Elements and Performance Criteria

The Range of Variables defines the different contexts, work environments and parameters governing the performance of this competency standard. The variables chosen in training and assessment will need to reflect local industry and regional contexts.

Which land uses may be relevant?
Local agricultural production, local forestry industry, local nature and wildlife reserves, local heritage areas and local recreation areas.

What are the relevant Federal, State legislation and local regulations, which may apply to this standard?
Environmental protection, vertebrate pests, use of firearms (including licensing requirements and exemptions) humane treatment of animals, activities in nature reserves and heritage areas, poisons and veterinary substances, identification and reporting of suspected outbreaks of exotic disease, OHS regulations and common law principles relating to property, stock, duty of care and due diligence.

What forms of land value may be relevant?
Economic and environmental value.

Who might other stakeholders be?
Land managers in the region, recreational land users, regional land management bodies, local regulatory authorities and landcare committees.

Which measures of potential or actual impact may be included in the management units?
Biological values, agricultural values, environmental values, recreational and social values and public health values.

Which pests may be relevant to this standard?
Animals scheduled as

Which methods for determining vertebrate pest population distribution may be used?
Animal counts (including spotlight and aerial counts, faecal counts, warren, burrow, den and nest counts), and tracking pads and feeding stations.

Which management units may be included?
Measures of potential or actual impact on biological values, agricultural values, environmental values, recreational and social values and public health values.

What management options may be included?
Commercial management, crisis management, no management, local eradication and strategic management (sustained, targeted and one-off).

What methods and techniques for controlling the weed problem may be used?
Changing land management or production processes and practices (e.g., changing lambing times, changing sowing times and changing crops), modifying habitat, pasture management, weed control (poisoning, biological controls).

What methods and techniques for controlling animal pest problems may be used?
Changing land management or production processes and practices (e.g., changing lambing times, changing sowing times and changing crops), modifying habitat, pasture management and pest population control (shooting, poisoning, trapping, mustering, relocation, fumigation, sedation, exclusion fencing, biological controls, harvesting and tagging).

What sorts of damage and loss caused by pests may be relevant to this standard?
Loss of pasture, loss of livestock, loss of native fauna, loss of recreational and social amenity, increased incidence of disease vectors, reduced tourism, loss of crops, damage to fences, loss of recreational and social amenity, loss of native flora, soil disturbance and erosion, reduction in water quality and pollution.

What evidence is required to demonstrate competence for this standard as a whole?
Competence in monitoring and evaluating the local pest management action plan requires evidence that appropriate sources of information have been checked, analysis of the positive and negative indicators of the action plan has been determined and recommendations for modifications to local action plans have been documented in a summary report. The skills and knowledge required to monitor the local weed management strategy must be transferable to a range of work environments and contexts. For example, this could include different pest species, report formats, action plans and local areas.
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 unit are listed below:

Local land management process.
Local production process.
Relevant legislative and regulatory requirements.
Environmental protection legislation.
Weed control methods and techniques.
Social and environmental issues.
Statutory requirements for weed control.

What specific skills are needed to achieve the performance criteria?

To achieve the performance criteria, some complementary skills are required. These skills include the ability to:

Collate available data.
Estimate costs and advantages.
Communicate, negotiate and liaise with other statutory authorities, agencies and stakeholders.
Assess data against objectives and performance criteria.
Compile report of strategy evaluation.
Recommend modifications to local action plans.

Are there other competency standards that could be assessed with this one?
This competency standard could be assessed on its own or in combination with other competencies relevant to the job function.

Essential Assessment Information
For information about

What processes should be applied to this competency standard?
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
Establishing and maintaining consultation and liaison processes with land users and stakeholders. (2)

Collecting analysing and organising information
Analysing pest management data. (2)

Planning and organising activities
Organising pest management activities. (2)

Working with others and in teams
Building and maintaining working relationships with local land users. (2)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Collating and determining significance of data. (2)

Solving problems
Analysing pest management data. (2)

Using technology
Collating data and documenting planning activities. (2)