New to Ag Institute? Register Now
With the incorporation of the Australian Association of Agricultural Consultants (AAAC) into The AIAST, the united body, trading as the Ag Institute Australia has become the peak organisation representing all professionals in agriculture including those in commercial agribusinesses (employees or self-employed), or the public sector (Government advisers, University academics and researchers or teachers in educational institutions).
One of the undertakings the AIAST Board gave to the AAAC Management Committee was that the re-vamped organisation would re-introduce a professional accreditation scheme and a register of Agricultural Professionals.
The Board appointed an accreditation committee and agreement has been reached through Charles Stuart University to offer the program from the beginning of 2012. Subject to further review CPAg will remain in place until the end of 2013.
The accreditation, which is voluntary, is only available to Institute members. By the beginning of 2014 the accreditation will be a prerequisite qualification for inclusion on the register. It will carry the post nominal (AgC). Members may choose to remain as members of the institute and use the Institute post nominal (AIA).
Download AgCredited brochure
AgCredited (2125 KB)
There is widespread acknowledgement that all professionals in agriculture and natural resource management who are interacting with clients should be accredited and meet minimum standards of knowledge and ethics, and only provide evidence-based recommendations and information underpinned by good science and economics, and not based on belief or fashion. A strong, credible accreditation program helps to protect our profession and Australia's reputation in agricultural and related production, and natural resource management.
AgCredited provides a benchmark of quality assurance standards which the professional has to satisfy through independent assessment.
This new framework for accreditation builds on the pilot AgCredited accreditation program of the AAAC and the CPAg program of the AIAST.
AgCredited is for all agricultural and natural resource management professionals in commercial agribusinesses (employees or self employed), or the public sector (government advisers, university academics, researchers, vocational education teachers) and members of specialist professional groups and societies. It is especially applicable to those who undertake activities as a consultant or contractor, teach, undertake research, or give specific technical, financial, managerial or policy advice to farmers, agribusiness, catchment managers, community groups, government agencies, public utilities or potential investors.
Those already holding AgCredited status will not be required to undertake the process again, but will be required to keep up to date by meeting annual professional development requirements.
Those holding CPAg status may continue to meet those requirements as a recognition of ongoing professional development. The CPAg program will be revamped and will remain in place until at least 30 November 2013.
