Week 1

Day 5 - Practical Field Training – apply as much as possible in the field of what you have learnt, ask questions with the technician you are working with.

Week 2

Day 6 - Integrated Pest Management – IPM definition - objectives - combination of chemical and non-chemical methods - examples of how pesticides can be reduced – physical controls - exclusion - cultural controls - sanitation - housekeeping - examples in large commercial premises - HACCP concepts - plan of premises - followup and corrective measures – preventative measures – risk to environment – five basic steps – inspection – identification – recommendation – treatment – evaluation.

Day 6 - Rodents - pest status - pest species - scientific names - distinguishing features - identification techniques - rodent senses – physical abilities – rodent life cycle - types of rodenticides – bait stations available - advantages - disadvantages - signs of infestation – rodenticide labels - MSDS Material Safety & Data Sheets

Day 7 - Cockroaches - pest status - pest species - scientific names - distinguishing features - identification techniques – reproduction capacity – life cycle – area of distribution – common breeding sites - habitat areas - chemical controls - pesticides permitted - pesticide labels - MSDS Material Safety Data Sheets - IPM non-chemical methods – exclusion - cultural controls - sanitation - housekeeping - other pest control strategies

Day 8 - Spiders - pest status - pest species - scientific names - distinguishing features - identification techniques - spiders are not insects – identifying parts – life cycle – anatomy – families of spiders – control strategies – area of distribution – common breeding sites - habitat areas - chemical controls - pesticides permitted - pesticide labels - MSDS Material Safety Data Sheets - IPM non-chemical methods – exclusion - cultural controls - sanitation - housekeeping - other pest control strategies

Day 9 - Ants  - pest status - pest species - scientific names - distinguishing features - identification techniques – structure of ants – life cycle - ant behaviour – area of distribution – common breeding sites - habitat areas - chemical controls - pesticides permitted - pesticide labels - MSDS Material Safety Data Sheets - IPM non-chemical methods – exclusion - cultural controls - sanitation - housekeeping - other pest control strategies

Week 3

Day 11 - Stored Product Pests- pest status - pest species - scientific names - distinguishing features - identification techniques - impact on food industries – identifying different species – primary and secondary pest status – inspection techniques – chemical control - IPM non-chemical methods – cultural controls - sanitation - storage recommendations - physical controls - exclusion - other pest control strategies.

Day 12 - Fabric Pests - pest status - pest species - scientific names - distinguishing features - identification techniques - life cycle - learn what stage these pests cause damage – ecology – biology – environmental issues that cause presence – area of distribution – common breeding sites - habitat areas - chemical controls - pesticides permitted - pesticide labels - MSDS Material Safety Data Sheets - IPM non-chemical methods – exclusion - cultural controls - sanitation - housekeeping - other pest control strategies - Fleas Control

Day 13 - Flies – pest status - pest species - identification features - common habitat and breeding areas - preferred feeding habits – life cycle – area of distribution – chemical controls - pesticides permitted - pesticide labels - MSDS Material Safety Data Sheets - IPM non-chemical methods – physical controls - cultural controls - other pest control strategies

Day 14 - Bees – pest status - species dangerous to humans – social wasps – native bees – social honey bees – identification of bees and wasps – safe removal of bees – area of distribution – common breeding and habitat areas - chemical controls - pesticides permitted - pesticide labels - MSDS Material Safety Data Sheets - IPM non-chemical methods – physical controls - cultural controls - other pest control strategies

Day 15 - Practical Field Training – Project Work

Week 4

Day 16 - Bird Pests – pigeons - starlings - myna birds - other bird pest species - pest status - diseases – building defacement - identification techniques - permitted chemical controls - IPM non-chemical methods – bird proofing options – bird shooting – bird capture – other bird control strategies - Ladder Safety

Day 17 - Assessment – on units 5,6 & 18

Day 18 - Trees  - timber and wood decay fungi – tree biology – bark – phloem – sapwood – heartwood – pith – medallary rays – identification of hardwood vs softwood timbers –

Day 19 - Timber Pests – termites – borers - wood decay - ecology – biology – identification of pest species – nest identification.

Day 20 - Timber Borers – ecology – biology – identification & types attacking Australian timbers – leaf eating insects – gall forming insects – sap sucking insects – conductive tissue feeding - timber Pests overview

Week 5

Day 22 - Managing Termites – timber preservation – chemical and non-chemical barriers – writing termite proposals & specifications

Day 23 - Termite Inspections – legal aspects – how to inspect – writing the report – discussing findings with customer – legal responsibilities

Day 24 - Assessment -

Week 6

Day 25 - Commercial Quoting – how to quote – considerations – prior preparation – meeting the customer – the walk around – calculations – presenting the quote.

Day 26 - Termite Quoting – how to quote – considerations – chemical selection – environmental decisions – legal points to consider – customer requests – special equipment required – rent, buy equipment? – clauses to put into quote.

Day 27 - Commercial Assessment – given a scenario on a commercial building with 3 types of pest problems, prepare and produce a quote.

Day 28 - Termite Assessment – given a plan of a house that has a termite infestation, produce a quote based on an inspection report which will be provided.