ParaBoss Certificate in Sheep Parasite Management

Learn the principles and practices of effective integrated parasite management of sheep in Australia, covering worms, flies and lice:

• the key parasites of sheep and how to exploit their weaknesses
• methods to limit parasite build up and exposure to stock
• parasite monitoring and testing*, and decisions on when treatments should occur
• treatment chemicals, including their types, application methods, timing, and how to reduce the rate at which chemical resistance develops
• breeding sheep for resistance to worms and flystrike
• use of ParaBoss online tools to assist parasite management decision-making

*The course does not include training on how to conduct worm egg counts, rather it covers why and when worm egg counts should be carried out.

This course is designed for:

1. Rural merchandise staff
2. Sheep veterinarians, farm consultants, and sheep extension staff
3. Students in animal and veterinary courses with sheep health components
4. Sheep producers, livestock managers and their staff

Producers are welcome do the course too, but they are not a key target audience.

Ultimate benefit

The ultimate benefit of the course is to sheep producers, whose advisors will have accurate knowledge across the breadth and depth of worm, fly and lice issues.

Benefit to graduates

• Receive industry endorsed certification from ParaBoss and the University of New England
• Optional listing as a certified advisor on the ParaBoss website and their value promoted to sheep producers
• Improved reputation with customers
• Proof of knowledge that can be used when applying for a job or promotion
• Evidence of professional development for ongoing veterinary registration, with 29 structured CPD points in the course
• Twenty hours of mandatory practical experience counted towards your degree if you are a student enrolled in the School of Environmental and Rural Science at UNE.

On successful completion of this short course, you will have the skills and knowledge to apply, or provide advice to others about, effective integrated parasite management of sheep, including:

• Choice and use of prevention and treatment products
• How and when to monitor and test for parasites
• Use of non-chemical preventative strategies, including grazing management and breeding sheep for parasite resistance

ParaBoss Certificate in Sheep Parasite Management contains three units that encompass the core information from WormBoss, FlyBoss and LiceBoss, which are essential for students to obtain the skills and knowledge to apply, or provide expert advice about, effective integrated parasite management of sheep.

The unit questions were created using the ParaBoss suite of resources: WormBoss, FlyBoss, and LiceBoss, that were developed and improved by the Sheep CRCs, Australian Wool Innovation, Meat and Livestock Australia and the University of New England to provide a nationally-endorsed resource for sheep producers and their advisors with proven and practical information to manage parasites effectively, profitably, and sustainably.

WormBoss unit

This unit will inform and assess your understanding of the following:

• Sheep worms and control programs
• Grazing management
• Breeding for worm resistance
• Worm testing*
• Drenches and drench resistance management
• ParaBoss Products Search and Combination-Drench Efficacy Calculator
• Regional specific quizzes

* The course does not include training on how to conduct worm egg counts, rather it covers why and when worm egg counts should be carried out.

FlyBoss unit

This unit will inform and assess your understanding of the following:

• Susceptibility
• Breeding and selection
• Management
• Treatment
• FlyBoss Tools
• Resistance Management

LiceBoss unit

This unit will inform and assess your understanding of the following:

• Sheep lice
• Preventing new lice infestations
• Checking for lice
• Treatment: Application methods
• Treatment: Pesticide treatments
• Treatment: Pesticide resistance
• Treatment: Pesticide residues in wool
• Treatment: Safe use of pesticides

ParaBoss Certificate in Sheep Parasite Management is an online course that contains three units that encompass the core information from WormBoss, FlyBoss and LiceBoss, which are essential for students to obtain the skills and knowledge to apply, or provide expert advice about, effective integrated parasite management of sheep.

Each unit is presented as a series of quizzes which inform and assess so everything needed to both
learn and be evaluated is provided together. There are both knowledge and applied questions, and the
various ParaBoss tools are also used.

• The WormBoss Unit has 9 quizzes
• The FlyBoss Unit has 20 quizzes
• The LiceBoss Unit has 10 quizzes

Most quizzes can be completed in 15–30 minutes, and if the student is interrupted, the progress can be saved and resumed later.

The course is studied over three months, though most students can complete it in 15 to 20 hours, and it is done completely online and self-paced.

You can choose to enrol in the entire course or individual units separately, however the certificate will only be awarded on completion of all three units.

To successfully complete the ParaBoss Certificate in Sheep Parasite Management course, you will need to complete all three units (WormBoss, FlyBoss and LiceBoss) and all quizzes in each unit with a score of 100%. You can make as many attempts as required.

“The ParaBoss course was extremely valuable to develop a better understanding of key management practices in worm, fly and lice control. The valuable knowledge given was well complemented by applications of knowledge through the use of on-farm examples and the use of web tools. I would highly recommend this to producers, re-sellers or any person looking to better their understanding of parasite management.”

Georgia Adams, Elders

“The course is a great initiative by Paraboss. The tools are unique and extremely useful, with up to date theory to explain the whole picture. Completing the course is valuable time spent and will benefit many decision makers in the industry. Highly recommend the course.”

Luke Wiggan, Zoetis

“Excellent resource. The LiceBoss unit has covered all the major aspects of lice infestation in sheep, its control and management. The course is well planned and the quizzes are easy to follow. It is a very useful course for someone interested in livestock parasitology and control & management. I highly recommend it.”

Dr Swaid Abdullah, Veterinary Parasitologist, UQ

“The course will be of great value to people involved, either directly or indirectly, in the sheep industry.  Learning from the best is always the way to go. Goat and cattle industry people will also derive indirect benefits. Get the lead on your competitors and enrol today”

Noel O’Dempsey, Veterinary Consultant

“The course was well structured and relevant. The questions and information were thorough, and inspired thought to answer the questions correctly. Great course for learning to use the ParaBoss Tools, and for sheep health management.” 

Victoria Buck, Veterinarian

“I think it is a fantastic course for new employees to dedicate themselves to do the training when first starting a job in sheep health management.”

Leah Haworth, Rural Merchandise