Tips that help to deliver results
The SSAA Farmer Assist program is a flexible tool designed to support a wide range of pest management needs. Whether you have a single pest issue that can be addressed in one visit or an ongoing problem requiring regular control activities throughout the year, SSAA Farmer Assist is suited to both situations. When posting a job and discussing your requirements with conservation volunteers who respond to your listing, please keep the following tips in mind.
Tip 1: Consider travel times
When planning a job, consider the distance conservation volunteers may need to travel to reach your property. Most volunteers registered with the program are based in metropolitan areas, which may involve significant travel time.
If your property is located a long distance from major metropolitan or regional centres, pest control activities should be planned as a potential week-long commitment. This allows for travel time in both directions and provides sufficient time for volunteers to carry out the required work effectively.
Tip 2: Select a team
When planning a job, consider the distance our volunteers may need to travel to reach your property. Most volunteers registered with the program are based in metropolitan areas, which may involve considerable travel time.
If your property is located a significant distance from major metropolitan or regional centres, pest control activities should be planned as a potential week-long commitment. This approach accounts for travel time in both directions and allows sufficient time to undertake the required work effectively.
Tip 3: Extra set of eyes
Legitimate hunters can help reduce trespassing on rural properties. Regularly inviting volunteers onto your property—particularly on weekends—can decrease the likelihood of unauthorised access by increasing visible activity in the area. The presence of lights, vehicles, or night-time spotlighting can act as a deterrent to potential trespassers.
SSAA Farmer Assist volunteers also provide landholders with an additional set of eyes on their property, helping to monitor activity and discourage unauthorised entry.
Tip 4: Get permits approved
If you require assistance to manage species that legally require a Damage Mitigation Permit (DMP) or Pest Mitigation Permit (PMP), you must submit the relevant applications and obtain approval from the appropriate state authority before any activities commence.
Under the SSAA Farmer Assist Program Rules and Code of Practice, volunteers may only assist with damage or pest mitigation activities where the correct permits have been issued and written approval is in place. You should also provide assisting volunteers with a copy of the relevant permit so they can demonstrate compliance with state regulations if questioned by a third party.
Tip 5: Detail reduces questions
When creating your initial job listing, provide as much detail as possible about available accommodation (on or near your property), the species requiring control, and any conditions or requirements you may have. Including this information helps volunteers assess the job based on their own circumstances.
A clear and detailed listing also ensures that any follow-up contact is with well-informed members who understand the situation and your expectations. Spending an extra few minutes adding detail to your description can save significant time later by reducing the need to answer additional questions.
Tip 6: Use an online calendar to book in activities
When considering how best to coordinate conservation volunteers on your property, we recommend using shared calendar software, such as the free online application Team Up. Effective pest management depends on both the frequency and intensity of control activities, and a shared calendar can help you plan and manage these effectively. A versatile calendar application allows you to schedule and organise activities involving one or multiple volunteers, ensuring all parties can plan around their availability and other work occurring on your property. Where gaps appear in the schedule, you may choose to reuse the SSAA Farmer Assist Jobs Board to source additional volunteers to fill those openings.
Tip 7: Use an online tool to make your agreements clear
If you don’t want to use our paper-based wildlife management plan template to make your needs and requirements clear to your selected volunteers, there are online tools that you can use instead. Kontrak Social provides a free app-based solution that allows you to share your requirements and terms of property access. The app also enables you and volunteers to share images such as maps and supporting documents such as IDs, firearms licences, SSAA Member cards etc., with each other on your smart phones.
Tip 8: Speak with your neighbours and see if they want to participate
If you believe your neighbours are facing the same pest issues, it’s a good idea to discuss the SSAA Farmer Assist program with them. Where an issue extends beyond your property boundary, pests may move between properties in search of shelter or food. Coordinating wildlife management activities across neighbouring properties can increase the overall effectiveness of control efforts, saving time and money for all involved.