The reclassification of Pest Control Technician is big news for pest mangers and the wider industry – here’s why.
The latest release of the Occupation Standard Classification for Australia has confirmed the re-classification of Pest Control Technician from Labourers (Group 8) to Technician and Trade Workers (Group 3).
This change means pest managers are no longer regarded as labourers by the federal government and will hold the same occupation status as other professional technical tradespeople such as engineers, building technicians and skilled agricultural workers.
This is a significant development for the pest management industry. But why did the industry push for the reclassification and what opportunities does it create?
Why change the classification?
There has long been a feeling in the industry that the classification as Labourer was not an accurate reflection of the skill and knowledge required by the role of a pest technician.
John Murray, Acting President of AEPMA, said, “I have always considered myself a trade worker and pest control/management as a trade, similar to other trade occupations, so this new classification fits with my belief.
“As an industry we believed we were misclassified under ANZSCO; we are a technical trade, not labourers. To validate this belief, nearly 100 pest managers were surveyed at Pesticon 2024 and 97% considered pest management a technical trade. It is clear from discussions on our industry social media pages that the majority also agree. It also makes sense that pest control is grouped with other licensed trade occupations.
“At the end of the day, pest control is an essential service, as we look after public health and the safety and assets of our clients, which requires technical skill and knowledge.”
The re-classification provides official recognition of the status of pest control as a technical trade, which is more than just a feel-good factor for both the industry and individual; it has the potential to open up a range of opportunities for the industry, companies and technicians.
AEPMA is focusing on two key areas of opportunity initially. Firstly, to push for inclusion as a Priority Occupation, which will provide significant recruitment benefits for businesses. Secondly, to review, develop and approve a new training and assessment package for the industry, which will also consider licensing.
Immediate benefits for pest control companies
Recognition as a technical trade allows our industry to push for inclusion as a Priority Occupation under the Australian Apprenticeship Priority List (which also includes traineeships).
This will provide pest businesses with access to employer funding for training, training support payments (trainees) and other government support programs e.g. women in trades, disability and skilled migration. At a time when finding new employees is a major constraint on business growth, this will provide some relief. Without inclusion on the Australian Apprenticeship Priority List, however, government support for the pest control industry will be limited. The hope is that Pest Control Technician will be added before the end of 2025.
One question many pest managers will ask is whether this change in categorisation might lead to changes in pay rates. Ultimately, pay rates will be dictated by the industry as currently most companies pay above the award.
Improvements to training and licensing
It is widely recognised in the industry that the training and licensing system is not working, and change is required.
In acknowledgement of the industry wanting the training system to be better, BuildSkills Australia, the Jobs and Skills Council (JSC) responsible for pest management, and AEPMA have been collaborating on a proposal for a review of the pest management training package. The proposal will be submitted to the Federal Government in early 2025.
BuildSkills Australia is the Jobs and Skills Council for the built environment sector – established by the federal government to work with industry to find solutions to the workforce challenges facing the construction, property and water industries. Following the recognition of pest control as a trade, Mr Murray acknowledged the high level of engagement from BuildSkills Australia.
“BuildSkills has assured AEPMA that they are open to any or all changes to the training package and for the project to take as long as it needs to ensure a suitable outcome for the industry. This is a significant step forward from previous package reviews that have been hampered by government red tape and unrealistic completion timeframes,” said Mr Murray.
“This is a watershed moment for our industry, an opportunity that has not arisen since the competency standards were introduced, but it will be up to the industry to drive the change.”
This proposal (once the project is approved) will be comprehensive and include a review of all aspects of training, assessment and ultimately licensing.
Mr Murray was keen to emphasise the collaborative effort required. “It will be industry-led, so when the time comes, there will be a callout for experts to get involved in advisory groups and working parties to make sure we receive a wide range of input from different parts of the industry, and businesses of all sizes,” he said.
Apprenticeship or traineeship?
Recognition as a technical trade does not mean the industry has to implement an apprenticeship scheme.
“We just need a robust and specialised training system that leads to a technical qualification outcome. This can be gained through a traineeship or an apprenticeship. Which path the industry chooses and how long the training should take will be part of the review process,” said Mr Murray.
“My opinion is that a traineeship works better for our industry, as we are a unique trade where a traditional apprenticeship model does not fit.”
A bright future ahead
The re-classification of pest control as a technical trade is a significant development for the industry and can provide the platform for changes that can transform the industry. However, a significant amount of work is required to explore all the opportunities that this re-classification provides and many of these are ‘once in a generation’ opportunities, which are important to get right.
Mr Murray said, “I am eager to see the advancements in our industry through the technical trade journey, which will significantly benefit all pest management businesses. This crucial first step aims to ensure our industry is recognised as a priority occupation by federal, state, and territory governments, deserving the same support as other trades and licensed occupations.
“As an industry-led initiative, the redevelopment of our training package will require contributions from all stakeholders, including professional pest managers, registered training organisations, suppliers, and manufacturers. When the time comes, I encourage everyone to participate and contribute to these initiatives.
“For more information or if you would like to get involved, please contact me at [email protected].”
Re-classification – A long process from Labourer to Technician and Trade Worker
Until recently, the occupation of a Pest Management Technician had been regarded by the Government as a form of labour, with Pest Management Technician classified by the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) as a Labourer (Group 8). The Labourers category includes those workers that assist more skilled workers in construction, mining, forestry and other trades involving “repetitive physical tasks using hand and power tools and machines.”
The drive to change the classification has been the work of an AEPMA working group over several years, with the core team consisting of Phil Sayer (Garrards), John Murray (Flick Anticimex), and Bruce Dekker (ProTrain), with support from the Garrards management team and the wider AEPMA organisation. 2024 saw the team achieve their goal, with the change of classification first announced at Pesticon 2024 and ratified on December 6, 2024 by the Australian Government.
Under the Occupation Standard Classification for Australia (OSCA), which replaces ANZSCO, Pest Controllers/Technicians have been moved to Group 3 Technicians and Trade Workers, specifically Group 3991 (Pest Control Technicians) under Group 39 (Other Technicians and Trade Workers). A Pest Control Technician being described as one who, “Implements and applies pest management techniques to manage and control animal and invertebrate pests inside and outside domestic, commercial and industrial premises.”
