ACCREDITATION TRAINING FOR QUARANTINE APPROVED PREMISES STAFF A “MUST DO”
AQIS routinely permits individuals, companies and institutions to handle goods that are “subject to quarantine” at their own premises if those premises are approved by AQIS as Quarantine Approved Premises (QAPs). In fact, QAPs form an important part of Australia’s quarantine risk management strategy. A diverse range of over two thousand QAPs are currently operating around Australia, including laboratories, plant glasshouses, facilities that store and process agricultural products, and facilities that treat quarantine waste, to name just a few.
If you are operating under a Compliance Agreement for Class 1 QAPs this notice does not apply to you
To enhance quarantine risk management at QAPs, AQIS, together with the Industry Working Group on Quarantine (IWGQ), has developed an on-line quarantine training package for QAP operators. This training package is designed to increase the quarantine awareness and knowledge of people working in QAPs who handle quarantine items. The people who complete this training will gain status with AQIS as QAP Accredited Persons.
Importantly, from 28 April 2006 it is a Condition of Approval to operate as a QAP that only QAP Accredited Persons will be permitted to conduct the handling (or supervise the handling by non-accredited personnel) of quarantine items at QAPs. This means that each QAP operator will need to have sufficient people trained as QAP Accredited Persons if they wish to maintain their approval as a QAP.
The QAP Accredited Person training became available on-line in December last year. Many people have already completed their training and, in doing so, have become recognised by AQIS as QAP Accredited Persons.
The training takes just a few hours to complete. The on-line delivery mode allows participants to progress at their own pace and at times that suit them. The feedback from people who have completed the course has been encouraging with the majority of respondents enjoying the on-line style and finding the training easy to follow and complete.
It is suggested that those person wishing to become accredited enrol early to avoid having to complete the course close to the deadline of 28th April 2006.
More information on the QAP Accredited Person training and other developments relating to QAPs can be found at www.aqis.gov.au/qapupdate
