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

Assessors should ensure that candidates can:

select appropriate collection, preservation and display techniques to suit particular display requirements

recognise, identify and collect suitable animal and plant specimens

store and transport specimens safely while maintaining their wellbeing, viability and/or integrity, as appropriate

comply with all legislative, regulatory and enterprise requirements

preserve and prepare animal and plant specimens for a range of display purposes

complete a variety of displays that meet client and security requirements (could be part of a team)

keep records to provide chain of custody of specimens and samples through collection, storage, preservation and display.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

This unit of competency is to be assessed in the workplace or simulated workplace environment.

This unit of competency may be assessed with:

MSL975017A Perform laboratory-based ecological techniques.

Resources may include:

standard laboratory equipped with appropriate equipment and reagents

enterprise procedures for the collection, storage, preservation, mounting and documentation of specimens and preparation of displays.

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are suggested:

review of display plans prepared by the candidate (or as part of a team)

examination of animal and plant display material prepared by the candidate

observation of the candidate collecting, preserving and mounting specimens

oral and written tests for relevant knowledge.

In all cases, practical assessment should be supported by questions to assess underpinning knowledge and those aspects of competency which are difficult to assess directly.

Where applicable, reasonable adjustment must be made to work environments and training situations to accommodate ethnicity, age, gender, demographics and disability.

Access must be provided to appropriate learning and/or assessment support when required.

The language, literacy and numeracy demands of assessment should not be greater than those required to undertake the unit of competency in a work like environment.

This competency in practice

Industry representatives have provided the case studies below to illustrate the practical application of this unit of competency and to show its relevance in a workplace setting.

Education

A laboratory technician at a university botany school is required to prepare display material for a practical class to study cycads. They look up the procedures manual and discuss the requirements of the class with the lecturing staff and then arrange to visit the botanic gardens and collect the required specimens with the curator. The specimens are identified, collected and labelled, transported back to the laboratory in water in a refrigerated van and displayed for the practical class to use the next day.

Museum

An exhibition project officer in a museum works in a team to design and create a display as part of an exhibition about spiders. It is decided that a display of live funnel web spiders in a perspex showcase would capture public interest. The project officer designs and makes the showcase taking note of the need to provide for the environmental, feeding and security requirements of the specimens, the safety and information needs of the public, and the display's visual appeal and accuracy of the spider habitat. They liaise with a nearby reptile park to obtain the spiders for the duration of the display and prepare the necessary documentation.

Required skills

Required skills include:

complying with all legislative, regulatory and enterprise requirements

selecting collection, preservation and display techniques to suit particular display requirements

recognising, identifying and collecting suitable animal and plant specimens

storing and transporting specimens safely while maintaining their wellbeing, viability and/or integrity

preserving and preparing animal and plant specimens for a range of display purposes

completing displays that meet client and security requirements

keeping records to providing chain of custody of specimens and samples through collection, storage, preservation and display

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes:

enterprise processes and procedures for creation of displays

classification/taxonomy/flora and fauna recognition and identification methods

legislative limitations on collection of flora and fauna

principles of fixation and preservation

principles of a range of methods for preparing skeletal material

relevant health, safety and environment requirements

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.

Codes of practice

Where reference is made to industry codes of practice, and/or Australian/international standards, it is expected the latest version will be used

Standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements

Standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements may include:

Australian and international standards, such as:

AS 1940-2004 Storage and handling of flammable and combustible liquids

AS 2252 Biological safety cabinets

AS/NZS 2243 Set:2006 Safety in laboratories set

AS/NZS 4452:1997 The storage and handling of toxic substances

AS/NZS 4501 Set:2008 Occupational clothing set

AS/NZS ISO 14000 Set:2005 Environmental management standards set

HB 9-1994 Occupational personal protection

Australian Dangerous Goods Code

animal welfare legislation and codes of practice

Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) Import Guidelines

gene technology regulations

Guide to physical containment levels and facility types

National Code of Practice for the labelling of workplace substances (NOHSC:2012 (1994))

occupational health and safety (OHS) national standards and codes of practice

permits for wildlife capture and handling

principles of good laboratory practice (GLP)

Staff

Staff may include:

curator

conservator

design exhibition project officer

project manager

Requirements of a display plan

Requirements of a display plan may include:

purpose (public display or part of a collection for research purposes)

length of time (permanent or temporary)

accessibility (static or interactive)

type (diorama, live or preserved specimens and additions to existing showcase)

two- or three-dimensional

exclusion of pests

specific features of the specimen to be demonstrated

lighting that is sympathetic to the conservation of the specimen

security (particularly for valuable, vulnerable or irreplaceable specimens)

user friendliness for both visitors and maintenance staff

Collection

Collection may include:

collecting live specimens from the wild

accessing specimens from existing collections in the base or other institutions

netting, trapping and light traps

use of euthanasia techniques, such as shooting, stunning, anaesthetics, gases and chemicals

Hazards

Hazards may include:

electric shock

microbiological organisms and agents associated with soil, air, water, animal tissue and fluids

solar radiation, dust and noise

chemicals, such as preservatives and stains

sharps, broken glassware and hand tools

flammable liquids and gases

cryogenics, such as dry ice and liquid nitrogen

disturbance or interruption of services

slips, trips and falls

manual handling and working at heights

crushing, entanglement and cuts associated with moving machinery or falling objects

pedestrian and vehicular traffic

vehicle and boat handling

Hazard control measures

Hazard control measures may include:

ensuring access to service shut-off points

recognising and observing hazard warnings and safety signs

using material safety data sheets (MSDS)

labelling of samples, reagents, aliquoted samples and hazardous materials

handling and storage of all hazardous materials and equipment in accordance with labelling, MSDS and manufacturer's instructions

identifying and reporting operating problems or equipment malfunctions

cleaning and decontaminating equipment and work areas regularly using recommended procedures

using personal protective equipment, such as hearing protection, sunscreen lotion, gloves, safety glasses, face guards, coveralls, gowns and safety boots

reporting abnormal emissions, discharges and airborne contaminants, such as noise, light, solids, liquids, water/waste water, gases, smoke, vapour, fumes, odour and particulates to appropriate personnel

following established procedures for handling animals

Identification

Identification may include:

collection access number

tags and labels on existing specimens

use of field guides, keys and taxonomic charts

collaboration with experts

Suitability of specimen

Suitability of specimen may include:

whole or part

sex, age and breeding condition

type and characteristics

level of preservation

whether dead or alive

inclusion of features for identification, such as flowers, fruit, roots and leaves

Data to be recorded

Data to be recorded may include:

collection information, such as location, time, date, collector, behaviour, environment, depth, altitude, weather and habitat

reference photographs of the environment in the field

reference drawings to characterise colour and shape

identification number, collection access number, collection database and catalogue details

ossification of bird skulls

characteristics of the specimen:

standard measurements (mass, length and size)

plumage characteristics (age, pattern and colour)

flesh characteristics (skin tone, naked flesh texture and internal organs)

sex

X-rays and scans

manual or electronic data

Samples

Samples may include:

DNA

tissue

bone fragments

stomach contents

Preparation for preservation

Preparation for preservation may include:

treatment of the specimen (dissection, mounting, pinning, use of backing boards, fixing, staining, colour retention, latex injection and vascular preservation)

preparation of the display (painting, making of wet boxes, choice of vessel and storage fluid, planning of mould sections and lay up)

maceration of tissue from skeletons by sand, invertebrates, cold or warm water, enzymes, physical removal or chemical treatment

Preservation

Preservation may include:

temporary (freezing)

wet (whole mounts in formalin and tissue staining)

dry (freeze drying, air drying, pressing, taxidermy, including exhibition quality mounts, study skins, tanning and plastination techniques, such as dry mounting of seeds, bird skins, pin mounted invertebrates and pressing of plants)

skeletal (maceration, degreasing, bleaching, articulation and mounting or sectioning (e.g. whale skeletons))

mould and cast (alignate, plaster, stone plaster, polyester, latex, silicone, Vinamould, gelatine, urethane elastomers, glass and carbon fibre (e.g. fish, amphibians and reptiles))

embedding (encapsulation in clear plastic or resin, can be wet or dry techniques)

Detailing of specimens

Detailing of specimens may include:

cleaning

touch up

addition of false eyes

Conservation

Conservation involves minimisation of deterioration which can be caused by:

pests

light

humidity

Occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental management requirements

OHS and environmental management requirements:

all operations must comply with enterprise OHS and environmental management requirements, which may be imposed through state/territory or federal legislation - these requirements must not be compromised at any time

all operations assume the potentially hazardous nature of samples and require standard precautions to be applied

where relevant, users should access and apply current industry understanding of infection control issued by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and State and Territory Departments of Health