DFES Online-Bushfire-Fundamentals-Course

Bushfire Fundamentals has been developed to support those who undertake duties in supporting Incident Management Teams at bushfires. It is targeted at personnel working at incidents such as utility companies, St John WA, contractors, WA Police and Department of Defence. The course provides an overview of bushfire characteristics and behavior, bushfire safety and survival, the Australasian Inter-Service Incident Management System (AIIMS) and the role of WA fire agencies in bushfire response.

DFES Online-Rural-Fire-Awareness-Training

Rural Fire Awareness is targeted at farmer response brigades and seasonal workers to provide students with a basic awareness of fireground safety, suppression strategies and maintaining their safety when operating on a fireground.

Handle chemicals safely.

This course will provide you with the knowledge and skills required to manage risks associated with chemical use, and to understand your obligations in the areas of duty of care, quality assurance and environmental management.

Overview

Campus: Margaret River
When: All year round
Study Mode: On Campus

Participants will learn on a practical level how to improve their integrated pest management programmes, to better choose the right chemical for the job and to apply it more accurately.  The course is designed for people who will be spraying chemicals without supervision.

On successful completion of this course, students will receive a statement of attainment for the following nationally accredited units:

• AHCCHM307 Prepare and apply chemicals to control pest, weeds and diseases; and
• AHCCHM304 Transport and store chemicals.

Learn more.

Learn how to safely operate a chainsaw.

This course covers the process of maintaining, preparing and operating hand-held chainsaws in a work environment.

Overview

Campus: Margaret River
When: All year round
Study Mode: On Campus

These skills can be transferred to the homestead, are useful for home gardners and could lead to employment in parks and gardens or landscaping.

You will gain skills and knowledge in understanding the correct type of chainsaw for a particular task, how to use the chainsaw, maintain the chainsaw and store suitable personal protective equipment.

You will also carry out routine checks and maintenance on a chainsaw, apply appropriate chainsaw techniques, cutting methods according to manufacturer’s specifications and documented low risk work procedures; assess and minimise environmental impacts of chainsaw use; maintain records of chainsaw training and certification, risk assessment and use.

On successful completion of this course, students will receive a statement of attainment for the following nationally accredited unit AHCMOM213 Operate and Maintain Chainsaws

Learn more.

Tuesday 13 May, 11am – 12pm AWST

Join Wine Communicators Australia for an insightful webinar where Eloise Leaver from the National AI Centre will delve into the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the wine industry. This presentation will cover key themes such as the general applications of AI, specific use cases in various aspects of the wine industry, as well as the importance of safe and responsible AI practices.

Wine marketers, sellers, and makers will gain valuable insights into how AI can enhance customer engagement, optimise production processes, and create efficiencies. Don’t miss this opportunity to stay ahead of the curve and discover how AI can revolutionize the way we make, sell, and enjoy wine.

Whether you are a wine enthusiast, a marketer looking to innovate, or a producer aiming to improve efficiency, this webinar will provide you with the knowledge and tools to leverage AI effectively.

This webinar is FREE to WCA Members.

• Members CLICK HERE to register.
• Non-members will be charged $50+GST to access the webinar. To pay and register, please CLICK HERE

Thursday 22 May 2025 | 10am AWST

New rootstocks, recently released by CSIRO, offer an extended suite of rootstock varieties for Australian grape growers to address specific requirements for different climates, soil types and specific scion cultivars.  Useful traits of these rootstocks include tolerance to soil borne pests such as root-knot nematodes and phylloxera; drought and salt tolerance; enhanced water use efficiency;  sustained performance under limited water supply and optimal fruit composition and wine quality attributes.

Learn more and register here

Wednesday 28 May, 10am to 1.30pm

Join DPIRD for an insightful workshop with the United Kingdom’s “Dr Food”, Professor David Hughes. With his extensive knowledge of global food and beverage issues, Professor Hughes will delve into trends and industry developments, while highlighting opportunities for Western Australian manufacturers. Learn more.

Wednesday 28 May, 8.30am – 1pm

Join agroecologist/viticulturist Dr Mary Retallack, Retallack Viticulture Pty Ltd and Regional On-ground Coordinator, Bec Archer who will host a National EcoVineyards event.

We are delighted to welcome our special guest presenters:

• Dr Boyd Wykes, Owl Friendly Margaret River: Birds in vineyards
• Scott Paton, Nutrien Ag Solutions: Monitoring/managing snails, and bio-control of mealybugs and fungal pathogens in Margaret River vineyards
• Yann Vaucher, Wayfinder: Vineyard walk

Learn more and book here. Bookings are essential.

Thursday, June 12, 2025, 8:30am-1:30pm

Venue: Council Chambers, Augusta Margaret River Shire Building

Speakers: Luke Morgan (DPIRD), Nick Tsvetkov (DPIRD), Richard Fennessy (DPIRD), Alison White (Environmental Consultant), and Felipe Barrirareyes (DPIRD)

Content: Sustainable wastewater management pathways, regulatory compliance, measurement and monitoring systems for different sized operations, case studies of leading wine regions, practical scenarios for large/medium/small producers, innovative treatment technologies, and digital monitoring solutions.

Book here.

Monday 16 to Wednesday 18 June 2025 –  Marlborough, NZ  

Join Organic Winegrowers NZ for this compelling three-day technical conference, focusing on vital topics such as climate change, water ecology, biodiversity, soil health, biodynamics, regenerative viticulture, and much more.

Bringing together leading industry experts and speakers from across Aotearoa and the globe, the conference is designed for all wine industry producers – from the certified organic to the curious. Expect innovation, knowledge-sharing, and networking to inspire the future of winegrowing. It’s perfect for vineyard practitioners/managers, viticulturists, winemakers, exporters, and wine marketers.

Speakers include Rajat Parr (USA), Joseph Brinkley (USA), Katia Nussbaum (Italy), Dr. Mike Joy (NZ), Dr. Mary Retallack (Australia), Mike Saunders (Australia), Jim Bowskill (NZ), Jeremy Hyland (NZ), and Jens Merkle (NZ).

Included with your conference pass is the opportunity to explore some of New Zealand’s best organic wines, poured by their producers, at the Aotearoa Organic Tasting on the first night of the conference.

Also on offer is an evening dedicated to reflection, celebration, and connection through exceptional food, delicious wine, and meaningful conversation: the Matariki Organic Feast on the second night. This year’s theme, “A Touch of Sparkle,” is inspired by the stars of the Matariki constellation. A separate ticketed event that sells out each year, the feast promises to be a memorable experience. Our special guest chef will be announced soon – you won’t want to miss this!

The conference concludes with the final ticketed evening event – the International Organic Tasting, Mai Tawhiti – From a Distance. Taste iconic international organic wines, riverside, with light bites and ambient tunes.

Learn More.

Friday 18 July 2025 10.30am 4.00pm 

Navigating a changing world

Domestic and international insights, market activations and promotional programs for Australian wine producers, exporters, and trade.

Unpack opportunities and potential for our wine markets, as we navigate a changing world together.

Don’t miss key presentations, panel discussions and Q&A.

Wine Australia international market teams will also be available to meet and discuss specific queries with you.

Morning/afternoon tea and lunch will be provided.

Please bring a bottle of wine to showcase at the networking session.

Event will be recorded.

Find out more and register

Monday 21 to Wednesday 23 July 2025

Why this event is a must attend
After the past two years the importance of reconnecting with key suppliers and partners face-to-face has never been more important.
Do it all over three amazing days in one convenient location with the best suppliers, leading educational sessions and key industry bodies.

Find out more.

Register here for free exhibition pass.

 

AWAC 63: Monday 17 – Thursday 20 November
AWAC 64: Monday 24 – Thursday 27 November

Founded in 1992, the Advanced Wine Assessment Course (AWAC) is an intensive four-day course designed for participants with considerable formal wine tasting experience. It aims to prepare potential new wine show judges and develop the sensory analysis capabilities and the vocabulary of Australian wine industry personnel at an elite level.

The AWAC is presented under a four-day format, which includes approximately 40 hours of activities over four days. Twelve leading wine show judges, journalists and winemakers assist in the presentation of the course.

The aims of the course include:

• providing training in the techniques and practices of wine show judging
• investigating and challenging the criteria on which tasters make decisions on wine quality and preference
• improving participants’ ability to communicate clearly and effectively with other judges and to justify their reasoning for allocating wines at different quality levels
• improving participants’ appreciation and recognition of different wine styles, blends or regional character
• providing a statistical evaluation of tasting performance with respect to:
  • discrimination – the degree to which wines of different quality levels are separated based on quality score
  • reliability – a measure of scoring consistency, or the ability of a judge to reproduce results on different tasting occasions
  • absolute average difference – a more straightforward measure of consistency – the average difference between scores given to wines on repeat tastings
  • stability – a measure of propensity to systematically score wines higher or lower on the second tasting relative to the first

Learn more an register interest here.

South Regional TAFE Margaret River campus offers a range of short courses including forklift operation, barista, first aid and evaluate wines.

Find courses here.

If you wish to discuss any skills / training requirements for your business please contact [email protected]

Further information on what skills / training is already available may be found at this here

Kickstart and exciting career in the wine industry.

On completion of this course you will gain insights in the procedural and technical tasks in bottling and packaging, cellar operations and laboratory testing, customer service tasks in cellar door, tasks related to wine grape growing and harvesting and post-harvesting.

Overview

Campus: Margaret River
When: Semester 1, 2025 | Semester 2, 2025
Study Mode: Full-Time

This qualification describes the skills and knowledge required for operational workers in the wine industry. These workers carry out skilled tasks under broad direction in a range of sectors. Some of these sectors include procedural and technical tasks in bottling and packaging, cellar operations and laboratory testing, customer service tasks in cellar door, tasks related to wine grape growing and harvesting and post-harvesting.

Learn more. 

Expand your knowledge in the wine industry. 

This qualification will provide you with the practical skills and knowledge to meet the needs of managers in the viticulture industry.

Overview

Campus: Margaret River
When: Semester 2, 2025 | Semester 1, 2025
Study Mode: Full-Time | Part-Time

Learn more.

Find WA Wines to the World upcoming information sessions and past presentation’s and recordings here.

A healthy soil is vital to ensure both high yields and future high yields, as well as environmental protection – there are no negative consequences on the ecosystem from having a healthy soil! But what IS a healthy soil?

Soil health can be defined as a soil’s ability to function and sustain plants, animals and humans as part of the ecosystem. This definition speaks to the importance of managing soils so they are sustainable for future generations. To do this, we need to remember that soil contains living organisms that, when provided the basic necessities of life – food, shelter, and water, – perform functions required to produce food and fibre.

This workshop aims to give participants an introduction to management practices and tools that work to repair and regenerate our soil ecosystems and build resilience from the ground up.

Session 1: Management practices to improve soil health & microbial diversity
Richard Leask, South Australian Viticulturalist & 2019 Nuffield Scholar

View live recording here.
Download PDF of presentation here.

Session 2: The soil health tool kit
Emeritus Professor Lynn Abbott
Download presentation here.

Find out more about the program and speakers here.

This event has been made possible through a collaboration between Lower Blackwood Catchment Land Conservation District Committee and the Margaret River Wine Association and is supported by Leaskagri, Wine Australia, Soil Dynamics and Grow Safe.

Interactive Insights – book now for specialised training

Wine Australia has recently launched its new Interactive Insights portal and we’re offering tailored training on how to access targeted information for your state or region.

If you’re yet to do so, we’d encourage you to register for training here.

The adoption of organic and sustainable viticultural and winemaking practices is increasing around the world in response to climate change and economic, health and other social concerns of land managers and wine consumers. Organic and sustainable production systems have many similarities, with both aiming to protect and enhance the natural environment and ecological diversity. The two systems have different approaches to achieving those aims. In this webinar, Liz Pitcher will address some of the more common questions about these two production systems.

View webinar here.

The conference will hear from grape and wine producers and leading researchers who will present the latest findings on bushfire preparedness, smoke effects and recovery from fire to ensure that grapegrowers, winemakers and businesses are better prepared, better informed and better equipped to handle the decisions that need to be made before, during and after bushfires.

Listen here.

The Chardonnay clone Gingin was imported into Western Australia in 1957 and has become one of Australia’s oldest recognised Chardonnay clones. While its phenotypic similarity to other Chardonnay clones has been noted, its exact origins remained a mystery. The AWRI has established a robust methodology for Chardonnay clonal identification that harnesses the detailed information provided by whole-genome DNA sequencing. This genomic technology was applied to unravel the history of this important grapevine clone by sequencing samples of Gingin and other clones suspected to be related to Gingin, including Mendoza and OF Chard. The findings shed light on the origins of these Chardonnay clones, while demonstrating the utility of the clonal genetic identification technology.

Watch recording.

Alcohol Beverages Advertising Code Online Training

This course includes a series of short videos, interspersed with questions, designed to educate and consolidate an alcohol marketer’s understanding of the ABAC system and the high standards for marketing and packaging alcohol in Australia.

Allow about 1 1/4 hours to complete the course.

Complete training here.

Employers of vintage and pruning workers are invited to join Rural Enterprises, the Harvest Trail Services (HTS) Provider for the South West, to an online Information Session on:

• Who are Rural Enterprises?
• What is the Harvest Trail Service (HTS)?
• There is no cost to use the HTS services.
• Overview of the services they provide:
  – Planning your workforce and recruitment needs
  – Sourcing suitable workers to meet your vineyard labour needs
  – Advertising your job vacancies on the Harvest Trail Jobs Board
  – Connecting you with eligible workers
• Reliable information about fair, safe, and legal work arrangements and responsibilities of the employer
• Latest Seasonal Worker Trends
• What Seasonal Workers are looking for
• Learnings from Vintage 2021
• How to secure your workforce for the upcoming pruning season
• Q&A

Find Zoom recording here, the link also includes the PowerPoint Presentation and the Harvest Trail Services brochure.

Eligible wine businesses can create a listing on the Australian Tourism Data Warehouse (ATDW) at no cost to increase their online exposure. To take advantage of this opportunity, wineries can view the online training videos and see the new wine-related features, developed with funding from the Australian Government’s $50 million Export and Regional Wine Support Package.

Tourism Australia, Ultimate Winery Experiences and Wine Australia jointly present domestic marketing insights for wine and tourism businesses. Tourism Australia’s Robin Mack will discuss the renewed focus, strategy and support in the domestic market. Robin will also be sharing valuable consumer insights from their Consumer Demand Project and detail the tourism distribution ‘journey’.

Sustainable Winegrowing Australia is Australia’s national program for grapegrowers and winemakers to demonstrate and continuously improve their sustainability in the vineyard and winery through the environmental, social and economic aspects of their businesses. This webinar will provide an overview of the program including membership requirements, certification and use of the new Sustainable Winegrowing Australia trust mark.

Watch webinar recording

9 July 12.30 pm – 1.30 pm

Australia’s climate is variable, and it is changing. Grapegrowers and winemakers in Australia are already adjusting practices in their vineyards and wineries to keep pace. However, to date, many of these changes have been reactive; driven by the changes that are experienced season-to-season.

The new, world-leading resource Australia’s Wine Future: A Climate Atlas will help improve our climate adaptation response, as it provides a range of detailed insights about how the climate is projected to change within each of Australia’s wine regions until 2100.

Presented by Dr Rebecca Harris and Dr Tom Remenyi of the Climate Futures team at the University of Tasmania, this webinar will explore The Climate Atlas and what it shows for Australian wine regions in the Regional Program clusters.

The Climate Atlas combines a series of climate change models to clearly show projected trends in temperature, rainfall, aridity and in their distribution patterns in regions of Australia where grapes are grown.

It will help to explore the regionally specific climate challenges that we will need to manage and includes an indication of which regions around the country are similar now to through to the predicted conditions in 2100, allowing growers and wineries to look to their peers and viticultural experts around the country on how to adapt for the future.

Click here to watch a special report on Landline about The Climate Atlas or here to download the Climate Atlas.

Watch webinar recording here

Join Wine Australia CEO Andreas Clark who will introduce the newly released Wine Australia Strategic Plan 2020–25. This Plan provides a pathway to support profitable, resilient and sustainable winegrape and wine businesses and addresses key issues including growing value, export, wine tourism, innovation, climate change, sustainability and biosecurity. In addition, Andreas will introduce the Annual Operational Plan outlining Wine Australia’s plans for the next 12 months. Also hear from Stu Barclay – Wine Australia’s GM Marketing, Dr Liz Waters – Wine Australia’s GM Research, Development and Adoption and Rachel Triggs – Wine Australia’s General Counsel and GM – Market Access in this webinar which is not to be missed!

Watch recording