Elements and Performance Criteria

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

What pests may be relevant to this competency standard?
Weeds and vertebrate pests.

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

Which relevant Federal, State legislation and local regulations may be included?
Environmental protection, noxious weeds, 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 methods and techniques for controlling 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 vertebrate pest population control (shooting, poisoning, trapping, mustering, relocation, fumigation, sedation, exclusion fencing, biological controls, harvesting and tagging), weed control (poisoning, biological controls).

How might supporting and validating data be obtained?
Direct observation, satellite information, GIS, air flown MSS and aerial photography.

What weeds may be relevant to this standard?
Economic weeds, aquatic weeds and environmental weeds.

Which vertebrate pests may be relevant to this standard?
Kangaroo, wallaby, emu, wombat, possum, fruit bat, cockatoo/parrot, waterfowl, seagull, starlings, pigeon and other birds, goat, horse, deer, pig, camel, cat, cattle, dog, water buffalo, donkey, rabbit, red fox, brown hare, cane toads, European carp, house mouse, black rat and brown rat.

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.

What conditions might influence the effectiveness of treatment?
Temperature, rainfall and other meteorological conditions (before, during the after application), target pest species, target pest growth stage, treatment history of area, mixing and application procedures, mixing water quality and calibration of application equipment.

What evidence is required to demonstrate competence for this standard as a whole?
Competence in investigating treatment failure requires evidence that a review of treatment failure has been undertaken, the cause/s identified and a reported prepared according to enterprise and industry standards. The skills and knowledge required to investigate treatment failure must be transferable to a range of work environments and contexts. For example this could include different pests and treatments.
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:

Pest treatment techniques.
Surveying population of pests.
Treatment characteristics and modes of action.
Basic statistical analysis.
Report preparation

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:

Organise information in a clear manner leading to logical and defensible conclusions.
Write clear, concise reports.
Retrieve data from enterprise records.
Analyse statistics on pest populations.
Assess treatment failure.
Investigate and report on causes of failure.

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
In clear, logical reports. (3)

Collecting analysing and organising information
Population counts and data analysis. (3)

Planning and organising activities
Organising inspections and carrying out investigations. (2)

Working with others and in teams
Reviewing treatment performance and conditions at treatment. (3)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Analysing target plan populations, predicted populations after treatments and survival rates. (3)

Solving problems
Establishing treatment performance and possible causes of poor results. (3)

Using technology
Communicating and analysing records and producing reports using word processors. (2)