Assessor Resource

AHCPMG601A
Develop a plant pest survey strategy

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: May 2024


This unit applies to personnel who have been appointed or engaged to undertake a role within a plant pest incursion. This unit may also apply to personnel involved with planning responses to emergency animal diseases and aquatic animal diseases.

This unit covers developing a plant pest survey strategy and specifies the outcomes required to develop a strategy for plant pest surveys. It specifies elements for determining the presence, distribution and/or prevalence of a plant pest or for confirming that the pest is not detectable. This work may be conducted as part of an emergency response to an incursion or as part of routine surveillance, and will be conducted in line with established standards and protocols.

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

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 critical requirements for this unit of competency as a whole are listed below:

assessment must confirm one's ability to develop and document a plant pest survey strategy according to prevailing standards and protocols.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

For valid assessment, one must have opportunities to participate in exercises, case studies and other real and simulated practical and knowledge assessments that demonstrate the skills and knowledge required to develop a plant pest survey strategy.

The candidate must also have access to a functioning control centre, or a control centre established for a plant pest response simulation exercise.

Method of assessment

Assessment for this unit of competency is to be largely practical in nature and will most appropriately be assessed in an emergency disease or plant pest response simulation exercise or in responses to an emergency disease or plant pest incursion.

Guidance information for assessment

To ensure consistency in one's performance, competency should be demonstrated on more than one occasion over a period of time in order to cover a variety of circumstances, cases and responsibilities, and where possible, over a number of assessment activities.

The skills and knowledge required to plan and oversee an emergency disease or plant pest control program must be transferable to a range of work environments and contexts, including the ability to deal with unplanned events. For example, this could include work within control centres established for other emergency diseases or plant pest incursions.

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:

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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

high level interpretation of information to determine distribution of pests in relation to biology, climate and vegetation

working with other technical experts

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

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

use interpersonal skills to work with others and relate to people from a range of cultural, social and religious backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities.

Required knowledge

detailed knowledge of a range of biological survey methods

detailed knowledge of application of biometric principles to biological survey design

detailed knowledge of biology of groups of pests and pathogens relevant to survey

detailed knowledge of types and distribution of hosts relevant to survey

knowledge of plant and animal industries and potential impact of incursions

legislation and regulations defining and affecting management of incursions

Australian Emergency Plant Pest Response Plan (PLANTPLAN).

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole.

Biological and dispersal characteristics may include:

intrinsic characteristics of pest

active flight

soil borne

water borne

wind borne

biological (mechanical) vectors that carry the pest such as:

fruit, seed and plant material

insects, invertebrates and vertebrates

non-biological means such as equipment, machinery, vehicles and clothing.

Types of survey required may include:

area free

delimiting

distribution

prevalence.

Standards and protocols that may apply include:

PLANTPLAN

Australian Veterinary Emergency Plan (AUSVETPLAN)

commonwealth, state and territory legislation defining legal powers in a disease emergency

damage minimisation policies

environmental policies

occupational health and safety requirements and policies

pest free area guidelines

standard operating procedures.

Diagnostic tests selected may include:

biochemical tests

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)

microscopy

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).

Instructions for survey teams may cover:

actions to take when suspect material is found

biosecurity measures for team and property owners

communication protocols for teams when briefing property owners, including confidentiality requirements

farm, district and regional requirements

sampling intensity

sampling protocols

specifying survey sites.

Resources required may include:

equipment

illustrated guides

information technology and communications equipment

maps - topographical and aerial

personnel and their needs, including physical needs such as transport, accommodation and other requirements such as supervision and training

vehicles appropriate to area, site and terrain, including:

four-wheel drive

all terrain vehicle (ATV)

forklift

helicopter.

Technical experts to consult may include:

those with appropriate diagnostic and biometric expertise.

Appropriate authorities may include:

chief plant health manager

consultative committee on emergency plant pests

planning manager

survey manager.

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
Biological and dispersal characteristics of pest are identified. 
Impact of climate on reproduction rate and predicted distribution of pest are determined. 
Geographical distribution of the host(s) is identified. 
Information is analysed to determine priority areas to be surveyed. 
Particular type of survey to be designed is determined according to phase of incursion. 
Appropriate biometric design that will satisfy confidence limits is selected in consultation with technical experts and according to relevant standards and protocols. 
Field data collection methodology is determined. 
Quality assurance standards that will apply to survey are identified and incorporated in survey methodology and documentation. 
Appropriate diagnostic tests are selected for use in confirming pest presence in samples to be collected. 
Instructions for survey teams are developed. 
Resources required for survey activities are determined in conjunction with technical experts and are documented. 
Survey design is documented according to protocols and standards. 
Survey design is submitted to appropriate authorities for approval. 
Review processes are determined to evaluate conduct and effectiveness of survey program. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

AHCPMG601A - Develop a plant pest survey strategy
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

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

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Result: Competent Not yet competent

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Assessment Record Sheet

AHCPMG601A - Develop a plant pest survey strategy

Student name:

Student ID:

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

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Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

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