Accredited biosecurity training

February 8, 2021

For those looking to gain accredited biosecurity training in Australia, there are a range of units of competency available.

Industry owned organisation Skills Impact recently developed four skill sets and reviewed 13 existing units of competency to ensure training keeps up with the evolving biosecurity sector.

Although this training is not compulsory to work in biosecurity, it can provide you with invaluable information about how to help minimise the risk of an incursion and what to do if there is a biosecurity response. If an emergency occurs, the best defence is being as prepared as possible.

The skill sets and units were published on the training.gov.au website on Thursday 24 December 2020 within the AHC Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation and Land Management Training Package. The units include:

  • Biosecurity Emergency Response units
    • AHCBER302 Work effectively in a biosecurity emergency response
    • AHCBER305 Carry out emergency disease or pest control procedures on infected premises
    • AHCBER306 Carry out movement and security procedures
    • AHCBER403 Plan and supervise control activities on infected premises
    • AHCBER404 Conduct field surveillance for a biosecurity emergency response
    • AHCBER503 Manage active operational emergency disease or pest sites
    • AHCBER504 Manage the implementation of a biosecurity emergency control program
    • AHCBER602 Plan and oversee a biosecurity emergency incident
  • Biosecurity units
    • AHCBIO203 Inspect and clean machinery, tools and equipment to preserve biosecurity
    • AHCBIO204 Follow site biosecurity procedures
    • AHCBIO301 Identify and report signs of unusual disease or pest
    • AHCBIO303 Apply biosecurity measures
    • AHCBIO401 Plan and implement a biosecurity program

The updated units now:

  • align with actual emergency response scenarios
  • incorporate all agricultural and environmental areas
  • include Biosecurity Incident Management System (BIMS) standards
  • have updated terminology to align with current industry use.

If you’re interested in obtaining any of the above units, you can undertake them through any registered training organisation (RTO) that offers them. A list of RTOs can be found on the training.gov.au website.

You can also take these courses with your local state or territory department responsible for biosecurity through Tocal College. Contact your local department to find out when they are next running the training.

Read more about the project on the Skills Impact website.