Assessor Resource

CUVOPA406A
Identify the requirements for establishing an opal-cutting workshop

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: March 2024


People who set up their own opal-cutting workshop apply the skills and knowledge in this unit.

Where appropriate the outcomes of this unit could be contextualised to apply to other gemstones.

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to identify the requirements for establishing an opal-cutting workshop.

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

Prerequisites

Not applicable.


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

Evidence of the ability to:

identify the requirements for setting up and financing an opal-cutting workshop

organise the information in such a way that it can be used as a basis for decision making.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure access to:

various reference materials

internet

lapidary magazines and catalogues.

Method of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

observation of processes and procedures

oral and/or written questioning on underpinning knowledge and skills

review of portfolios of evidence

review of third-party workplace reports of on-the-job performance by candidate.

Assessment methods should closely reflect workplace demands (e.g. literacy) and the needs of particular groups (e.g. people with disabilities, and people who may have literacy or numeracy difficulties, such as speakers of languages other than English, remote communities and those with interrupted schooling).

Guidance information for assessment

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector workplace and job role is recommended.


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.

Required skills

communication skills to:

source information from suppliers about costs and equipment requirements

obtain estimates from service providers and financial institutions

document and access information on opal-cutting equipment, manufacturers and the setting up of an opal-cutting workshop

initiative and enterprise skills to:

obtain estimates

develop draft budgets and cash flow

investigate sources of finance

planning and organising skills to record information and organise it in a way that can be used as a basis for decision making

problem-solving skills to identify contingencies, such as OHS issues and rectify them

numeracy skills to develop draft budgets, cash flow and price materials

self-management skills to deliver information on time to appropriate persons for review and decision making

basic research skills, including internet searching skills.

Required knowledge

opal-cutting workshop requirements

manufacturers and suppliers of opal-cutting equipment

basic cost analysis, business principles and business planning.

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.

Fixtures and fittings may include:

air conditioning

benches

chairs

chemical cupboards

cupboards

floor coverings

safes

security requirements, such as door and window locks alarms

shelving

telephone

windows and doors.

Machinery and equipment may include:

bench grinder 6″ or 8″

combination units for grind, sand and polish

diamond grinding, sanding and polishing units

drum or belt sanders

dry sanding units

free-hand saws

grinding arbours with belt drive

leather or felt polishing units

multi-blade saws

slab saws

trim saws

ventilation system and filters

wet sanding units.

OHS issues may include:

appropriate clothing and footwear

chemicals

cleanliness of work areas

dangers of using electricity and water in the same environment

dust and fumes

ergonomics

fire extinguishers

first aid kit

guarding for machinery

lighting

naked flames

noise

safety glasses

ventilation.

Electrical fittings may include:

cabling and machine wiring

exhaust fans and dust extraction

hardwired control and fuse box

lighting primary and secondary

switches and safety stops

waterproof power outlets.

Water and drainage requirements may include:

hosing to machinery

sludge traps

splash guards

taps

water drainage and disposal

water supply, mains or gravity fed

water trays.

Manufacturers and suppliers/agents may include:

Ashworths Pty Ltd

Contempo Lapidary

Covington

Des Liston Lapidary

Diamond Pacific

Embel Lapidary

Gemmasta

Gemtec

Graves

Lapcraft

Raytech

Robilt

Shelleys Lapidary Supplies

T. F. Lapidary

Thompson’s Lapidary

Western Lapidary Supplies.

Costs may include:

bank charges

currency exchange

duty or excise

freight

GST

initial cost of machine

insurance

ongoing maintenance

postage

set-up costs.

Services may include:

electrician

plumbing.

Sources of finance may include:

banks

credit unions

partnerships

private loans.

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
Decide what the workshop is to be used for and how many people will be working there 
Determine the consumables, fixtures and fittings needed for an opal-cutting workshop 
Identify essential and desirable machinery needed for a cutting and polishing workshop 
Assess the OHS issues for an opal-cutting and polishing workshop and determine control measures required 
Determine the environmental protection requirements and plan compliance 
Assess the specifications for the building needed for an opal-cutting workshop, including size, electrical fittings, and water and drainage requirements 
Identify manufacturers and suppliers/agents for new and second-hand lapidary equipment 
Compare prices and advantages and disadvantages of new and second-hand equipment, and the costs in obtaining machinery and equipment 
List suppliers of consumables and compare prices 
Obtain estimates of the cost of services required to set up the workshop 
Develop a draft budget and cash flow for the first year of operation 
Use appropriate research techniques to investigate sources of finance and repayment schedules 
Record the information gained 
Organise the information so that it can be used as the basis for making a decision on whether to proceed with the option to set up an opal cutting and polishing business 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

CUVOPA406A - Identify the requirements for establishing an opal-cutting workshop
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:

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Assessment Record Sheet

CUVOPA406A - Identify the requirements for establishing an opal-cutting workshop

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: