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.

What may be included as places of cultural significance?
Areas of non-indigenous activity, buildings and other structures, natural areas of indigenous cultural significance, areas of indigenous activity such as burial, occupation and contact sites, engravings, grinding grooves, rock pictures, fish traps, middens and mounds.

What may cultural significance consist of?
Cultural significance may be indigenous and/or non-indigenous.

What does condition assessment of the fabric include?
Review of wear or fretting due to the impact of weathering, wear due to use, which may either detract from the significance or be part of the significance, damage from humans, vehicles and animals, both accidental or intentional, damage from pests, including fungi, rising damp (salt damp), decay and rust, flooding and storm damage.

Which condition assessment processes may be included?
Physical inspection to identify areas of deterioration and damage, discussion with users of place or area on impact of use, reports by users of deterioration or damage, comparison of photographs with current condition, non-destructive inspection techniques, which may be used by others as directed, supervision of structural or foundation engineers, architects, agricultural or horticultural specialists, pest control operators, building inspectors, electricians and plumbers and other specialists to obtain reports, obtaining quotations on maintenance costs.

What might constitute surrounds?
Support structures, paving, pathways and roadways.

What may setting include?
Gardens in a particular style, including both indigenous and exotic species, and including a particular arrangement of flora, land forms, both natural and modified, in the immediate vicinity and wider visual area.

Which condition assessment of setting and surrounds may be included?
Condition and location of flora, condition of support structures, paving, pathways and roadways, extent of erosion, silting of drains, creeks and floodways and the potential for a place of significance to be flooded.

Who may be stakeholders?
The enterprise managing place or area, Government agency with management responsibility for place or area or legislative responsibility over place or area, voluntary agencies with an interest in the place or area, research and/or historical and/or educational institutions and personnel, visitors to the place or area, indigenous peoples with an interest in the place or area, local population and general public, businesses operating in park, such as tour operators, concessionaires and accommodation operators.

How may stakeholder views be monitored?
Through appropriate culturally sensitive, protocols, processes and communication techniques.

What evidence is required to demonstrate competence for this standard as a whole?
Competence in inspecting and monitoring cultural places requires evidence that cultural places have been appropriately inspected and monitored and that any maintenance activities conform to relevant legislation, charters and is according to enterprise guidelines and industry best practice. The skills and knowledge required to inspect and monitor cultural places must be transferable to a range of work environments and contexts. For example, this could include different sites, stakeholder groups, and cultural fabric.
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:

Relevant cultural concepts.
Relevant aspects of Australian Heritage Commission legislation and requirements, State/Territory Heritage requirements and World Heritage requirements.
IUCN Guidelines for protected area management categories.
ANZECC environmental standards and best practice guidelines.
National and international charters of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), including the
Construction techniques and materials.
Processes of deterioration and damage.
Maintenance, restoration and modifications applied or potentially that could be applied to place or area.
Threats to place or area, including visitor impacts.

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:

Prepare for inspection.
Carry out comprehensive inspection.
Submit report and recommendations.
Monitor surroundings.
Monitor stakeholder views on significance.

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
Maintenance schedules and reports. (2)

Collecting analysing and organising information
Charters and legislation on cultural place fabric and site condition. (3)

Planning and organising activities
Maintenance works. (2)

Working with others and in teams
Inspecting and monitoring. (2)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Scheduling maintenance works and resources required. (2)

Solving problems
Determining works to be undertaken. (2)

Using technology
Machinery and equipment, and computers. (2)