Elements and Performance Criteria

The range of variables places the competency in context and allows for differences between enterprises and workplaces, including practices, knowledge and requirements. The range of variables also provides a focus for assessment and relates to the unit as a whole. The following variables may be present.

Design specifications:
· number
· size
· plan or design, colour, appearance
· construction materials
· construction method
· equipment and resources
· location
· schedule of licensed labour required
· security factors.

Culture structures:
· floating (cages, pontoon, pens, rafts, long lines and moorings)
· enclosures and sea floor (prepared beds)
· attached (racks, fences)
· ponds and dams
· tanks, raceways and recirculating systems
· water supply and disposal systems for closed and semi-closed systems
· pest, predator and disease control structures.

Pre-fabricated buildings:
· shade houses, poly-tunnels, igloos and their fixtures
· sheds and stores
· cool rooms and freezers
· glass houses
· water tanks.

Farm structures:
· fences, gates
· jetties
· moorings
· overhead gantry systems
· ramps
· waste holding disposal structures
· water supply and effluent systems and pipes
· tank, pump and blower stands
· tracks, roads and pathways
· soil conservation works
· equipment storage
· shelters and shade cloth
· security systems and equipment.

Occupational Health and Safety requirements may include:
· codes of practice, regulations and/or guidance notes which may apply in a jurisdiction
· enterprise-specific Occupational Health and Safety procedures, policies or standards.

Ecologically sustainable development:
· reducing contaminants
· disposing of construction waste and debris.

Maintenance and repair schedules:
· farm structures
· water supply and disposal system
· stock culture structures
· materials and tools
· workteam including staff skills.

Each unit of competency has an evidence guide that relates directly to the performance criteria and the range of variables. Its purpose is to guide assessment of the unit in the workplace and/or training program. The following components provide information to assist this purpose.

Underpinning knowledge
The essential knowledge and understanding a person needs to perform work to the required standard include:
· design principles and components of specific water supply and disposal systems, stock culture and farm structures
· general principles of structural design
· basic surveying techniques in building or culture structure construction
· purpose and application of buildings and structures in production processes
· characteristics and general principles of construction of plumbing and fittings
· operating principles of specific types of pumps and treatment structures
· assembling techniques for prefabricated culture and farm structures
· maintenance requirements for specific culture and farm structures, water supply and disposal systems or structures and the components within them
· facility Occupational Health and Safety procedures, including personal protective equipment
· manufacturer's guidelines for installation and maintenance of equipment or systems
· building regulations.

Practical skills
The essential skills a person needs to perform work to the required standards include:
· setting out and building prefabricated buildings and structures
· coordination of the construction or installation of stock culture structures (including water supply and disposal systems, if applicable) and farm structures
· supervising staff
· establishing and documenting protocols and procedures related to maintenance and repair of stock culture structures and farm structures
· writing reports
· communicating and liaising with managers, supervised staff and external tradespeople and designers.

Literacy skills used for:
· reading and analysing plans
· reading and writing reports
· documenting schedules, protocols and SOPs.

Numeracy skills used for:
· estimating, measuring and doing calculations, such as measurements of length, time, area, volume, and flow rates
· monitoring quantities of material or supplies against specified requirements and on-site usage patterns
· monitoring project costs.

Critical aspects of competence
Assessment must confirm the ability to:
· interpret design plans and specifications, co-ordinate the construction of a structure from that plan and specification and establishment of procedures and protocols to maintain the structure is fundamental
· interpret design plans and specifications
· co-ordinate construction or installation of stock culture structures and farm structures
· establish a maintenance and repair schedule for stock culture structures and farm structures
· establish protocols and procedures for carrying out maintenance and repair tasks.

Assessment must confirm knowledge of:
· process steps for the construction and installation of stock culture structures and farm structures
· maintenance and repairs required and the skills needed to effectively carry them out.

Interdependent assessment of units
This unit may be assessed after/with:
· No recommendations.

Context of assessment
Assessment is to be conducted at the workplace or in a simulated work environment, using at least one farm structure and one stock culture structure, including, if relevant, the water supply and disposal system.

Method of assessment
The following assessment methods are suggested:
· written or oral short-answer testing
· project work.

Resources required for assessment
Resources may include:
· design specifications for structures (including water supply and disposal system) to be constructed or installed
· staff involved in the construction of stock culture (including water supply and disposal systems, if applicable) and farm structures to supervise.