Plant Health Australia’s revised online pest reporting and responses course aims to help the people working in the field understand what to do, in order to boost effective pest control
Plant Health Australia (PHA) has launched an updated ‘Growers’ Guide to Pest Reporting and Responses’ course on its Biosecurity Online Training (BOLT) platform.
The revamped mobile-friendly course is designed to provide essential biosecurity training to the fingertips of busy growers, farm workers and agronomists.
Free of charge and taking only 20 minutes to complete, the eLearning course aims to boost the understanding of pest reporting and response procedures, which is crucial to protection of the nation’s plant health.
PHA’s course is compatible with smartphones and tablets, allowing users to learn on the go.
“Growers are at the forefront of identifying and responding to plant pests in Australia,” PHA CEO Sarah Corcoran says.
“Our goal is to make it as easy as possible for those on the frontlines of plant health to get the information they need, when they need it,” PHA response national manager Rachel Mann says.
The user-friendly design is a key feature of the online course, providing simplified navigation, enhanced images and interactive graphics. By having a mix of written, video and interactive graphics, the course caters to various learning styles.
It also provides practical steps for reporting pests, information on the benefits of biosecurity and joint responses from government and industry.
Essential topics covered in the course include the potential impact of pests and diseases on Australia’s agricultural industry, how to protect crops and the steps for reporting unusual symptoms or pests.
By providing growers with this knowledge, PHA says the course will increase early detection and reporting – significantly increasing the chances of effective control and eradication of plant pests.