These are legal requirements that apply to all wildlife commercial licence holders, as specified in the Wildlife Regulations 2024.
Commercial licence conditions
Employees
Wildlife Regulations 2024, Reg 58 An employee of a holder of ... any wildlife controller licence must carry a legible copy of the employer’s licence when undertaking any activity under that licence. Wildlife Regulations 2024, Reg 111 |
Objective
To ensure all employees are aware of the requirements under the licences and maintain wildlife welfare under the licence.
How to comply
You are required to take reasonable steps to ensure employees are trained to prevent conduct that is in breach of your licence. You are liable as the licence holder for the conduct of your employees unless you have taken reasonable steps to ensure they avoid this conduct.
You must provide a copy of your licence to your employees prior to them undertaking any activity on your behalf, and ensure your employee carries a copy of your licence when undertaking control activities.
Train your employees in all activities they will undertake under the licence, including the specific requirements outlined in this guide. This ensures they can undertake wildlife control activities lawfully.
Employees should also be trained in the skills of capture, handling and management of wildlife as permitted by your licence.
Additionally, employees should be trained in first aid for both animals and humans. When handling or capturing venomous snakes, it is particularly important that staff are capable of applying the correct first-aid treatment for snakebite.
The holder of a wildlife controller licence must always be directly present for all activities under that licence – an employee cannot control any wildlife without the licence holder present.
This allows for wildlife controller licence holders to operate with an assistant or in pairs for safety purposes but does not allow employees to undertake potentially high-risk activities (such as the capture and handling of venomous snakes) without the employer present to ensure responsible conduct under the licence. If an employer requires an employee to undertake control without supervision, the employee also needs to hold a valid wildlife controller licence in their name.
You should provide your employees with adequate safeguards to protect their health. This may include, but is not limited to, appropriate handwashing facilities, protective clothing and equipment, tetanus immunisation and access to antivenenes. You must also implement appropriate hygiene measures to prevent the transmission of disease-causing organisms which can be transmitted to humans (zoonoses). This is particularly important for species known for harbouring zoonoses.
If your employees change, you must notify the Conservation Regulator. Refer to Change of staff below.
Change of staff
Wildlife Regulations 2024, Reg 37 |
Objective
To maintain oversight of all persons in Victoria engaging with wildlife under a licence.
How to comply
An employee is a person registered under the business to carry out activities on behalf of the licence holder.
You must notify the Conservation Regulator within 10 business days of any changes to the employment status of employees who undertake activities in accordance with your wildlife licence.
You can notify us by completing the Changes to employee employment status form on our website. An updated licence and employee register will be provided to the licence holder following notification.
More information and notification forms are available on our website.
See Commercial licence obligations and record keeping(opens in a new window)
Email wildlifelicensing@deeca.vic.gov.au
Change of responsible person
It is a condition of any wildlife licence held by a person who is not a natural person that the licence holder must notify the relevant body in writing within 10 business days of any change of the natural person who is responsible for managing the activities authorised under the licence. Wildlife Regulations 2024, Reg 36 (2) |
Objective
To ensure licence details are up to date and the person responsible for the wildlife licence is identifiable.
How to comply
You must notify the Conservation Regulator within 10 business days to any change to the nominated responsible natural person, where the licence is issued to a business. You can do this by completing the form available on our website.
An amended licence will be posted to you.
See Commercial licence obligations and record keeping(opens in a new window)
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