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 delivery and assessment against this unit must comply with Community protocols and be carried out in consultation with and 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.

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy holistically all of the requirements of the performance criteria and required skills and knowledge. Candidates must demonstrate evidence of the ability to:

observe and accurately identify species of Indigenous plants in a natural area

record and report observations in required format

carry out a survey of Indigenous plants in a natural area causing minimal disruption to the environment

explain and/or demonstrate uses of available bush resources for food and medicine

Context of and specific resources for assessment

This is a practical unit utilising the local bushland and/or coastal areas and the knowledge of experts and where available, of local Aboriginal Traditional Owners and/or Elders.

The focus of assessment for this unit will depend on the industry, workplace, or Community setting. Assessment must be contextualised to meet the needs of the particular group. Assessment context must provide for:

an appropriate Community or workplace setting

involvement of people approved by Traditional Owners and/or Elders of the relevant local Aboriginal Community

candidates who have gained relevant knowledge and skills through their life experience

Competence in recognising Indigenous plants requires evidence that a person can identify and utilise available resources and equipment to identify Indigenous plants accurately. The skills and knowledge required to recognise Indigenous plants must be transferable to different work environments. For example, this could include different Indigenous plants, workplace settings, and different cultural experiences.

Method of assessment

Competency requires the application of work practices under work conditions. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

observation of the candidate on Country identifying Indigenous plants and describing food, medicinal and cultural relationships

direct questioning combined with third-party workplace reports of on-the-job performance

verbal or written questioning

portfolio of evidence, including items such as third party reports; relevant experience; employer or client statements; work documentation; written or visual representations of stories; audio or video tape recordings; photographs; PowerPoint presentations; art works; oral presentations or written reports; glossary of terminology

Assessment methods should closely reflect workplace demands (e.g. literacy) and the needs of particular groups (e.g. people with disabilities, and people who may have literacy or numeracy difficulties such as speakers of languages other than English), remote communities and those with interrupted schooling.

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

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.

Required skills include:

Ability to:

plan and organise observations

recognise flora

collect and record information

interpret data

use literacy skills to follow sequenced written instructions and record information accurately and legibly

use oral communication skills/language competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation including questioning, active listening, asking for clarification and seeking advice from supervisor as required

use numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record routine workplace measures

use interpersonal skills to relate to people from a range of social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities

recognise the range of Indigenous plants specific to the enterprise or locality

describe plant attributes

describe main purpose of species identified within the organisational or cultural context

describe any specific handling requirements and/or growth requirements to facilitate management and conservation of the species

use simple keys to identify and describe Indigenous plants

communicate with customers and clients

understand cultural protocols in relation to accessing and using information about culturally significant species

interpret questions effectively

explain information about the Indigenous plants specific to the organisation

Required knowledge includes:

Knowledge of:

criteria used to group species

common and scientific names of Indigenous plants and animals

biological species occurring in the study area

the importance, value or potential impact of the species in a designated area

rare and endangered species

undesirable Indigenous plants (weeds) and animals

maps and grid references

a range of plant identification techniques and plant names

enterprise procedures for obtaining and supplying advice and information about Indigenous plants

organisational expectations relating to the range and number of Indigenous plants to be recognised

cultural protocols for obtaining and utilising information about Indigenous plants

nutritional and medicinal purposes of bushland and/or bush foods

land management and conservation techniques

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.

Range of Indigenous plants may include:

native or introduced species including weeds

indigenous plants will comprise those commonly encountered within the industry workplace

Resourcesmay include:

enterprise or public library

business and research organisation websites

suppliers and contractors

enterprise supervisor and team colleague

experience, and experts in the local area or industry sector

personal or enterprise reference collection

Processes may include:

literature searches

internet browsing

personal consultation with experts

oral histories

specimen collections

field guides

workplace notes, and use of simple keys

Indigenousplant namesmay include:

common names

botanical names

in Aboriginal communities, language names can be used in lieu of common names

Plant characteristics may include:

shape

size

colour

texture

presence of hairs and spikes on leaves

stem, fruit, flower or seed

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.

A ceremonial/cultural manager in terms of Aboriginal customary law means someone who does the work either under the direct supervision of the Aboriginal Owner or does the work that is authorised by the Owner. In a ceremony for example, the ceremonial manager(s) may provide the food and do the performance (work). Traditional roles and responsibilities swap over depending on a person’s status in any given situation, ie, whose land/estate one is on for business.

Documentationmay include:

written description of the plant species including common Aboriginal and/orbotanical names

visible characteristics

details of occurrence or origin

optimum growth requirements, and/or a photographic record of the plant

a herbarium of plant samples preserved according to the requirements of the enterprise or industry sector

Bushland and/or bush foodsmayinclude:

Any plant that grows in the native Australian bush that is edible or partly edible, that may be used for sustenance, seasoning, or preservation, or for medicinal purposes or part of traditional ceremony

Land management and conservation techniques may include:

understanding individual species and habitat requirements

ensuring the survival of the species through passing down of knowledge

harvesting conservative amounts during an appropriate time of year

not causing damage to surrounding environs when collecting

Indigenous Plant species may include:

species covering listed threatened species

listed notifiable or noxious weeds

indigenous plants not previously seen at regularly visited site

indigenous plants to be reported under enterprise or industry guidelines