Beginner Beekeeping Course (Sunday 7th December 2025)

Summary

Join us for a One-Day course to help you get started as a new beekeeper. This course is designed for adults that are interested in taking up beekeeping as a hobby, have been doing so for a short period of time, or just wish to know more about keeping honey bees. The course is conducted by the Melbourne Beekeepers Club Inc. and will be held at Melbourne University Parkville Campus on Sunday 7th December, 10am-4pm

The course aims to provide

• Information and practical experience to enable prospective beekeepers to decide if they will be able to manage a beehive in the future.
• Basic beekeeping information and beekeeping practice for prospective and new beekeepers.

Course topics will include

• Opening a beehive
• Inside a beehive
• Choosing a site for a beehive
• Required equipment
• Stings and Safety
• Beekeeper responsibilities

Your understanding of the course will not be formally assessed but a Certificate of Participation listing the topics that were covered in the course will be issued.

Course Guidelines

• Emphasise a scientific and practical approach to beekeeping.
• Integrate practical beekeeping training and required understanding.
• Use constructive teaching methods, cater for individual differences in learning styles, and encourage teamwork.
• Be consistent with Beekeeping Certificate III in Beekeeping outcomes.
• Applicable to successful beekeeping in various situations- urban, suburban and rural.

Time and Dates

Sunday 7th December 2025 from 10am-4pm

Course Presenters

The course will be delivered by experienced beekeepers.

Practical Session - Opening the Hive

It is recommended to wear sturdy, close toed shoes or boots and a long sleeved shirt/top to the session.

Please avoid wearing purfume or cologne as bees can be sensitive to scents. Non-scented deodorant is ok.

MBC will provide bee suits/protective equipment to participants.

When enrolling for the course we will ask you to provide your bee sting history, an emergency contact, and your agreement to accept full responsibility for any bee stings and accidents that you might incur.

During the practical session, we may take some photos and videos for possible inclusion on the MBC social media, web site and in other publications.

Enrolment

• Course fee is $180
• Bookings close at 7pm on Sunday 30th November 2025
• Bookings are open to those aged 18+
• Bookings will be accepted in the order that they are received. In the event the course books out there will be a waitlist and you will be contacted if a space becomes available.
• At its discretion, the MBC reserves the right to not accept or to cancel (with full fee reimbursement) any booking.
• Participants can cancel their enrollment up to 5 days before the start of the course (30th November) and receive a full refund. After that date there will be no refunds unless a waitlister takes your place. Click here to notify cancellations to the MBC Secretary.
• All information collected during registration will remain confidential.
• If you are unable to attend this course but are interested in attending future courses, email your interest here to the MBC Secretary.
• Participants are required to bring their own food and drink for the day - not included in course fee

Copyright

Printed and recorded information provided in the course remains the property of the individual authors and may not be reproduced or distributed without consent.