Staff Changes
Agsafe communications officer Olivia Porter has left Agsafe to take on a new role and goes with our blessing. She is keen to learn and is enjoying the challenges of her new role.
While we find a replacement for Olivia, this issue of the bulletin is being edited by Alison Carmichael, General Manager, who has added some editorial of her own…
A message from the General Manager
A horse trainer and breeder recently rang the Agsafe office looking for safety training for her staff. After a number of incidences, the State regulator had become interested in the sector and she was looking for a “one-stop shop” to
help her know how to be compliant.
The breeder commented on how lucky she thought the agricultural reseller sector was to have assessment and training available that was tailored specifically for them, and was hoping we might know if there was a similar not-for-profit organisation that could provide the same to horse businesses. Unfortunately we couldn’t offer her any names.
Reflecting on the horse breeder’s predicament I invite Agsafe members to not take Agsafe and the services it delivers to the sector for granted. In 20 or more years Agsafe has developed its training and assessment services to the extent that they became “mature” products, although some of those less kind might call them stale. Instead I invite you all to help us redesign the services so that they better meet your needs. Landmark was the first group to demand something different from Agsafe and in doing so freed up the organisation to think about how it might better service other types of businesses.
We are now in discussion with a number of other groups about how to deliver our services in ways that match their business needs and we have learned a lot in a short time. Additionally, we are now considering offering our services as a package to companies that have between 3 and 10 premises, rather than only servicing the individual stores.
As always we are keen to continue to provide for the needs of independent stores and would welcome any comments on how we might improve services to our members who fall into this category.
There are plenty of changes happening in Agsafe that will not become apparent to members for a few months yet. In the meantime we are keen to keep learning about how our members conduct their business and where we can add the most value to ensure the safe and responsible storage, transport and sale of agvet chemicals. No more “one size fits all”! Now is the time to let us know what is working, and what is not.
Email alison.carmichael@agsafe.com.au all call 02 6230 4799.
Changes for drumMUSTER
Long serving drumMUSTER Regional Consultant Bevan Henderson recently announced his resignation from his role with the program effective from 31 March 2016.
Bevan was instrumental in establishing the drumMUSTER program throughout Western Australia, working with Local Government Shires and Councils across WA to gain their acceptance to implement the program within their regions.
Early in the program his efforts, in conjunction with a local processor, resulted in a major clean-up of over 350,000 stockpiled containers held at local council tips and on farms which was pivotal to “kick starting” the program in WA, which has continued to grow and grow year on year.
With Bevan’s encouragement, Western Australia became the first State to work with local community groups to provide inspection services for the program. Through his efforts numerous local community groups have raised considerable funds to help financially support their local initiatives.
Graeme Passmore joined the team in 2005 allowing Bevan to focus his drumMUSTER efforts and expand his work into Agsafe’s other programs. Bevan has more recently been responsible for the region north of the Great Eastern Highway.
drumMUSTER is greatly indebted to Bevan for his outstanding contribution to the program and we wish him all the best with his future endeavours.
Graeme Passmore, drumMUSTER’s Southern WA Regional Consultant, will be handling all drumMUSTER enquiries for the state and assisting Councils with continuing to provide the valuable drumMUSTER service to levy payers.
Western Australian members can be assured that Bevan is still providing training and premises accreditation assessments.
Click this link for website news article.
ChemClear on its way to WA
With three weeks to go until the booking line for the West Australian collection closes on 22 April 2016, now is the perfect time to register any obsolete agvet chemicals for collection.
Over 8,000 litres of chemical has been registered so far by waste holders across the state, including farmers, rural businesses and golf courses.
“Registrations for this year’s collection are growing with the booking line busy with chemical users keen to utilise our service,” said National Program Manager Lisa Nixon.
Lisa notes the findings from recent research carried out by the Royal Flying Doctor Service (see item later in this newsletter) that found the likelihood of death from poisoning in rural areas is 3.5 times higher than urban areas. “We can help to reduce the likelihood of accidental poisoning by checking sheds and storages and be proactive in registering unwanted chemicals for safe collection and disposal prior to the booking line closing date”.
