Elements and Performance Criteria

The Range of Variables explains the contexts within which the performance and knowledge requirements of this standard may be assessed. The scope of variables chosen in training and assessment requirements may depend on the work situations available.

What equipment might be required for the wool classing process?
Classing tables, brooms and/or wool paddles, lamb bats, lights, calibrated devices, documentation, woolpacks/bags, bale clips, wool hooks, wool bins and wool press may be used during the process.

What personal protective equipment may be required?
Boots, overalls or protective aprons, gloves, protective eyewear, and hearing protection.

What OHS requirements may be applicable to this standard?
Safe systems and procedures for:
the operation and maintenance of hazard-free facilities and equipment
safe manual handling, including lifting and carrying, and staff and product flow pathways
protection from electrical hazards, hazardous noise and organic and other dusts including spray drift, internal combustion engine fumes
appropriate use of personal protective equipment and clothing.
Consideration of OHS issues for this standard may also include consideration of any national codes of practice in the industry.

What types of wool may be covered by this standard?
Wool should include Merino and Crossbred wool.

Contamination to be identified and managed when preparing wool.
Amongst the contaminants are lamb pouches, maggot affected wool, urine stains, dung stains, skin pieces, black wools, loose woolpack wools, baling twines, man-made fibres and clothing, dermatitis, branding dyes, dags and grease locks. Inherent impurities such as burrs, vegetable matter, and banded water stain, shed debris, chemical residue, dog or animal hair, i.e., goat hair, external parasite infestation.

Who might the appropriate authority be?
The flock owner could be managing the operation, or the owner might delegate this work to a manager, another classer or broker.

What wool may be included in the clip?
The clip may include fleece, pieces, bellies, locks, crutchings, shanks, topknots, stains, dags, backs, jowls or breeches.

What should the classing criteria consider?
Breed and age of sheep, fibre diameter, tensile strength, character/style, colour, yield, length, or contamination.

What equipment might be required for the wool classing process?
Classing tables, brooms and/or wool paddles, lamb bats, lights, calibrated devices, documentation, woolpacks/bags, bale clips, wool hooks, wool bins and wool press may be used during the process.

What personal protective equipment may be required?
Boots, overalls or protective aprons, gloves, protective eyewear, and hearing protection.

What OHS requirements may be applicable to this standard?
Safe systems and procedures for:
the operation and maintenance of hazard-free facilities and equipment
safe manual handling, including lifting and carrying, and staff and product flow pathways
protection from electrical hazards, hazardous noise and organic and other dusts including spray drift, internal combustion engine fumes
appropriate use of personal protective equipment and clothing.
Consideration of OHS issues for this standard may also include consideration of any national codes of practice in the industry.

What types of wool may be covered by this standard?
Wool should include Merino and Crossbred wool.

Contamination to be identified and managed when preparing wool.
Amongst the contaminants are lamb pouches, maggot affected wool, urine stains, dung stains, skin pieces, black wools, loose woolpack wools, baling twines, man-made fibres and clothing, dermatitis, branding dyes, dags and grease locks. Inherent impurities such as burrs, vegetable matter, and banded water stain, shed debris, chemical residue, dog or animal hair, i.e., goat hair, external parasite infestation.

Who might the appropriate authority be?
The flock owner could be managing the operation, or the owner might delegate this work to a manager, another classer or broker.

What wool may be included in the clip?
The clip may include fleece, pieces, bellies, locks, crutchings, shanks, topknots, stains, dags, backs, jowls or breeches.

What should the classing criteria consider?
Breed and age of sheep, fibre diameter, tensile strength, character/style, colour, yield, length, or contamination.

What evidence is required to demonstrate competence for this standard as a whole?
Competence in classing wool requires evidence that the equipment is used appropriately and effectively to class wool according to industry codes of practice as minimum criteria.
The skills and knowledge required to class wool must be transferable to a different work environment. For example, across a national range of shed/store and wool types.
What specific knowledge is needed to achieve the performance criteria?

Knowledge and understanding are essential to apply this standard in the workplace, to transfer the skills to other contexts, and to deal with unplanned events. The knowledge requirements for this competency standard are listed below:

shed layouts which promote efficient wool flow and handling
breeds of sheep and their characteristics
wool production areas of Australia
inherent wool characteristics - diameter, length and strength, colour, yield, VM type, curvature, and comfort factor
Fleece Measurement Criteria - techniques used to measure wool characteristics
processing methods - woollen and worsted, stages of processing
raw wool characteristics and their effect on processing and final product
wool growth, skin and fibre biology, and effect of genetics and environment on fibre characteristics
interpreting test results
principles of classing (mob/flock concept, variability for fibre diameter and staple length, soundness, defects, etc.)
classing scenarios requiring detail of clip break-ups
clip analysis reports and comparisons
understanding of and preparation of documentation of wool clips
code of practice for the Preparation of Australian Wool Clips and relevant Quality Standards.

What specific skills are needed to achieve the performance criteria?

To achieve the performance criteria, appropriate literacy and numeracy levels as well as some complementary skills are required. These include the ability to:

arrange layout of bins and wool table for optimum efficient wool flow and pressing in a variety of sheds
label bins and containers correctly
check wool to ensure freedom from contamination and stain
check wool to ensure optimum and adequate skirting
assess pigmented fibre risk and separate wool is as required
identify and appraise wool characteristics
class wool to standards in accordance to codes of practice or as required by alternative selling methods
identify wool of higher and lower market value and lines made which maximise return to grower.

Are there other competency standards that could be assessed with this one?
This competency standard

Essential Assessment Information
There is essential information about

What specific knowledge is needed to achieve the performance criteria?

Knowledge and understanding are essential to apply this standard in the workplace, to transfer the skills to other contexts, and to deal with unplanned events. The knowledge requirements for this competency standard are listed below:

shed layouts which promote efficient wool flow and handling
breeds of sheep and their characteristics
wool production areas of Australia
inherent wool characteristics - diameter, length and strength, colour, yield, VM type, curvature, and comfort factor
Fleece Measurement Criteria - techniques used to measure wool characteristics
processing methods - woollen and worsted, stages of processing
raw wool characteristics and their effect on processing and final product
wool growth, skin and fibre biology, and effect of genetics and environment on fibre characteristics
interpreting test results
principles of classing (mob/flock concept, variability for fibre diameter and staple length, soundness, defects, etc.)
classing scenarios requiring detail of clip break-ups
clip analysis reports and comparisons
understanding of and preparation of documentation of wool clips
code of practice for the Preparation of Australian Wool Clips and relevant Quality Standards.

What specific skills are needed to achieve the performance criteria?

To achieve the performance criteria, appropriate literacy and numeracy levels as well as some complementary skills are required. These include the ability to:

arrange layout of bins and wool table for optimum efficient wool flow and pressing in a variety of sheds
label bins and containers correctly
check wool to ensure freedom from contamination and stain
check wool to ensure optimum and adequate skirting
assess pigmented fibre risk and separate wool is as required
identify and appraise wool characteristics
class wool to standards in accordance to codes of practice or as required by alternative selling methods
identify wool of higher and lower market value and lines made which maximise return to grower.

Are there other competency standards that could be assessed with this one?
This competency standard

Essential Assessment Information
There is essential information about

There are a number of processes that are learnt throughout work and life, which are required in all jobs. They are fundamental processes and generally transferable to other work functions. Some of these are covered by the key competencies, although others may be added. The questions below highlight how these processes are applied in this competency standard. Following each question a number in brackets indicates the level to which the key competency needs to be demonstrated where 0 = not required, 1 = perform the process, 2 = perform and administer the process and 3 = perform, administer and design the process.
Communicating ideas and information
With owner/manager/client/supervisor and team (team may include all others at site performing the role of wool preparation or harvesting). (2)

Communicating ideas and information
With owner/manager/client/supervisor and team (team may include all others at site performing the role of wool preparation or harvesting). (2)

Collecting analysing and organising information
By receiving, interpreting and following instructions. (2)

Collecting analysing and organising information
By receiving, interpreting and following instructions. (2)

Planning and organising activities
To ensure efficient optimum flow of work and product and to maximise the quality of product outcome. (2)

Planning and organising activities
To ensure efficient optimum flow of work and product and to maximise the quality of product outcome. (2)

Working with others and in teams
In working (communicating) with all others at the site to ensure an optimum for efficiency of flow of work and product. (2)

Working with others and in teams
In working (communicating) with all others at the site to ensure an optimum for efficiency of flow of work and product. (2)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
In analysing wool, utilising historical data when planning for classing, pressing and setting line breaks, and in planning flow rates and completion times and line sizes for optimum marketing determination. (2)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
In analysing wool, utilising historical data when planning for classing, pressing and setting line breaks, and in planning flow rates and completion times and line sizes for optimum marketing determination. (2)

Solving problems
In sorting wool into lines, negotiating stock presentation to shed, co-ordinating staff and product movement and storage, and maximising available materials usage efficiency. (2)

Solving problems
In sorting wool into lines, negotiating stock presentation to shed, co-ordinating staff and product movement and storage, and maximising available materials usage efficiency. (2)

Using technology
By using and calibrating measuring devices. Understanding available testing and processing, methods and dissemination of results to maximise line and wool preparation, and testing and marketing methods and standards. (1)

Using technology
By using and calibrating measuring devices. Understanding available testing and processing, methods and dissemination of results to maximise line and wool preparation, and testing and marketing methods and standards. (1)