To participate in the SSAA Farmer Assist program, members are required to demonstrate a competent level of firearm proficiency. This requirement ensures an appropriate standard of marksmanship comparable to that expected of commercial macropod harvesters (professional shooters).
Establishing clear proficiency standards helps address claims that wildlife control activities should only be undertaken by paid professionals. In some parts of the community, resistance to non-commercial participation is driven by ideology or perceived animal welfare concerns. However, payment alone does not guarantee effective or humane outcomes. The skill requirements of this program are designed to demonstrate competence and professionalism and to address these concerns directly.
SSAA National considers animal welfare to be appropriately addressed within the SSAA Farmer Assist program through mandatory proficiency requirements and adherence to our dedicated Program Rules and Code of Practice. Codes of Practice are widely used across industries to manage animal welfare obligations and provide assurance of consistent, acceptable standards. Together, these requirements ensure that participating members possess the necessary skills and knowledge to carry out control activities responsibly and with a strong focus on animal welfare.
Ethical hunting and shooting principles require shooters to make every reasonable effort to minimise suffering. This includes getting as close as practicable to the target and, where circumstances allow, shooting from a stable, supported position. Supported positions may include the use of bipods, vehicle-mounted shooting rests, fence posts, or natural supports such as trees, branches, or ground features.
To demonstrate the required marksmanship standard, members must shoot a five-shot group within the assessment zones of the SSAA Farmer Assist Assessment Target at an SSAA-approved range. Either a rimfire or centrefire rifle may be used. Once the assessment is successfully completed, a range officer must sign off on the target. Members must retain the signed target (or digital copy) and make it available to the landholder on request.
Assessment distances are as follows:
Rimfire rifles: minimum distance of 50 metres
Centrefire rifles: minimum distance of 50 or 100 metres, depending on range limitations*.
*From January 2026, a new assessment target has been introduced to allow members to qualify with centrefire rifles at ranges limited to 50-metre shooting distances. To support this, a smaller assessment zone has been incorporated into the target, which is calibrated to reflect the equivalent skill requirement of shooting at 100 metres.
Rimfire assessments will also be conducted using this new, reduced assessment area.
Members may choose their preferred field shooting position for the assessment, including the use of a bipod or other fore-end support. However, bench-rest shooting—where the firearm is fully supported at both the fore-end and stock—is not permitted.
If you intend to participate in activities that require the use of a centrefire rifle, you should complete the assessment using that firearm to demonstrate appropriate competency.
To arrange an assessment, members should contact their local SSAA range to confirm the most suitable time to undertake the shoot. In most cases, assessments can be completed during casual shooting sessions outside of competition days.
