Assessor Resource

AHCPER303
Maintain integrated plant and animal systems

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024


This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to maintain integrated plant and animal systems, undertake maintenance, and maintain records of activities. Maintaining integrated plant and animal systems requires a knowledge of permaculture activities appropriate to climate and soil types, plants and animals commonly found on permaculture properties, permaculture principles and practices and typical permaculture solutions for water catchment and storage and soil maintenance and improvement for plant and animal systems.

All work is carried out to comply with workplace procedures.

This unit applies to individuals who work under broad direction and take responsibility for their own work including limited responsibility for the work of others. They use discretion and judgement in the selection and use of available resources and complete routine activities.

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. Plan maintenance of integrated plant and animal systems

1.1 Assess maintenance requirements for the integrated plant and animal system

1.2 Consult stakeholders about maintenance activities where required

1.3 Determine and source the required equipment, machinery and materials for maintenance activities

1.4 Read and interpret permaculture design specifications for the property and follow any specific directions on maintenance approaches and strategies

1.5 Plan movement through production areas to minimise disturbance and degradation during maintenance activities

2. Undertake maintenance activities

2.1 Maintain a clean and safe work area

2.2 Take appropriate measures to avoid degradation and disturbance to soil, plants, animals, waterways and other parts of the ecosystem

2.3 Monitor activities of personnel and visitors to reduce risks to the productive systems undergoing maintenance

3. Complete maintenance activities

3.1 Make site good on completion of maintenance activities

3.2 Clean and store equipment and machinery appropriately on completion of maintenance activities

3.3 Remove or store excess materials

3.4 Maintain records of maintenance activities

The candidate must be assessed on their ability to integrate and apply the performance requirements of this unit in a workplace setting. Performance must be demonstrated consistently over time and in a suitable range of contexts.

The candidate must provide evidence that they can:

plan maintenance activities for integrated plant and animal systems

undertake maintenance

record and report on completion of activities

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

Integrated plant and animal systems, such as:

gardens, orchards, organic farms, woodlots and forests that include animals in free range or rotational systems

balanced ecosystems where the needs of all species are met

systems where poultry provide fertility, pest control and other services to plants, such as:

chicken-orchard systems

duck-rice systems

poultry used as tractor

frogs, birds and other wild creatures attracted to the garden to maintain ecological balance

patterns seen in nature, such as stacking and layering of plants in a forest, used in deliberate design

plants and animals commonly found on permaculture properties

plant groups and vegetation structures

permaculture practices, such as:

composting of weeds

chop and drop practices

feeding weeds to animals

soil support and enhancement strategies

animal husbandry strategies

permaculture design information, such as:

permaculture site plan

components of integrated plant and animal systems

the role of animals in improving soil, recycling nutrients, managing ‘weedy’ plants and controlling pests and diseases

plants as indicators and improvers

typical permaculture solutions to water catchment and storage for integrated plant and animal systems

recycling of materials and waste

Assessors must satisfy current standards for RTOs. Assessors must also hold a nationally accredited Certificate III (or higher) in Permaculture. Completion of a Permaculture Design Course (PDC) is NOT sufficient at this level.

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. Plan maintenance of integrated plant and animal systems

1.1 Assess maintenance requirements for the integrated plant and animal system

1.2 Consult stakeholders about maintenance activities where required

1.3 Determine and source the required equipment, machinery and materials for maintenance activities

1.4 Read and interpret permaculture design specifications for the property and follow any specific directions on maintenance approaches and strategies

1.5 Plan movement through production areas to minimise disturbance and degradation during maintenance activities

2. Undertake maintenance activities

2.1 Maintain a clean and safe work area

2.2 Take appropriate measures to avoid degradation and disturbance to soil, plants, animals, waterways and other parts of the ecosystem

2.3 Monitor activities of personnel and visitors to reduce risks to the productive systems undergoing maintenance

3. Complete maintenance activities

3.1 Make site good on completion of maintenance activities

3.2 Clean and store equipment and machinery appropriately on completion of maintenance activities

3.3 Remove or store excess materials

3.4 Maintain records of maintenance activities

The candidate must be assessed on their ability to integrate and apply the performance requirements of this unit in a workplace setting. Performance must be demonstrated consistently over time and in a suitable range of contexts.

The candidate must provide evidence that they can:

plan maintenance activities for integrated plant and animal systems

undertake maintenance

record and report on completion of activities

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

Integrated plant and animal systems, such as:

gardens, orchards, organic farms, woodlots and forests that include animals in free range or rotational systems

balanced ecosystems where the needs of all species are met

systems where poultry provide fertility, pest control and other services to plants, such as:

chicken-orchard systems

duck-rice systems

poultry used as tractor

frogs, birds and other wild creatures attracted to the garden to maintain ecological balance

patterns seen in nature, such as stacking and layering of plants in a forest, used in deliberate design

plants and animals commonly found on permaculture properties

plant groups and vegetation structures

permaculture practices, such as:

composting of weeds

chop and drop practices

feeding weeds to animals

soil support and enhancement strategies

animal husbandry strategies

permaculture design information, such as:

permaculture site plan

components of integrated plant and animal systems

the role of animals in improving soil, recycling nutrients, managing ‘weedy’ plants and controlling pests and diseases

plants as indicators and improvers

typical permaculture solutions to water catchment and storage for integrated plant and animal systems

recycling of materials and waste

Assessors must satisfy current standards for RTOs. Assessors must also hold a nationally accredited Certificate III (or higher) in Permaculture. Completion of a Permaculture Design Course (PDC) is NOT sufficient at this level.
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
Assess maintenance requirements for the integrated plant and animal system 
Consult stakeholders about maintenance activities where required 
Determine and source the required equipment, machinery and materials for maintenance activities 
Read and interpret permaculture design specifications for the property and follow any specific directions on maintenance approaches and strategies 
Plan movement through production areas to minimise disturbance and degradation during maintenance activities 
Maintain a clean and safe work area 
Take appropriate measures to avoid degradation and disturbance to soil, plants, animals, waterways and other parts of the ecosystem 
Monitor activities of personnel and visitors to reduce risks to the productive systems undergoing maintenance 
Make site good on completion of maintenance activities 
Clean and store equipment and machinery appropriately on completion of maintenance activities 
Remove or store excess materials 
Maintain records of maintenance activities 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

AHCPER303 - Maintain integrated plant and animal systems
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

AHCPER303 - Maintain integrated plant and animal systems

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: