Beekeeping Short Course - Bendigo - Victoria - Beekeepers woodend - Woodend beekeeping course 2009 - I138

This course is designed for both new and existing beekeepers (both hobbyists and commercial).

This course is designed for anyone wishing to either commence keeping honey bees as a hobby or gain employment within the honey industry. It covers the practical and theoretical knowledge required for the establishment, operation and maintenance of a beehive and how to responsibly manage European Honeybees (Apis mellifera) for honey production.

There are no prerequisites for anyone wishing to study this program, however participants are required to work in an outside environment, be reasonable fit and have a basic level of literacy and numeracy.

Other Entry Requirements
This course requires you to closely work with bees. If you are uncertain as to whether or not you are allergic to bee venom, you are advised to carefully consider your participation in this course.

Beekeeping Short Course

The course runs over a period of 7 weeks with class sessions one evening per week and two weekend day practical sessions at apiary sites and honey extraction plants.

Classes will be conducted at the Woodend Neighbourhood House, 47 Forest St Woodend, commencing Tuesday 4th November at 6.00pm

Course content covers:

    * Hive equipment
    * Hive construction and maintenance
    * Honeybee biology
    * Colony behaviour      
    * Annual hive management practices
    * Hive manipulations
    * Wintering bees
    * Feeding hives
    * Requeening hives
    * Supporting beekeeping operations  
    * Pest and diseases of bees    
    * Honey flora
    * Removing a honey crop from a hive
    * Extracting honey

Please note that as part of this course there will be 2 Saturday workshops. These workshops will be conducted on Saturday 22nd November and Saturday 6th December from 9.00am - 5.00pm

Accreditation    

This course is accredited by BRIT and contains some units which have National Recognition. For further information please speak to the course coordinator or teacher.

Assessment      You will be assessed as part of this course.

Typical Course Content     (exact details may be obtained from the teaching centre)

RTC2701A     Follow OHS procedures
RTE2156A     Support beekeeping work
RTE2157A     Open and reassemble a beehive
RTE2217A     Construct and repair beehives
RTE2305A     Use a bee smoker
RTE3153A     Manage honey bee swarms
RTE3155A     Manipulate honey bee brood

Recognition of Prior Learning    

Recognition of your current qualifications and prior learning: BRIT has processes to give you credit for relevant units from your prior study, and to assess your prior learning against units in a course.