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
communication skills to:
consult with relevant personnel regarding the provenance of objects in collections
initiate discussions in the workplace and in the wider community about the significance of collections
initiative and enterprise skills to identify comparative examples of collections
learning skills to seek assistance from technical specialists
literacy skills to:
take notes
read and interpret information
prepare statements of significance
planning and organising skills to:
sort information and sources
establish timelines for significance assessments
problem-solving skills to:
identify information useful in determining the significance of collections
verify information sources
research skills to:
access and interrogate sources of information to determine the significance of collections
research history and provenance information
self-management skills to:
follow workplace procedures
prioritise work tasks and meet deadlines
teamwork skills to:
respond appropriately to feedback from others on information presented in formal and informal discussions
work collaboratively with others.
Required knowledge
organisational strengths, goals, policies and strategies in relation to collection management
collection management policies
primary and comparative criteria
process to access technical specialists
sources of information relating to assessing the significance of collections
significance assessment methodology.
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.
Purpose might include: | deaccession objects from collections establishing provenance of collections guiding collection strategies and policies guiding and supporting acquisition decisions guiding conservation policies and treatment informing strategic planning supporting funding applications taking stock of collections. |
History may relate to: | published histories role of former directors, curators and scientists in developing collections significant gifts, acquisitions, buildings and renovations. |
Wider context of collectionsrelates to: | buildings in which collections are housed environment and use historical context in communities items to be accessioned period when collections were developed. |
Sources of information may include: | Australian War Memorial database of Collections Australia Network (CAN) collections Heritage Collections Council, Commonwealth of Australia historical societies Museums Australia National Archives of Australia online collections database of National Museum of Australia national, state and local government public records online databases organisational policies and procedures Picture Australia Powerhouse Museum. |
Consultmay relate to: | community values important items or themes for communities people to whom collections are important role organisations play in communities. |
Relevant personnel may include: | associations or trades donors ethnic communities office bearers owners special interest community associations technical specialists users volunteers. |
Similar collections may relate to: | size subject type. |
Primary criteria may relate to: | aesthetic considerations, such as: balance colour design or technical excellence form harmony and beauty originality or innovation in design or execution skill in quality of workmanship or execution historical considerations, such as association with: event or activity person place process theme scientific or research significance, such as: collection history documented context social or spiritual significance, such as: association with communities public display. |
Comparative criteria may relate to: | condition, intactness or integrity, such as: alterations disturbed or altered components or composition evidence of use missing components original or copy repairs still working unrestored unusually good condition for its type interpretive potential of contribution to collections and museum provenance, including: place of origin where and how objects were used who owned, used or made objects rarity, including: distinguishing qualities uniqueness unusualness representativeness, such as: good example of its type typical or characteristic of material, style or design. |
Statements of significance may provide: | a brief, considered assessment of the values, meaning and importance of objects a collection of knowledge and ideas about objects a summary of the process of investigation and assessment benchmarks for future use communication of values for interpretive programs images of collections being assessed and other comparative collections record of the crucial provenance details and association of objects summary of the meaning and importance of objects. |
Records may include: | catalogues objects online records. |
Reassess may relate to: | changes in organisational strategy changes in collection policy new information. |
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