Elements and Performance Criteria

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.
Relevant compliance documentation may include:
legislative, organisational and site requirements and procedures
operating conditions
manufacturer's guidelines and specifications
Australian standards
Employment and workplace relations legislation
Equal Employment Opportunity and Disability Discrimination legislation
Operating conditions may include:
day and night
laboratory
field environment
dry and wet
stable ground
broken ground
various landscapes
working over old under-ground workings and voids
Communications may include:
verbal (face-to-face or radio)
e-mail
facsimile
memorandum
shift hand over documents
Geological instruments and field equipment may include:
hand lens
compass
two way radios
theodolite
clinometer
tape measure
portable PC
protractor
scale rule
balance
stereo microscope
Potential risks and hazards may include:
abandoned equipment
adjoining pit walls
adverse weather conditions (electrical storms, floods, fires)
chemicals
contaminants
equipment
fences
holes
materials
over-hanging rocks
personnel
pot holes
unsafe ground/unstable faces
vehicles
Environmental issues may include:
culturally-sensitive sites and artefacts
drainage
dust
emissions
flora and fauna
hazardous chemicals
heritage legislation
noise
runoff
spills
water quality
erosion
rehabilitation
Rock, ore and minerals may include:
volcanogenic massive sulphide
ultramafic volcanogenic nickel
differentiated mafic complex nickel
hydrothermal gold vein
volcanogenic pipe diamond
alluvial gold
alluvial heavy mineral sands
pegmatitic tin
tantalum
bauxite
aluminium
slate
phyllite
schist
gneiss
quartzite
marble
hornfels
amphibolite
Classification parameters may include:
felsic category
intermediate category
mafic category
ultramafic category
minerals present
grain size
Records may include:
field note book entries
filling in forms/templates and logs
memorandums
facsimiles/photographs
sketches
map sections
formal reports
audio recorded messages
Sample types may include:
rock or mineral hand specimen
drill core/drill chips/drill sludge
oriented sample
Symbols may include:
contacts
faults
dip and strike
scale bars
north points
legends
geological age

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.
Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to worksite operations and satisfy all of the requirements of the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge and the range statement of this unit and include evidence of the following:
knowledge of the requirements, procedures and instructions for providing geological field assistance
implementation of requirements, procedures and techniques for the safe, effective and efficient completion of providing geological field assistance
working with others to undertake and complete the provision of geological field assistance that meets all of the required outcomes
consistent timely completion of providing geological field assistance that safely, effectively and efficiently meets the required outcomes
Context of and specific resources for assessment
This unit must be assessed in the context of the work environment. Where personal safety or environmental damage are limiting factors, assessment may occur in a simulated environment provided it is realistic and sufficiently rigorous to cover all aspects of workplace performance, including task skills, task management skills, contingency management skills and job role environment skills.
Assessment of this competency requires typical resources normally used in a resources and infrastructure sector environment. Selection and use of resources for particular worksites may differ due to the site circumstances.
The assessment environment should not disadvantage the participant. For example, language, literacy and numeracy demands of assessment should not be greater than those required on the job.
Customisation of assessment and delivery environment to sensitively accommodate cultural diversity.
Aboriginal people and other people from a non English speaking background may have second language issues.
Where applicable, physical resources should include equipment modified for people with disabilities. Access must be provided to appropriate learning and/or assessment support when required.
Method of assessment
This unit may be assessed in a holistic way with other units of competency. The assessment strategy for this unit must verify required knowledge and skill and practical application using more than one of the following assessment methods:
written and/or oral assessment of the candidate's required knowledge
observed, documented and/or first hand testimonial evidence of the candidate's:
implementation of appropriate requirement, procedures and techniques for the safe, effective and efficient achievement of required outcomes
consistent achievement of required outcomes
first hand testimonial evidence of the candidate's:
working with others to undertake and complete the provision of geological field assistance
Guidance information for assessment
Consult the SkillsDMC User Guide for further information on assessment including access and equity issues.