Assessor Resource

AHCASW312A
Maintain an Aboriginal cultural site

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: March 2024


This unit applies to those working in Aboriginal communities and on Country in cultural landscapes and with cultural sites and objects. The unit applies to working with lore/law men and women, either as an autonomous Sites worker or under the supervision and cultural authority of Traditional Owner/s and/or Elder/s for specific Country. This unit is also applicable to the work of repatriation workers and anthropologists. This unit applies to all Aboriginal-sites workers. Cultural beliefs and practices vary across locations and communities however and in some situations non-Aboriginal learners may not be able to access the cultural knowledge and/or materials required to achieve competency in this unit. This applies when restrictions are applied to non-Aboriginal people gaining access to cultural knowledge, material or sites. In these situations the Registered Training Organisation will have to make alternative arrangements for learners that are still consistent with the delivery and assessment requirements for this unit.

This unit covers the processes and practices required to maintain Aboriginal cultural places.

You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)

Prerequisites

AHCILM306A Follow Aboriginal cultural protocols


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills




Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

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 of this unit must comply with Community protocols and be conducted 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.

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:

identify appropriate cultural authorities for a Community, place or for a cultural site

consult with appropriate cultural authorities and informed approval obtained for works and access of specific persons

assess the level of work required to maintain the cultural place

carry out maintenance activities in accordance with organisational, environmental sustainability and Aboriginal cultural requirements

report deterioration or damage to place

report incidents of breaches of legislation including vandalism

determine the cultural rights and responsibilities when using Community knowledge, information and material

identify of groups to be consulted in relation to owners/custodians of cultural and Community knowledge, information and/or 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 authorities and/or Traditional Owners of the relevant local Community

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

Possible resources for assessment may include:

Burra Charter and Draft Guidelines for the Protection, Management and Use of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Heritage Places

enterprise and organisational procedures and policies

jurisdictional culture and heritage legislation

Method of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess competency in maintaining an Aboriginal cultural site. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

observation of the candidate relating to and engaging Aboriginal persons and Aboriginal Community on Country

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

verbal or written questioning

observation of participation in Aboriginal Sites maintenance 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

AHCASW312A Apply relevant legislation in Aboriginal sites work

AHCASW301A Protect places of Aboriginal cultural significance

Assessment for this unit should comprise a combination of theory and practical application. Both aspects of assessment are best conducted on Country for this unit.


Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)


Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

Required skills include:

Ability to:

respect cultural diversity and sensitivity to social, cultural and professional values and beliefs

use machinery, tools and equipment

carry out maintenance activities

assess the required level of work

use technology to access written, oral or visual source material

research library and internet

comprehend written, oral or visual source material

interpret written, oral or visual source material

listen effectively

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

exercise discretion and confidentiality

identify hazards and adopt safe work practices

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

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

Required knowledge includes:

Knowledge of:

Aboriginal history, cultural values and interpersonal and Community protocols

authentic and authoritative sources for Aboriginal cultural information, material and expression able to be accessed and shared

workplace health and safety requirements and responsibilities

sustainable environmental practices

traditional and Western modern techniques of site protection

range of maintenance works undertaken on cultural sites

enterprise procedures relating to the reporting of deterioration or damage to place or reporting of incidents

site recording systems used by the enterprise or Community

relevant archaeological practices and procedures

Cultural and Heritage Legislation or relevant NPWS legislation

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 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.

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 artefacts

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

how consultations should be conducted

Techniques and toolsmay include:

traditional Aboriginal knowledge and processes

hand tools and power tools

excavation and construction equipment

surveying and sampling tools

recording and reporting technological equipment

location and geographic equipment

archaeological techniques and equipment measurements made under different conditions

Archaeological practices may include:

review of existing knowledge

survey

landscape context

Aboriginal land use

site definition

site recording

location information

geographic reporting

survey analysis

test excavation

artefact recording

attribute recording

archaeological reporting

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Appropriate cultural authorities are identified and consulted according to Aboriginal cultural protocols 
Approval is obtained from relevant Traditional Owners and Cultural managers for work to be carried out and for access to cultural place and materials for the specific persons who will conduct work 
Prior assessment of significance incorporated into strategies and plans for area and place are accessed to determine range of required and appropriate actions 
Any prior works not in keeping with significance are identified to determine appropriate maintenance actions 
Information on environmental systems and procedures is collected and provided to the work group where appropriate 
Machinery, tools and equipment and materials to carry out maintenance works are identified along with appropriate techniques and tools 
Type and amount of materials required for maintenance work are estimated and documented 
Traditional Aboriginal repair/maintenance techniques and relevant archaeological practices and procedures are identified for implementation 
Machinery, equipment and materials to carry out maintenance works are organised and pre-maintenance checks are undertaken 
Safety equipment and materials are prepared and assembled according to enterprise workplace health and safety policy 
Maintenance work is undertaken and recorded according to Aboriginal cultural protocols and approvals and requirements of work programs 
Continuous improvement strategies are applied to own work area of responsibility, including ideas and possible solutions to communicate to the work group and management 
Team members are supported to identify possible areas for improved practices in work area on Country 
Evidence of deterioration and wear is reported to Traditional Owners, Cultural managers and supervisor 
Site is made good on completion of maintenance works according to Aboriginal cultural protocols, supervisor's instructions and enterprise guidelines 
Any breach of legislation or enterprise regulations is reported to Traditional Owners, Cultural managers and supervisor 
Protective barriers and signs are maintained according to enterprise procedures and Aboriginal cultural practices 
Workers/contractors are informed to ensure significance of place is maintained in terms of environmental sustainability requirements, no damage to surrounds, fabric or building, and removal of materials, equipment and tools at the completion of work 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

AHCASW312A - Maintain an Aboriginal cultural site
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:


Assessment Record Sheet

AHCASW312A - Maintain an Aboriginal cultural site

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: