Proceedings of the Vertebrate Pest Conference

The Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre (IACRC) has developed an end-user centred information toolkit based on developing and implementing best-practice regional and local management strategies for pest animals. The PestSmart Toolkit has consolidated the latest knowledge on strategic planning and management of major Australian agricultural and environmental pest animal species, combined with product use manuals, case-studies, fact-sheets, guidelines and extension materials including videos and social networking. Much of this has been derived from the IACRC’s 7-year (2005-2012) research and development program, but the Toolkit also adopts prior best practise techniques and knowledge where appropriate. All PestSmart Toolkit products and publications are freely available online at www.feral.org.au/pestsmart/. A great deal of information is already live and more is on the way. Users can browse the information based on pest species of interest, type of information required (e.g., policy and legislation, management, maps, images), or information relevant to different groups of people (land managers, regional/natural resource managers, policy makers). The PestSmart Toolkit formed the basis of a nationwide PestSmart Roadshow, conducted in all state and mainland territories of Australia between January and June 2012. Roadshow events have directly demonstrated the PestSmart Toolkit, along with the use and benefits of the new and soon to be registered pest animal control products and techniques available to land managers. The overall process, which combined the establishment of the PestSmart website, 60+ factsheets and case studies, Facebook and Twitter accounts, YouTube channel, 20-stop national PestSmart Roadshow day-long events, and promotional material, has been incredibly well received and has significantly changed the face of pest animal management in Australia. This has been indicated by participant feedback, website usage, and new product sales. The PestSmart approach is recommended for other states or countries interested in reinvigorating the overall public morale and participation in pest animal control.