Assessor Resource

DEFSUR004
Erect a survival shelter using natural resources in a survival situation

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024


This unit describes the skills required to erect a survival shelter in a survival situation. The individual is not expected to be an expert in building construction, but rather to have the requisite skills and knowledge to identify the elemental threats to his/her survival such as sun, wind and rain, and to establish a survival shelter to provide the necessary protection. The shelter may take advantage of established natural features or may demand stand-alone construction from natural resources. This unit assumes that manufactured resources are not available.

This unit was developed for Defence personnel but may be relevant to others

The skills and knowledge described in this unit must be applied within the legislative, regulatory and policy environment in which they are carried out. Organisational policies and procedures must be consulted and adhered to.

Those undertaking this unit would act autonomously, while performing concrete tasks, in a broad range of contexts which may be highly unpredictable.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to 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.

ELEMENTS

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the range of conditions section.

1. Prepare resources for erection of survival shelter

1.1 Identify potential threat to personal survival posed by the elements and use natural features to provide immediate protection.

1.2 Optimise survival shelter’s siting for protection from the elements and to minimise hazards to the survivalist, taking advantage, where possible, of existing natural resources.

1.3 Collect resources to construct survival shelter to maximise shelter strength and protection, while minimising physical effort.

2. Construct survival shelter

2.1 Construct traditional twoply string for use in binding and securing.

2.2 Establish survival shelter’s framework, taking maximum advantage of the strength of natural junction points such as forks, by using and binding with improvised cordage.

2.3 Protect survival shelter from wind and rain, using shingling (bark sections and large leaves) and thatching (bound grass and bundled grass) for roofing and siding.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria. If not otherwise specified the candidate must demonstrate evidence of performance of the following on at least one occasion.

tying knots and lashes

constructing at least two shelters capable of withstanding a vertical or horizontal loading to the framework of 300N; that repels all water when twenty litres is poured along the top/leading edge of the structure to simulate rain; whose tiling and thatching remains adhered to the shelter under wind conditions of Beaufort scale 4 (11–16 knots)

using and binding with improvised cordage including at least one of

animal skins/gut

bark strips

reeds and grasses

traditional twoply string

Evidence required to demonstrate competence must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria. If not otherwise specified the depth of knowledge demonstrated must be appropriate to the job context of the candidate.

priorities of survival

threats to survival from elements

Competency must be assessed in a simulated workplace environment, including access to an appropriate remote survival area that has suitable natural resources and natural features; and a knife.

Consideration must be given to holistic assessment with other survival units.

While a person can demonstrate the technical ability to construct and maintain a shelter, doing so in a survival situation is crucial. Assessment under simulated survival conditions includes:

food restrictions

absence of normal living conditions and amenities

significant period of time

Refer to advice in the companion volumes.

Assessors must satisfy the NVR/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.

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.

ELEMENTS

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the range of conditions section.

1. Prepare resources for erection of survival shelter

1.1 Identify potential threat to personal survival posed by the elements and use natural features to provide immediate protection.

1.2 Optimise survival shelter’s siting for protection from the elements and to minimise hazards to the survivalist, taking advantage, where possible, of existing natural resources.

1.3 Collect resources to construct survival shelter to maximise shelter strength and protection, while minimising physical effort.

2. Construct survival shelter

2.1 Construct traditional twoply string for use in binding and securing.

2.2 Establish survival shelter’s framework, taking maximum advantage of the strength of natural junction points such as forks, by using and binding with improvised cordage.

2.3 Protect survival shelter from wind and rain, using shingling (bark sections and large leaves) and thatching (bound grass and bundled grass) for roofing and siding.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria. If not otherwise specified the candidate must demonstrate evidence of performance of the following on at least one occasion.

tying knots and lashes

constructing at least two shelters capable of withstanding a vertical or horizontal loading to the framework of 300N; that repels all water when twenty litres is poured along the top/leading edge of the structure to simulate rain; whose tiling and thatching remains adhered to the shelter under wind conditions of Beaufort scale 4 (11–16 knots)

using and binding with improvised cordage including at least one of

animal skins/gut

bark strips

reeds and grasses

traditional twoply string

Evidence required to demonstrate competence must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria. If not otherwise specified the depth of knowledge demonstrated must be appropriate to the job context of the candidate.

priorities of survival

threats to survival from elements

Competency must be assessed in a simulated workplace environment, including access to an appropriate remote survival area that has suitable natural resources and natural features; and a knife.

Consideration must be given to holistic assessment with other survival units.

While a person can demonstrate the technical ability to construct and maintain a shelter, doing so in a survival situation is crucial. Assessment under simulated survival conditions includes:

food restrictions

absence of normal living conditions and amenities

significant period of time

Refer to advice in the companion volumes.

Assessors must satisfy the NVR/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.
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
Identify potential threat to personal survival posed by the elements and use natural features to provide immediate protection. 
Optimise survival shelter’s siting for protection from the elements and to minimise hazards to the survivalist, taking advantage, where possible, of existing natural resources. 
Collect resources to construct survival shelter to maximise shelter strength and protection, while minimising physical effort. 
Construct traditional twoply string for use in binding and securing. 
Establish survival shelter’s framework, taking maximum advantage of the strength of natural junction points such as forks, by using and binding with improvised cordage. 
Protect survival shelter from wind and rain, using shingling (bark sections and large leaves) and thatching (bound grass and bundled grass) for roofing and siding. 
Identify potential threat to personal survival posed by the elements and use natural features to provide immediate protection. 
Optimise survival shelter’s siting for protection from the elements and to minimise hazards to the survivalist, taking advantage, where possible, of existing natural resources. 
Collect resources to construct survival shelter to maximise shelter strength and protection, while minimising physical effort. 
Construct traditional twoply string for use in binding and securing. 
Establish survival shelter’s framework, taking maximum advantage of the strength of natural junction points such as forks, by using and binding with improvised cordage. 
Protect survival shelter from wind and rain, using shingling (bark sections and large leaves) and thatching (bound grass and bundled grass) for roofing and siding. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

DEFSUR004 - Erect a survival shelter using natural resources in a survival situation
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

DEFSUR004 - Erect a survival shelter using natural resources in a survival situation

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: