Booklets, courses & local help
Choose a learning path: an accessible introduction, practical tuition, videos or a local club.
The Buzz About Bees — Capilano
This illustrated 2021 booklet is an accessible introduction to honey bees, honey, beekeeping and pollination. Its explanations and activities make it a useful starting point for a family conversation or a reader who wants to understand the colony before exploring practical hive care.
It belongs to Capilano, so we link to the publisher’s copy rather than republishing it. Read it as an educational introduction from its publication period, not as a current Australian biosecurity manual. After reading, try explaining the different roles in a colony and then use current local training to connect that knowledge with safe practice.
Welcome to the Hive — University of Florida
This University of Florida / IFAS 4-H resource is for younger readers and educators. The publisher’s edition is linked below; it was revised in November 2025.
The Capilano booklet offers another accessible introduction. Any overseas learning resource needs Australian context: seasons, pests, registration and treatment permissions may differ. Pair introductory reading with a local club or practical course before keeping bees.
Beekeeping 101: learning with videos
Video can make unfamiliar equipment and hive handling easier to understand. Use it with a question in mind: what is the beekeeper looking for, why is the action being taken, and what observation would change the decision? Watching a technique is a starting point for supervised practice.
Ecrotek’s current learning library is also linked here. Check when and where a video was made, particularly for disease management or chemical use. A familiar-looking hive does not mean every instruction applies to your state or to today’s Varroa conditions.
TheBeekeeper.org / Flow training
Flow’s online course offers a structured way to work through beekeeping topics at your own pace. When considering a course, look for clear coverage of colony biology, inspections, seasonal management, pests and the responsibilities that apply where you live.
Visit the provider for the current syllabus, access period, subscription terms and fees. A course completion certificate is not a substitute for registration or permission to use a chemical product. Combine online study with practical experience and current Australian guidance. The older promotional claim about a share of profits is not repeated here, and HoneyBee Hives does not provide this course or ongoing support for it.
Online beekeeping courses
Ecrotek’s learning library is the current starting point for its educational material. For another structured option, explore NSW’s online Varroa and biosecurity training. Compare scope as well as cost: an introduction to pests is useful, but it does not provide every practical skill needed to manage a hive. Use a local club or hands-on course to develop those skills.
Australian beekeeping associations
A local club can connect general reading with the conditions where you keep bees. Before attending, ask what beginner sessions or practical days are currently offered, whether you need to bring protective clothing and whether the activity suits your experience.
Find local clubs through Amateur Beekeepers Australia’s directory. Membership, event availability and any fee are matters for each organisation. For a swarm, use the dedicated collector pathway below; the presence of a club nearby does not guarantee a collection service.
Biosecurity training
Biosecurity training helps turn an intention to keep healthy bees into repeatable habits: recognise changes, record observations, reduce movement of suspect material and know where to report a concern. Revisit this learning as new pests and management approaches emerge.
The course information page below provides context before you create an account or begin a module. NSW also lists online Varroa training. Check the provider’s current access requirements, then keep any learning record with your apiary records. Training supports practical learning and diagnosis; it does not replace current official directions.
Keep exploring
HoneyBee Hives has retired from commercial bee breeding. Explore the library or enquire about the business.
Return to the library →