Introduction to alpacas

This  6-hour Introduction to Alpacas is jam-packed with the essentials of alpaca keeping. It's ideal for those who are considering alpacas or new alpaca owners. You will learn:

• Alpaca history, how they evolved from their wild ancestors, and their normal behaviour 
• Why do people keep alpacas, and what configuration is best for different purposes (males/females/wethers) 
• The essentials of alpaca management: feeding, shelters, fencing, no stress herding/handling alpacas 
• Alpaca health care: shearing, vaccinations,  vitamin supplementation, toenail trimming, body score, worming
• Q+A and discussion and networking during lunch

The workshop includes both theory and practical activities and is ideal for those considering alpacas for their properties, or those who have recently acquired alpacas but are unsure about their care. We will provide comprehensive notes for you to take away. A delicious lunch is also included! 

What others have said about our workshops:

"Thank you for a lovely and informative day on Sunday. I learnt so much about caring for Alpacas and enjoyed the balance of theory and practical learning." Julie

"Thanks again for last Sunday. My daughter and I really enjoyed the day. You were very informative and welcoming." Tanya

Can children attend? Unfortunately, due to the length and type of workshop, it is not suitable for young children who might lose concentration or need to be entertained. If you have little ones, it might be better to leave them home. Teenagers who are genuinely interested in learning and can cope with a whole day of lessons (theory and practicals) can attend, provided they are accompanied by an adult.  If you have a child younger than 15 that you wish to bring, speak to us first before booking.

Where will we learn? We run the theory part of the workshop inside our alpaca shed, and then we move outdoors to do some practical activities. Please wear appropriate closed footwear and dress for the weather as we will be doing some walking and animal handling.

Do I need to bring anything? Bring yourself, a good sturdy pair of boots or closed shoes, casual clothes you don't mind getting hay or some dirt, and a positive frame of mind! We supply notes, paper, pens, and chairs. Oh, we also feed you lunch! 

What sort of practical activities will we do? You will learn how to herd alpacas (move them from one location to another), how to check their weight (called "body scoring"), how to do a basic health check, where and how to administer injections, and how trim toenails and calmly handle alpacas. We will also walk around so you can view different types of shelters, catch-pens, laneways, and fencing.

COVID precautions. You must be double vaccinated unless you have a medical exemption (a copy of your vaccination certificate will be sighted upon arrival). We disinfect all chairs, pens, and materials. We supply hand sanitiser and hand-washing facilities. 

Cancellations and refunds. The workshop will go ahead in case of very light rain/drizzle. In case of extreme weather (e.g. heavy rain), the workshop will be postponed to another date or you will have the option of receiving a full refund. In case of exposure to COVID or testing positive, please notify us, so we can refund your ticket or offer a transfer to future workshop dates.

We are an LGBTIQA+ safe zone. 🏳️‍🌈  

The presenter:

Rita Soares is a full member of the Australian Alpaca Association (AAA). She started with 3 alpacas in 2017 and now shepherds 40 alpacas on her farm. Rita has participated in a variety of professional development courses with the Australian Alpaca Association, completed training with CameliDynamics, volunteered at alpaca farms, participated in alpaca shows, and loves to continually learn about alpacas and increase her knowledge.  Her philosophy is one where alpaca welfare and wellbeing are placed at the forefront of all decisions. 

Rita has worked professionally as a careers counsellor, educator, and digital marketer. She holds a Master of Education, a Graduate Certificate in Careers, a Certificate in Workplace Training and Assessment, and a Bachelor of Letters.  She has held volunteer roles at the Victorian Central Region Committee of the AAA and currently is the Social Media Coordinator for the association.  Rita is an LGBTI+ ally. She's an avid knitter, artist, and felter, and most of all, crazy about alpacas and teaching others about appropriate alpaca keeping.