Assessor Resource

AHCPER401
Provide advice on permaculture principles and practices

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: March 2024


This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to provide advice on permaculture principles and practices. It requires knowledge of permaculture principles and practices. It also requires skills in identifying client needs and requirements, providing advice on permaculture practices and in researching and relating detailed permaculture information and advice to clients.

All work is carried out to comply with workplace procedures.

This unit applies to individuals 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.

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. Identify client requirements for advice

1.1 Initiate contact with the client to determine the scope and type of the permaculture advice required

1.2 Clarify the needs and requirements of the client

1.3 Determine client’s resources

1.4 Determine the needs and potential of the site or project

2. Provide information on permaculture

2.1 Provide the client with a written brief outlining the requirements for advice

2.2 Supply the client with information on permaculture design principles and practices

2.3 Respond to client requests for clarification or expansion of information

2.4 Outline relevant literature on permaculture and other sources of information to client

2.5 Record information given to the client

3. Undertake permaculture research

3.1 Research specific applications of permaculture principles and practices related to client needs and requirements

3.2 Determine research strategies and sources

3.3 Research and investigate latest developments in permaculture principles and practices

4. Provide advice on permaculture principles and practices

4.1 Prepare advisory documentation or presentation based on the client brief

4.2 Explain contents of advisory documentation to the client

4.3 Include a statement of limitations of advice

4.4 Respond to client requests for clarification or expansion of permaculture principles and practices

4.5 Take feedback from client

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:

identify client needs and requirements for information and advice

propose a selection of permaculture practices and strategies that best suit the needs and resources of the client and the potential of the site

provide information on permaculture principles

provide advice on permaculture practices and strategies

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

principles of permaculture based on 12 principles in David Holmgren Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability and the work of Mollison and Slay

ethics of permaculture: care for the earth, care for all people, fair share of surpluses, setting limits to biophysical growth (population, resource use and waste)

permaculture practices and strategies, such as

personal, household, community and bioregional strategies

sustainable agriculture, horticulture, aquaculture and organic gardening

economic alternatives that support sustainable living

low energy and low embodied energy building and manufacturing

appropriate technology

restoration ecology and maintenance of biodiversity

sustainable community development, bioregional development and relocalisation

Reuse and return of products in manufacturing cycle and waste utilisation, waste water, grey water, sewage and resource treatment for re-use and recycling

Sustainability education

elements of permaculture systems

functions of permaculture systems

permaculture design techniques

innovation in plant, animal and technology selection, use and performance

recent practice in bioregional community development and local energy descent planning

client communication techniques, record keeping and listening techniques

preparation of reports and presentations for clients

uses of Statements of Limitation in the giving of advice

Assessors must satisfy current standards for RTOs. Assessors must also hold a nationally accredited Certificate IV or Diploma of Permaculture. Completion of a Permaculture Design Course (PDC) or non-accredited Permaculture Diploma 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. Identify client requirements for advice

1.1 Initiate contact with the client to determine the scope and type of the permaculture advice required

1.2 Clarify the needs and requirements of the client

1.3 Determine client’s resources

1.4 Determine the needs and potential of the site or project

2. Provide information on permaculture

2.1 Provide the client with a written brief outlining the requirements for advice

2.2 Supply the client with information on permaculture design principles and practices

2.3 Respond to client requests for clarification or expansion of information

2.4 Outline relevant literature on permaculture and other sources of information to client

2.5 Record information given to the client

3. Undertake permaculture research

3.1 Research specific applications of permaculture principles and practices related to client needs and requirements

3.2 Determine research strategies and sources

3.3 Research and investigate latest developments in permaculture principles and practices

4. Provide advice on permaculture principles and practices

4.1 Prepare advisory documentation or presentation based on the client brief

4.2 Explain contents of advisory documentation to the client

4.3 Include a statement of limitations of advice

4.4 Respond to client requests for clarification or expansion of permaculture principles and practices

4.5 Take feedback from client

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:

identify client needs and requirements for information and advice

propose a selection of permaculture practices and strategies that best suit the needs and resources of the client and the potential of the site

provide information on permaculture principles

provide advice on permaculture practices and strategies

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

principles of permaculture based on 12 principles in David Holmgren Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability and the work of Mollison and Slay

ethics of permaculture: care for the earth, care for all people, fair share of surpluses, setting limits to biophysical growth (population, resource use and waste)

permaculture practices and strategies, such as

personal, household, community and bioregional strategies

sustainable agriculture, horticulture, aquaculture and organic gardening

economic alternatives that support sustainable living

low energy and low embodied energy building and manufacturing

appropriate technology

restoration ecology and maintenance of biodiversity

sustainable community development, bioregional development and relocalisation

Reuse and return of products in manufacturing cycle and waste utilisation, waste water, grey water, sewage and resource treatment for re-use and recycling

Sustainability education

elements of permaculture systems

functions of permaculture systems

permaculture design techniques

innovation in plant, animal and technology selection, use and performance

recent practice in bioregional community development and local energy descent planning

client communication techniques, record keeping and listening techniques

preparation of reports and presentations for clients

uses of Statements of Limitation in the giving of advice

Assessors must satisfy current standards for RTOs. Assessors must also hold a nationally accredited Certificate IV or Diploma of Permaculture. Completion of a Permaculture Design Course (PDC) or non-accredited Permaculture Diploma 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
Initiate contact with the client to determine the scope and type of the permaculture advice required 
Clarify the needs and requirements of the client 
Determine client’s resources 
Determine the needs and potential of the site or project 
Provide the client with a written brief outlining the requirements for advice 
Supply the client with information on permaculture design principles and practices 
Respond to client requests for clarification or expansion of information 
Outline relevant literature on permaculture and other sources of information to client 
Record information given to the client 
Research specific applications of permaculture principles and practices related to client needs and requirements 
Determine research strategies and sources 
Research and investigate latest developments in permaculture principles and practices 
Prepare advisory documentation or presentation based on the client brief 
Explain contents of advisory documentation to the client 
Include a statement of limitations of advice 
Respond to client requests for clarification or expansion of permaculture principles and practices 
Take feedback from client 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

AHCPER401 - Provide advice on permaculture principles and practices
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

AHCPER401 - Provide advice on permaculture principles and practices

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: