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.
cultural material is defined as:
objects, collections, artworks
specimens, structures or sites
archaeological material
books and manuscripts
built heritage
cultural sites and buildings
ethnographic material
film and audio-visual material
flora and fauna
furniture
photographs
technological and industry items
textiles
works on paper and canvas
objects may include
physical objects such as stone tools, Aboriginal-built fences and stockyards, scarred trees, the remains of fringe camps
material deposited on the land, such as middens
the ancestral remains of Aboriginal people
stones and stone tools
art and artworks
shells
non-human bones and organic materials
Aboriginal cultural protocols may include:
gender roles in relation to knowledge and cultural practices
information sensitivity and access
appropriate information transfer
negotiations with local Aboriginal Community about information transfer
cultural diversity
natural resources and their importance for economy, religion, spirituality, art, environment, values, beliefs and lore/law
rights and responsibilities associated with cultural knowledge, story, song, Site, and ceremony
interpersonal ways of relating
the talking of Community politics
repatriation of objects and human remains
issues of ownership (clans/nations)
ownership of intellectual property
acknowledging participation and ownership
communicating about cultural material
displaying cultural material
handling cultural material
identifying appropriate people to be consulted
occasions when consultation is required
ways in which consultations should be conducted
cultural authorities may include:
Cultural authority refers to the most appropriate senior person/s that is able to speak for particular Country, cultural objects, ceremony and/or materials in a specific place. A cultural authority could be a Traditional Owner, a Native Title Claimant, Aboriginal Culture and Heritage Body, Elder, Aboriginal Land Council, etc.
limitations may relate to:
access issues such as gender
consultation with and involvement of appropriate Community members
descriptive or explanatory writing
fragility of material
identification process
interpretation method
cultural requirements may relate to:
access to material and associated research
any ceremony or procedure that should be carried out around the handling and/or moving of material
storage of material
the way material should be transported
use of equipment or tools
who can describe or handle material
who can view or be around material
specific requirements may relate to:
additional protection
cultural protocols, including Indigenous protocols
de-acclimatisation periods for sensitive items
environmentally controlled packaging
object moving equipment
object support systems for moving or transfer
preventive pest management processes
use or non-use of certain items

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
This unit requires the involvement and participation of the appropriate cultural authority in the training and assessment tasks, i.e. Traditional Owners and/or Cultural Manager and/or Cultural Knowledge holder and/or Custodian/s.
The delivery and assessment of this unit must comply with Community protocols and be carried out in consultation with and in participation with Traditional Owners and/or Elders and custodians of that specific Country.
In accordance with Aboriginal cultural protocols, cultural knowledge copyright considerations and Aboriginal lore/law restrictions, it is essential that this requirement be respected and implemented in the delivery and assessment of Cultural Units to guarantee cultural authenticity and quality control around the delivery of training and assessment for Aboriginal-sites workers. Candidates must demonstrate evidence of the ability to:
apply knowledge of issues that frame the development of cultural protocols
consult effectively with Traditional Owners and relevant Community representatives about the handling, access to and display of cultural material
observe Aboriginal cultural protocols, follow collection management practices and industry cultural requirements when moving, storing, displaying and maintaining cultural material
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment events must be contextualised to meet the needs of the particular group, including:
a Community, educational or workplace setting
involvement of people approved by Cultural managers, custodians and/or Traditional Owners for the materials in question
access to:
cultural material or information on material when access is not available
information about cultural protocols
appropriately qualified and experienced museum personnel and cultural heritage curators
Method of assessment
A range of assessment methods should be used to assess competency in working with secret, sacred materials. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:
observation of the candidate working on Country or in a keeping place facility consulting and/or working with ceremonial secret, sacred materials. Prior approval and permission should be obtained for the Assessor from any Traditional Owners and/or Cultural managers involved
direct questioning combined with third-party workplace reports of on-the-job performance
verbal or written questioning
observation of participation in Ceremony and/or Sites work related to the knowledge and skills outlined in this unit
Assessment methods should closely reflect workplace demands and the needs of particular client groups (consider the requirements of different age groups, clients with English as a second language, clients with disabilities, remote library users, etc.).
Guidance information for assessment
Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:
AHCILM306A Follow Aboriginal cultural protocols
AHCASW308A Apply cultural significance to Aboriginal-sites and landscapes
Assessment for this unit should comprise a combination of theory and practical application. Both aspects of assessment are best conducted on Country and/or in a keeping place facility for this unit.