHCPMG309 Apply pest animal control techniquesView unit on training.gov.au
AHCPMG311 Use firearms for pest control activities from aircraftView unit on training.gov.au
AHCPMG312 Apply poison baits for vertebrate pest control in rural and environmental landscapesView unit on training.gov.au
AHCPMG313 Prepare, monitor and maintain biological agents for weedsView unit on training.gov.au
AHCPMG409 Implement a pest management planView unit on training.gov.au
AHCPMG412 Develop a pest management planView unit on training.gov.au
AHCPMG413 Define the pest problemView unit on training.gov.au

AHCPCM202 Collect, prepare and preserve plant specimensView unit on training.gov.au
AHCPCM303 Identify plant specimensView unit on training.gov.au

AHCWRK302 Monitor weather conditionsView unit on training.gov.au
AHCWRK312 Operate in isolated and remote situationsView unit on training.gov.au