Assessor Resource

AHCILM307A
Implement Aboriginal cultural burning practices

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: March 2024


This unit applies to Aboriginal-sites workers and Land Managers who burn on Country as part of their job role. The unit involves and requires a high level of awareness and experience with Aboriginal culture and communities and the need to observe Aboriginal cultural protocols. It is expected that this work will be undertaken as part of a team working under supervision in most cases. 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 process of using traditional Aboriginal practices in controlled burning on Country to manage natural and cultural resources.

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 carried out in consultation with and participation with Traditional Owners and/or Elders and custodians of that specific Country and follow any relevant Parks/Reserves policies and plan of management guidelines and culture and heritage legislation.

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:

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

develop working relationships with Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal stakeholders

apply traditional Aboriginal cultural burning techniques

control burning operations

protect life, property and conserve fauna and flora species during burning

achieve the correct intensity of burn

adhere to organisational safety and environmental protection policies and procedures

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment events must be contextualised to meet the needs of the particular group, including:

on Country, a Community, educational or workplace setting including Aboriginal cultural keeping places

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 experience

organisational safety and environmental policies and procedures

Method of assessment

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

observation of the candidate on Country participating in all aspects of a cultural burning operation

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

verbal or written questioning

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 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:

define the location and extent of fire application

evaluate the cultural and economic benefits of fire management practices

assess the quality of fire burns

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

use literacy skills to fulfil job roles as required by the organisation. The level of skill may range from reading and understanding documentation to completion of written reports

use oral communication skills/language competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation including questioning, active listening, asking for clarification, negotiating solutions and responding to a range of views

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

traditional Aboriginal rationale and techniques for cultural burning

the life cycles of flora and fauna of forests/plantations and effect of burning operations

required intensity and appropriate frequency of fire

sequence, location and pattern of recent and historical fire burns

the dependence of the terrestrial ecosystems on fire

selection of existing and construction of additional fire breaks

Aboriginal ceremonial requirements for fire practices

seasonal cycle of weather patterns

effects of fire on human physiology

emergency fire services

radio communication

organisational and enterprise policies and procedures for conservation of places of cultural significance

Cultural and Heritage Legislation or relevant NPWS legislation

sustainable environmental practices

safety procedures for conducting fire operations

workplace health and safety requirements

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.

Stakeholders may include:

Aboriginal Land Councils

Indigenous Ranger groups

Traditional Owners and Cultural managers

Aboriginal communities and Clans

museums

Culture and Heritage government departments and representatives

National Parks personnel

sites workers

archaeologists

anthropologists

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.

Burning plan may include:

appropriate frequency of fire

sequence, locations and pattern of recent and historical fire burns

schedules and maps of burn areas

seasonal cycle of weather patterns

timing of ignition of burns and cessation of fire practices

defining the location and extent of fire application

selection of existing and construction of additional fire breaks

familiarity with local landscape

evaluating the cultural and economic benefits of fire management

assessing the quality of fire burns

safety procedures for conducting fire operations

risk management of fire operations

reasons for burning:

cleaning out Country

cultural and economic benefits

ceremonial requirements

species diversity

species regeneration

hunting methods

facilitation of travelling through Country

creation of fire breaks

communication

land ownership

Total land mass may include:

an entire National Park/Reserve

part of an entire National Park/Reserve

several burn sites mapped together

an Aboriginal Land Council boundary

Ignition techniques and patterns may include:

ignition method

lighting pattern

ignition spacing

Aboriginal Sites may include:

shelters with deposits

open camp site

midden

shelter with midden

shelter with art

isolated find

undefined sites

axe grinding grooves

bora/ceremonial ring

burial site

rock engraving

scarred tree

carved tree

natural mythological site

restricted site

quarry

ochre quarry

fish trap

stone arrangement

mound (oven)

mia mia

waterhole (well)

contact/mission

abraded grooves

Aboriginal Place (declared under NPW Act)

Aboriginal Area (declared under NPW Act)

protected archaeological site

Conservation agreement

massacre

reserve

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

ways in which consultations should be conducted

Fire breaksmay include:

existing gaps in vegetation or fuel areas

barriers to slow or stop progress of fire

natural features of creeks, rivers, lakes, rock walls

constructed features of access tracks, roads, highways and landscaping

defensible spaces

Burn intensity may include:

low intensity burns

high intensity burns

Weather conditions to be monitored:

temperature

relative humidity

wind

atmospheric stability

rainfall

seasonal cycle of weather patterns

Burn specification or limiting factors may include:

size

area

location

name

physical landmarks

ownership boundaries

natural geographic locations

Monitoring of burningmay include:

observations

predictions

recording

fuel moisture content

wind speed and direction

flame height

rate of spread

smoke development

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
Working relationships that will assist in the planning and implementation of traditional Aboriginal cultural burning on Country are developed with stakeholders 
Appropriate cultural authorities are identified and consulted and approval to be on Country obtained 
Cultural knowledge is accessed through the appropriate knowledge holder and/or cultural manager 
A comprehensive burning plan and schedule for the total land mass is developed based on traditional cultural knowledge of seasonal conditions, Aboriginal ceremonial requirements, environmental sustainability considerations and safety concerns 
Burn is implemented according to Aboriginal cultural burning techniques and consistent with the burn plan and schedule 
Visitors are excluded from target areas, entertainment areas and areas possibly affected by smoke or risk from escaping fire 
Field workers are instructed in ignition techniques and patterns, fire control and safety procedures to conduct the burn 
Neighbours and agencies are advised of the intention to burn to ensure safety and maintain client relations 
Aboriginal sites, assets and entertainment areas are protected according to Aboriginal cultural protocols and fire industry practices 
If required, fire breaks are applied to the area to maintain control of the fire and burn intensity 
Fauna in danger in the burn area is removed prior to the controlled cultural burn where possible 
Flora is assessed for impact on fire-sensitive communities and species 
Weather forecasts and current weather conditions are assessed to determine appropriate conditions and timing for burn 
Fire is applied to targeted areas according to Aboriginal cultural burning techniques, traditional frequency and organisation requirements 
Targeted areas defined by burn specification or limiting factors are defined 
Area is checked to ensure all sections have received required burn in accordance with the burning plan 
Assessment of burn is completed and recorded 
Area burnt is monitored to organisation procedures to avoid wildfire outbreaks 
Seasonal conditions and life cycles of flora and fauna are assessed for the cessation of fire practices 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

AHCILM307A - Implement Aboriginal cultural burning practices
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Assessment Record Sheet

AHCILM307A - Implement Aboriginal cultural burning practices

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

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