Assessor Resource

AHCSHG304
Shear sheep to professional level

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024


This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to select, handle and shear sheep to a professional level at least 120 adult merino sheep or 140 adult crossbred sheep per day to industry standards.

All work must be carried out to comply with workplace procedures, work health and safety, animal welfare and biosecurity requirements and sustainability practices.

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.

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. Recognise and correct faults in shearing technique

1.1 Analyse shearing technique

1.2 Recognise and correct faults in sheep position, footwork and free hand use

1.3 Recognise and correct faults in the number of blows and their placement

1.4 Improve co-ordination of footwork, free hand use, sheep control and blow placement

2. Apply techniques to increase shearing speed and accuracy

2.1 Increase speed at which the handpiece is pushed forward and returned between blow placements

2.2 Improve the power, direction and manoeuvrability applied at the increased speed

2.3 Improve rhythm at the increased speed

2.4 Maintain calm and consistent temperament whilst shearing

2.5 Recognise the importance of stamina and fitness in improvement of output consistency

3. Shear required number of sheep in an eight hour day working day to quality standard of the industry for both sheep and wool

3.1 Demonstrate safety procedures during shearing in relation to people and sheep

3.2 Avoid excessive wool contamination and damage to the wool

3.3 Shear 120 adult merino sheep or equivalent using identified method and positions in a normal eight-hour working day

3.4 Use correct movement of feet and hands, and maintain correct positioning to the downtube

3.5 Release sheep at increased speed

3.6 Comply with work health and safety and animal welfare requirements

3.7 Follow enterprise biosecurity policies where required

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 be observed shearing a minimum of 120 adult merino sheep or 140 adult crossbred sheep per day to industry standards.

The candidate must provide evidence that they can:

identify hazards and work safely

avoid contamination, second cuts and injury to animals

shear sufficient sheep within eight hours to match skill level of a professional shearer

analyse and increase on improver shearer level

shear with the industry accepted pattern

use appropriate suturing for cuts to sheep

catch and release sheep safely

demonstrate safe and responsible workplace practices

provide due care and handle sheep humanely

apply enterprise workplace health and safety policies in the context of own work

apply enterprise biosecurity policies in the context of own work

apply enterprise animal welfare policies in the context of own work

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

types of shearing sheds, boards and catching pens

shearing machinery required and their relative functions

industry agreed shearing techniques and positions and method of shearing

safe handling techniques for catching, dragging, shearing and releasing sheep

the impacts of sheep behaviour on moving and handling sheep and shearing sheep

Federal and/or State shearing awards and agreements associated with shearing sheep

enterprise biosecurity policies applying to the job role

work health and safety legislation and codes of practice applying to the job role

animal welfare legislation and codes of practice applying to the job role

Competency is to be assessed in the workplace or workplace and simulated environment that accurately reflects performance in a real workplace setting.

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. Recognise and correct faults in shearing technique

1.1 Analyse shearing technique

1.2 Recognise and correct faults in sheep position, footwork and free hand use

1.3 Recognise and correct faults in the number of blows and their placement

1.4 Improve co-ordination of footwork, free hand use, sheep control and blow placement

2. Apply techniques to increase shearing speed and accuracy

2.1 Increase speed at which the handpiece is pushed forward and returned between blow placements

2.2 Improve the power, direction and manoeuvrability applied at the increased speed

2.3 Improve rhythm at the increased speed

2.4 Maintain calm and consistent temperament whilst shearing

2.5 Recognise the importance of stamina and fitness in improvement of output consistency

3. Shear required number of sheep in an eight hour day working day to quality standard of the industry for both sheep and wool

3.1 Demonstrate safety procedures during shearing in relation to people and sheep

3.2 Avoid excessive wool contamination and damage to the wool

3.3 Shear 120 adult merino sheep or equivalent using identified method and positions in a normal eight-hour working day

3.4 Use correct movement of feet and hands, and maintain correct positioning to the downtube

3.5 Release sheep at increased speed

3.6 Comply with work health and safety and animal welfare requirements

3.7 Follow enterprise biosecurity policies where required

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 be observed shearing a minimum of 120 adult merino sheep or 140 adult crossbred sheep per day to industry standards.

The candidate must provide evidence that they can:

identify hazards and work safely

avoid contamination, second cuts and injury to animals

shear sufficient sheep within eight hours to match skill level of a professional shearer

analyse and increase on improver shearer level

shear with the industry accepted pattern

use appropriate suturing for cuts to sheep

catch and release sheep safely

demonstrate safe and responsible workplace practices

provide due care and handle sheep humanely

apply enterprise workplace health and safety policies in the context of own work

apply enterprise biosecurity policies in the context of own work

apply enterprise animal welfare policies in the context of own work

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

types of shearing sheds, boards and catching pens

shearing machinery required and their relative functions

industry agreed shearing techniques and positions and method of shearing

safe handling techniques for catching, dragging, shearing and releasing sheep

the impacts of sheep behaviour on moving and handling sheep and shearing sheep

Federal and/or State shearing awards and agreements associated with shearing sheep

enterprise biosecurity policies applying to the job role

work health and safety legislation and codes of practice applying to the job role

animal welfare legislation and codes of practice applying to the job role

Competency is to be assessed in the workplace or workplace and simulated environment that accurately reflects performance in a real workplace setting.

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
Analyse shearing technique 
Recognise and correct faults in sheep position, footwork and free hand use 
Recognise and correct faults in the number of blows and their placement 
Improve co-ordination of footwork, free hand use, sheep control and blow placement 
Increase speed at which the handpiece is pushed forward and returned between blow placements 
Improve the power, direction and manoeuvrability applied at the increased speed 
Improve rhythm at the increased speed 
Maintain calm and consistent temperament whilst shearing 
Recognise the importance of stamina and fitness in improvement of output consistency 
Demonstrate safety procedures during shearing in relation to people and sheep 
Avoid excessive wool contamination and damage to the wool 
Shear 120 adult merino sheep or equivalent using identified method and positions in a normal eight-hour working day 
Use correct movement of feet and hands, and maintain correct positioning to the downtube 
Release sheep at increased speed 
Comply with work health and safety and animal welfare requirements 
Follow enterprise biosecurity policies where required 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

AHCSHG304 - Shear sheep to professional level
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

AHCSHG304 - Shear sheep to professional level

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: