About Us - Farmerassist

ABOUT US

About Our Services

Farmer Assist is a national community support program that connects Australian farmers and landholders with accredited conservation volunteers from the Sporting Shooters’ Association of Australia (SSAA) to assist with pest animal management. The program is provided free of charge to registered landholders. Through the Farmer Assist online platform, landholders can create job requests describing their pest animal problems—such as feral pigs, foxes, rabbits, wild dogs, deer or other invasive species—and approved conservation volunteers can apply to provide assistance. All conservation volunteers hold verified SSAA membership, maintain required shooting competencies, and are covered by a $20 million public liability insurance policy when operating under the program. Landholders retain full control over who they accept onto their property and the conditions of access. Farmer Assist does not provide costly commercial pest-control contractors; all support is offered by accredited conservation volunteers with an emphasis on safe, responsible, and ethical pest management practices.

Our Team

National Coordinator:
Matthew Godson, Wildlife Biologist

"The SSAA Farmer Assist program has been developed to provide practical, on-ground support to Australia’s farming community in managing pest animals. Farmers and landholders play a vital role in Australia’s agricultural productivity, regional resilience, and environmental stewardship, and this program is one way SSAA members can actively support those efforts.

Pest animals have a significant and ongoing impact on agricultural operations and natural ecosystems. They contribute to economic loss, land degradation, and pressure on native species. The Farmer Assist program is designed to help landholders address these challenges by improving access to skilled, ethical, and responsible pest animal control assistance.

Developed with input from wildlife management professionals, the program applies sound ecological principles, best-practice animal welfare standards, and clear operational guidelines. It is designed to be flexible and effective across a wide range of properties, landscapes, and pest management scenarios. The SSAA is committed to the long-term success of the Farmer Assist program. By supporting landholders and promoting responsible wildlife management, the program contributes to the sustainable protection of Australia’s agricultural and natural resources.

I’m here to help and can guide you through the process. Please feel free to email me at farmerassist@ssaa.org.au to arrange a friendly chat about assistance with your pest animal issues."

Need to ask a question?

If you have a question that has not been answered, you can submit your own by sending an email through the Contact Us button below. One of our coordinators will be happy to assist and answer your question.

Our Values