Soil Science Australia in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has launched a new national accreditation for soil professionals.
Soil Science Australia in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has launched a new national accreditation for soil professionals.The Registered Soil Practitioner – Soil Management Accreditation will standardise soil expertise across Australia. A dedicated training program complements the accreditation to bridge expertise and training gaps for soil management professionals.
Certified Professional Soil Scientist and Federal President of Soil Science Australia, Ed Scott says “Both the training and accreditation has been developed in collaboration with soil scientists, industry, government, land and natural resource managers and the wider soil community”.
“Soil professionals that become accredited will be able to display the Registered Soil Practitioner seal as an assurance of a high level of competence in the area covered by that Registered Soil Practitioner accreditation”.
“If you have the accreditation, someone can have confidence in what you can do. Confidence that you know how to take soil samples and that you can give good, accurate recommendations based on those samples.” says Dr Salirian Claff, Accreditation Manager, Soil Science Australia. “We want to make sure that farmers and land managers in particular are getting the right advice.”
The development of the Registered Soil Practitioner training and accreditation has been funded as part of the National Soil Package and the National Soil Strategy which sets out how Australia will value, manage and improve its soil for the next 20 years. The Strategy prioritises soil health, empowers soil innovation and stewards, and strengthens soil knowledge and capability.
“In Australia, soils are a precious and valuable resource. Better management of soils allows farmers to improve this vital resource, address soil issues and build overall soil health” said Michael Walker, Executive Officer, Soil Science Australia.
Applications for accreditation are now open through the Soil Science Australia website.
Further information:
- Registered Soil Practitioner – Soil Management Accreditation – further information about the accreditation.
- Soil Science Australia is the national soil science body and a not-for-profit professional incorporated association for soil scientists and people interested in the responsible management of Australia’s soil resources.
- National Soil Strategy – The National Soil Strategy aims to make sure our soils are valued, managed sustainably and improved so that they continue to contribute to agricultural productivity, environmental sustainability and economic growth
- Smart Soils Community of Practice – creates a bridge between soil science and practical on-the-ground application of soil sampling, soil data collection and interpretation and soil management to improve soil health. Land managers and farmers are encouraged to get in touch with their local Regional Soil Coordinator.
Media/interview enquiries:
Soil Science Australia Federal Office: 0476 450 321 or office@soilscienceaustralia.org.au
Acknowledgements:
Both the Smart Soils Community of Practice and Registered Soil Practitioner program have been funded by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry as part of the National Soil Strategy.