Assessor Resource

AHCBEK306
Manage pests and disease within a honey bee colony

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: March 2024


This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to inspect a honey bee colony for indicators of disease or evidence of pests, and take appropriate follow-up action.

This unit applies to beekeepers who take responsibility for their own work and for the quality of the work of others. They use discretion and judgement in the selection, allocation and use of available resources.

All work is carried out to comply with notifiable disease legislation and relevant industry standards and protocols.

No occupational licensing, legislative or certification requirements are known to apply to this unit at the time of publication.

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



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.

Element

Performance criteria

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1. Prepare to check brood

1.1 Use suitable personal protective equipment (PPE)

1.2 Use tools and equipment to open a hive

1.3 Identify work health and safety hazards associated with opening a hive and take actions to minimise risk to self and others

2. Assess health and condition of brood

2.1 Inspect hive for signs of diseased brood being ejected from hive at entrance or bottom board

2.2 Inspect brood for signs and evidence of pests and disease and, where pests or notifiable disease is observed, notify authorities and take action

2.3 Identify signs of disease or pests, collect samples for testing and gather evidence to support a diagnosis

3. Assess health and condition of adult bees

3.1 Observe flight paths around hive entrance for signs of poor or irregular flight patterns and for dead or dying bees at hive entrance

3.2 Observe adult bees and brood combs for signs of disease and, if notifiable disease is present, notify authorities and take action

3.3 Identify signs of disease or pest, collect samples for testing and gather evidence to support a diagnosis

3.4 Implement biosecurity measures

3.5 Record results of inspections and any remedial action taken and use as the basis of future beekeeping operations

The candidate must be assessed on their ability to integrate and apply the performance requirements of this unit in a workplace setting.

The candidate must provide evidence that they can:

identify key signs and symptoms of disease and pests that may affect brood or adult honey bees

work safely around bees

report signs of notifiable diseases

take samples

take appropriate actions to eliminate or manage pests and diseases.

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

principles and practices of disease management within a honey bee colony

how pests and diseases are spread and level of risk to beekeeping

the signs of endemic and exotic disease and pests of honey bees and treatments.

Assessors must satisfy current standards for RTOs.


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.

Element

Performance criteria

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1. Prepare to check brood

1.1 Use suitable personal protective equipment (PPE)

1.2 Use tools and equipment to open a hive

1.3 Identify work health and safety hazards associated with opening a hive and take actions to minimise risk to self and others

2. Assess health and condition of brood

2.1 Inspect hive for signs of diseased brood being ejected from hive at entrance or bottom board

2.2 Inspect brood for signs and evidence of pests and disease and, where pests or notifiable disease is observed, notify authorities and take action

2.3 Identify signs of disease or pests, collect samples for testing and gather evidence to support a diagnosis

3. Assess health and condition of adult bees

3.1 Observe flight paths around hive entrance for signs of poor or irregular flight patterns and for dead or dying bees at hive entrance

3.2 Observe adult bees and brood combs for signs of disease and, if notifiable disease is present, notify authorities and take action

3.3 Identify signs of disease or pest, collect samples for testing and gather evidence to support a diagnosis

3.4 Implement biosecurity measures

3.5 Record results of inspections and any remedial action taken and use as the basis of future beekeeping operations

The candidate must be assessed on their ability to integrate and apply the performance requirements of this unit in a workplace setting.

The candidate must provide evidence that they can:

identify key signs and symptoms of disease and pests that may affect brood or adult honey bees

work safely around bees

report signs of notifiable diseases

take samples

take appropriate actions to eliminate or manage pests and diseases.

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

principles and practices of disease management within a honey bee colony

how pests and diseases are spread and level of risk to beekeeping

the signs of endemic and exotic disease and pests of honey bees and treatments.

Assessors must satisfy current standards for RTOs.

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
Use suitable personal protective equipment (PPE) 
Use tools and equipment to open a hive 
Identify work health and safety hazards associated with opening a hive and take actions to minimise risk to self and others 
Inspect hive for signs of diseased brood being ejected from hive at entrance or bottom board 
Inspect brood for signs and evidence of pests and disease and, where pests or notifiable disease is observed, notify authorities and take action 
Identify signs of disease or pests, collect samples for testing and gather evidence to support a diagnosis 
Observe flight paths around hive entrance for signs of poor or irregular flight patterns and for dead or dying bees at hive entrance 
Observe adult bees and brood combs for signs of disease and, if notifiable disease is present, notify authorities and take action 
Identify signs of disease or pest, collect samples for testing and gather evidence to support a diagnosis 
Implement biosecurity measures 
Record results of inspections and any remedial action taken and use as the basis of future beekeeping operations 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

AHCBEK306 - Manage pests and disease within a honey bee colony
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

AHCBEK306 - Manage pests and disease within a honey bee colony

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: