Industry Qualifications

Vocational Education and Training (VET) Diploma of Conservation and Land Management (specialising in Pest Management)

The University of Canberra and the Invasive Animals CRC, together with the University of Canberra College, delivers a VET Diploma-level course in best practice pest management. The course is approved nationally under the Australian Qualifications Framework. The aim of the course is to increase the capacity of those involved in planning and implementing strategic and cooperative invasive animal management.  The course complements the pest animal training courses, such as those run by NSW Department of Primary Industries, for certificate levels three to four and helps meet the adoption aims of the Australian Pest Animal Strategy.

The course is delivered by the University of Canberra College (registered training provider CRICOS #01893E) and run by the Faculty of Applied Science with support from the Invasive Animals CRC. Upon full completion of the course students will be awarded a VET Diploma in Conservation and Land Management, (specialising in Vertebrate Pest Management).

The course is delivered by Mike Braysher, Professorial Fellow, Natural Resource Management, Institute for Applied Ecology, and Dr Tony Buckmaster, Faculty of Applied Science. Both are based at the University of Canberra.
The course covers:

• principles of pest management
• the strategic approach
• how to engage and work with your community
• effective monitoring and evaluation
• project implementation and management, and
• identifying and obtaining financial and other necessary resources.

Features of the Diploma course:

• flexible internet based online delivery so you can undertake the coursework at your workplace or at home (over 30 weeks, supported by 2 or 3 residential workshops)
• based on the principles and approach of the Australian Pest Animal Strategy
• uses case studies from successfully operating programs to explain the strategic management of pests
• delivered by experts in the field
• developing a work-related pest management project of your choice.

Following are some comments from course participants:

“Although I am only half way through the course I highly recommend it. It challenges the way we look at vertebrate pest management by focusing on the overall outcomes of a pest management program – which is to reduce the damage caused by vertebrate pests rather than the numbers of vertebrate pests”  - (name withheld)

“Overall great and the value I have got from it has been fantastic and although I’m not working on the ground as a pest coordinator the principles and ideas I have learnt from the course have really helped in my current role” – (name withheld)

“My knowledge of many aspects of pest management has improved” – Pest Animal Project Officer.

“The course is really well structured and introduces the topics in a very logical order” – Senior Pest Coordinator.

“The content is informative, beneficial and the format works” – Govt Pest Officer.

“It’s all content that we use and need in our everyday employment. It will enable us to do our jobs better” –  Senior pest Animal Ranger.

“Having such an expert yet approachable facilitator like Mike has been great” – Pest Animal Project Officer.

The course fee is $3,500 (plus travel and accommodation costs) and  includes all text resources and reference materials. Financial assistance through VET FEE-HELP has been sought for the VET Diploma course with a decision anticipated in 2012.

The course runs for 2 semesters (15 weeks each) beginning mid to late February and is delivered online, supported by 2 or 3 short compulsory residential components in Canberra (February, July, and if necessary November). Students are required to develop and present a practical pest management plan as part of the course assessment.

Entry requirements for the VET Diploma Course including Recognition for Prior Learning

There are no formal educational prerequisites for entry into the VET Diploma course. It is expected that each applicant would have basic reading and writing competencies and the skills necessary to undertake the on-line course work. You are advised to discuss the course and the necessary skills with the lecturers before you decide on whether it is the correct course for you.

It is recognised that many land management practitioners have extensive management in the field, but may not have undertaken any formal training course in the past. Vocational Educational Training in Australia can now recognise ‘prior learning’ for accreditation towards achieving formal qualifications.

The VET Diploma is a stand-alone course designed to cater for those already involved in pest management at the mid to upper level who see the need to approach pest management in a more strategic way. Completing the VET Diploma together with several years experience can provide a pathway for entry into the Graduate Courses.

Course developments – taking vocational education to the post-graduate level

Management of pests (plants or animals) requires a strategic approach that focuses on the desired outcome from management (e.g. higher productivity, recovery of native wildlife and communities, etc), not just killing pests.

To meet this need, the University of Canberra’s Faculty for Applied Science (UC) has developed a suite of post graduate courses for people with responsibility for or interest in Best Practice management of invasive species.

The UC courses are designed to both cover the principles and strategies for managing pests established in the Commonwealth Government’s Australian Pest Animal Strategy and embrace the changing landscape in pest management. The courses are a:

• Graduate Certificate in Wildlife Management (Strategic Pest Management);
• Graduate Diploma in Natural Resource Management (approval expected in 2012); and
• Course Work Masters in Natural Resource Management (approval expected in 2012).

For further information on course developments, see the PestPlan project page.

Inquiries should be emailed to: pestplan@invasiveanimals.com or

• Professor Mike Braysher, can be contacted at the University of Canberra on (02) 6206 3847 or by email at: Mike.Braysher@canberra.edu.au,
• Dr Tony Buckmaster, can be contacted at the University of Canberra on (02) 6201 5008 or by email at: Anthony.Buckmaster@canberra.edu.au. and
• Mr David Walter, can be contacted at the University of Canberra on (02) 6201 5728 or by email at: David.Walter@canberra.edu.au, to discuss the process of enrolling in any of the courses.