Time is running out to register for the Rapid Solutions 2017 Conference. Held on the 11th & 12th August, at RACV Royal Pines Gold Coast, you and your team will gain access to the very latest products, research and methods. You will also get the opportunity to meet hundreds of other pest managers and building inspectors and to share tips and tricks with each other.

The presentation program is arguably our best ever with over 30 presentations over the two days covering all aspects of pest management, business operations and building inspection.

At the end of the conference, you and your team will return home ready to hit the ground running with new skills and knowledge and a renewed passion for your work.

Visit rapidsolutions.com.au/conference to register.

In 2012, Swedish pest control company Anticimex began a period of rapid expansion into 18 countries and now reaps revenues of US$474 million thanks in part to an aggressive new technology plan that hinges in part on the Internet of Things.

Anticimex’s embrace of IoT goes back to a regional manager in central Europe reading a story about rat infestations in Copenhagen and inventing a motion-detector-based rat trap for use in sewers, according to company’s CIO Daniel Spahr.

IoT target: rats

The basic system Anticimex uses for its main industrial customers used to be totally manual – a worker would have to stop by once a week or once a month to check if any rats had been unlucky enough to be caught in a given trap.

“What happens during that other 29 days of the month? Do you really know that nothing’s happening? With the digital traps, you do know,” said Spahr.

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To my fellow members, 

In my almost 35 years in the Industry, the most discussed topic with my fellow “Pesties” has been the “shonkies” doing Pest Management work without holding appropriate qualifications, how detrimental and costly it has been to the by-the-book operators, and how to fix it. 

So I wanted to give you some insight into how much work we (AEPMA) has been doing behind the scenes, moving forward regarding Urban Pest Management Licencing in NSW and since Workcover handed the administration of our licences to the EPA. They did not intend to make any changes in the short term until they had re drafted their Pesticide Regulation and that could take some 12-18 months.

We also need to understand that the draft regulation did not apply just to the Urban Pest Management Industry, but to many other Pesticide users including fumigation, agricultural users and aerial sprayers.            

While it looked like a challenge to us at AEPMA NSW, it was also an opportunity not to be missed (probably one in a life time chance to have a change).

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As part of the four yearly review of modern awards, the FWC has decided to include in almost every modern award, a clause permitting long term regular casuals to apply for conversion to permanent employees. Apart from a couple of exceptions, it is expected the awards will have these provisions in them by year’s end. 

The FWC‘s proposed standard clause uses the term “regular casual employee” and describes that person as essentially an employee with a discernible regularity about their employment, and a reasonable expectation of on-going employment. In most cases it is likely that the period over which this pattern of working will be measured will be twelve months.  

One area of concern is the prohibition on employers engaging and/or re-engaging (which includes a refusal to reengage), or reducing or varying hours, of casuals in order to avoid any right or obligation under this clause. In some industries, those variations might look like attempts to avoid this new requirement on employers, but in reality be a direct reaction to the ordinary business cycle.  

That is a sleeper which could well lead to disputes.

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Biosecurity Queensland has confirmed the detection of red imported fire ants in Beerwah on Wednesday 28 June 2017, which is outside the fire ant biosecurity zones.

A member of the public, who had been trained in fire ant awareness, reported the sighting to Biosecurity Queensland and should be praised for their vigilance.

Biosecurity Queensland’s National Red Imported Fire Ant Eradication Program (the Program) officers and fire ant detection dogs responded quickly, with fire ants being confirmed and the one nest destroyed within 24 hours.

Program officers destroyed the nest by direct nest injection using contact insecticide, and baited the area around the nest with an insect growth regulator.

Fire ant odour detection dogs commenced on-the-ground surveillance on Wednesday 28 June 2017.  

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Rapid Solutions has further bolstered its position within quality insurance and the training sector with the appointment of Nikki Garrard, Manager Strategy, Compliance and Operations – Rapid Training

Nikki has taken the newly created executive role after spending more than a decade working in the vocational education and training sector (VET). This work included senior management roles in organisations including Forsythes Training, Advanced Careers College, and Sarina Russo. 

At Rapid Solutions, Nikki will have the ongoing task of developing innovative online training products with responsive assessment options for pest management professionals.

“The diversity of the role together with the strength of the organisation and its market opportunities was very enticing. Rapid Solutions has a tremendous leadership team and people that really understand how to deliver customer focused solutions across the pest sector in Australia and New Zealand,” Mrs Garrard said.

Rapid Solutions CEO, Belinda Smith, said that Nikki’s appointment was part of the organisation’s commitment to enhancing its Australasian position in the niche market of training and insurance in the pest sector.

“Nikki’s experience in working in registered training organisations provides Rapid Solutions with the right skills and experience to further propel the company into new and emerging markets. Her passion for education, quality and teamwork will provide strategic solutions for our national and international customer base,” Ms Smith said.

Registrations available to Australian Delegates through AEPMA

The first integrated FAOPMA Conference and Pest Summit Series, will be held from 22-24 November 2017 in Chang Mai Thailand.  The convention will focus on “New Perspectives in Urban and Public Health IPM in Asia and Oceania”, plus a 1 day AIB Certification Program on “Basic Integrated Pest Management for Food Plants”.  The conference will also feature more than 60 exhibition booths, showcasing leading technologies and pest management services from around the world. 

AEPMA will be hosting a dinner for Australian delegates and their partners on the 22nd November, which has kindly been sponsored by Ensystex and Sherwood Chemicals Australasia.   Further details to follow shortly.

Australian delegates are encouraged to register through AEPMA to receive special discounted member rates..  To register for the FAOPMA-Pest Summit Conference and "Australian Delegates Dinner", simply click here to download the registration form and return via email to the AEPMA National Office (info@aepma.com.au). 

For further information about the conference program and events, can be found on the FAOPMA 2017 website.  

The Victorian branch of AEPMA recently held a general meeting which was well attended. The main reason for the meeting was to regroup and set a date and agenda for their next State Branch AGM. It was agreed that the AGM will be held on Thursday 7th September at the Globe offices in Tullamarine. 

Rob Boschma (Specialist Termite Control) accepted the interim caretaker role as State Chairman supported by Emma Mendelsohn (Noahs Ark Pest Control) as Vice Chairman and Allan Rust (Rustys Pest Control) as Secretary until the upcoming AGM in early September.

The AEPMA Victorian Branch is now actively seeking new and existing members to become part of a new branch council that will largely be involved in Victorian activities and local pest management industry issues. This is an opportunity to get involved and make a difference in your industry along with becoming part of a great local network of like-minded professional pest managers.

David Gay also reported on the recent World Pest Day in Beijing China and the upcoming FAOPMA/Pest Summit event in Thailand later this year, along with the National Office’s work co-ordinating development of CoP’s and the upcoming “Field Biologist  ” qualification course structure and content outline. It was reported that whilst no date had yet been set for this course, the location will be in Sydney only and “Expressions of Interest” are still open by contacting the National Office.  Remaining spaces and wait list are very limited and preference will be given to AEPMA members or employees of AEPMA member companies on a first in first served basis.

A full bench in the WA Industrial Relations Commission has confirmed that a contractor does not have to pay redundancy because the employee’s job loss was part of the ordinary and customary turnover of labour. This is an issue for many companies that provide services on fixed term contracts to their clients. What to do when they lose a contract and can’t re-deploy the staff that worked on it? 

Right from the beginning of a series of key redundancy decisions in the arbitral tribunals in the early 1980s, it has been accepted that redundancy does not apply where a person was dismissed due to “the ordinary and customary turnover of labour”. In fact it has been enshrined in law, with these words, known colloquially as “the exception”, forming part of the NES in the Fair Work Act.

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Landholders and residents are warned to be on high alert with increased mice activity around southern NSW and the Riverina. 

CSIRO researcher Steve Henry, who has been surveying mouse activity for Grains Research and Development Corporation project MouseAlert, said reports around the Wagga region have been “patchy” with high numbers flagged around Coleambally and Griffith. 

“I’ve heard from a grower who lost a hectare of canola in Ganmain,” he said.   He encourages farmers around the Riverina to remain vigilant and push numbers down as much as possible through the winter.

“Over 200 mice per hectare is the threshold for economic damage,” he said.  “Growers should be actively monitoring for signs of damage like stems being chewed through.” 

Fears of a plague have been growing after last year’s bumper harvest produced ample food and shelter, followed by a mild summer. 

AEPMA Member, Brett Randal from Amalgamated Pest Control in Wagga said while increased activity at this time is normal, they are “running hot with the rodents this year.” 

Mr Randal said he’s taken a lot of calls from rural properties and numbers are higher than average.

While there’s no indication of a plague epidemic, residents should get in touch as soon as they see any signs of activity.

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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• Pestech 2017 - July - September 2017
• ​Rapid Solutions Conference - 11-12 August 2017
• AEPMA NSW/ACT State Council Meeting – 28 August 2017
• AEPMA VIC Branch AGM - 7th September 2017
• FAOPMA 2017 - Chang Mai, Thailand
• SAVE THE DATE!  AEPMA 2018 National Conference on the Gold Coast - 19-21 September 2018