Elements and Performance Criteria

What tasks may be included under nursery work?
Assisting with the display of nursery products (e.g., plant, goods and supplies) including unpacking, placing where directed, replenishing as required, preparing and placing price tickets, labels and other display materials.
Provide nursery plant care including watering, weeding, removing dead materials, staking, trimming, and potting on of plants as directed.
Load and unload nursery stock including preparing stock for dispatch, and checking stock on receipt or at dispatch against documentation.
Supporting propagation activities including assisting with preparing planting media, collecting propagating materials, and blocking up plants in correct patterns and spacing.

What instructions may be relevant to this standard?
Instructions may include Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), company policy and procedures in regard to product merchandising and displays, specifications, work notes, Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs), manufacturers instructions, product labels, or verbal directions from manager, supervisor, or senior operator.

What tools and equipment may be required for nursery work?
Tools and equipment may include manual or electronic ticketing/labelling equipment, wheelbarrows, trolleys, motorised trolleys, scissors, cleaning equipment, secateurs, knives, media trays, water spray container, dibblers, and rubbish bins.

What workplace information might be required for this standard?
Workplace information may include procedures for disposing of waste materials, work instructions or verbal instructions from the supervisor, OHS legislative requirements and relevant Codes of Practice.

What OHS hazards may be associated with nursery support?
Hazards may include heavy materials and equipment, slippery or uneven surfaces, moving machinery and vehicles, solar radiation, and potential dangers from handling potting media, fertilisers, watering systems, and spider and insect bites.

What are the personal protective clothing and equipment requirements associated with nursery support?
Personal protective clothing and equipment may include steel capped boots/shoes, overalls, gloves, sun hat, sunscreen lotion, safety goggles, face mask and ear protectors.

What hygiene practices may apply to this standard?
Hygiene practices which may be applied include disinfestation and storage of planting media, disinfestation of contaminated plants and materials, hand washing, footbaths, sanitising/sterilising tools, equipment and benching, access restrictions, and handling practices which minimise cross contamination.

What environmental waste disposal considerations may apply to this standard?
Environmental considerations for waste disposal may include prompt removal and/or disinfestation of organic waste, use of mixing site, neutralising pits for disposal of chemicals and cleaning products, recycling seed trays, poly trays, bags, and recycling waste water or disposing using approved discharge system.

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:

Safe work practices.
Nursery hygiene and quality control.
Nursery plant maintenance activities.
Basic stock control procedures.
Propagation techniques.
OHS legislative requirements and Codes of Practice.

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:

Prepare materials, tools and equipment for
Undertake nursery work as directed.
Store and stockpile materials.
Clean up on completion of nursery work.

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
There is essential 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
Ideas and information about the job, tasks and problems should be discussed with other members in the work team and the supervisor. (1)

Collecting analysing and organising information
Workplace and supervisors instructions should be located, interpreted and applied with further clarification sought as necessary. (1)

Planning and organising activities
Discussions with the supervisor and other team members may be required in order to complete tasks efficiently and safely in a logical sequence and in a timely manner. (1)

Working with others and in teams
Good communication and co-operation with other staff in completing nursery tasks. (1)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Skills in counting, tallying and estimation are required when handling plants or other nursery materials. (1)

Solving problems
Problems will require corrective action or consultation with supervisor. (1)

Using technology
Technology may be applied in the use of nursery equipment and communication systems. (1)