The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

The candidate should demonstrate the ability to coordinate and monitor the operation of irrigation systems including:

identifying customer requirements for irrigated culture and environmental factors that impact on the irrigation system

consulting historic system information and stakeholders as appropriate

confirming performance requirements for an irrigation system management plan

implementing monitoring and testing programs and investigating and reporting deviations from planned parameters

evaluating performance of water deliveries and investigating and reporting deviations from agreed service levels

evaluating performance targets such as maintenance budgets, activity programs and output target and investigating and reporting deviations

analysing and reporting data

identifying and reporting problems

making recommendations for system performance or customer service improvements.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Access to the workplace and resources including:

documentation that should normally be available in a water industry organisation

relevant codes, standards, and government regulations.

Where applicable, physical resources should include equipment modified for people with disabilities.

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

Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate, and appropriate to the language and literacy capacity of the candidate and the work being performed.

Validity and sufficiency of evidence requires that:

competency will need to be demonstrated over a period of time reflecting the scope of the role and the practical requirements of the workplace

where the assessment is part of a structured learning experience the evidence collected must relate to a number of performances assessed at different points in time and separated by further learning and practice

a decision of competence should only be made when the assessor has complete confidence in the person's competence over time and in various contexts

all assessment that is part of a structured learning experience must include a combination of direct, indirect and supplementary evidence

where assessment is for the purpose of recognition (RCC/RPL), the evidence provided will need to be authenticated and show that it represents competency demonstrated over a period of time

assessment can be through simulated project-based activity and must include evidence relating to each of the elements in this unit.

In all cases where practical assessment is used it will be combined with targeted questioning to assess the underpinning knowledge. Questioning will be undertaken in a manner appropriate to the skill levels of the operator, any cultural issues that may affect responses to the questions, and reflecting the requirements of the competency and the work being performed.

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit.

Required skills:

interpret and apply legislation and policies

coordinate measuring and testing activities

conduct investigations

assess environmental impact

uses safety equipment and personal protective equipment

communicate with customers and other employees

operate irrigation and/or domestic stock supply system

check channel flow

identify control system faults.

Required knowledge:

relevant legislation

relevant enterprise policies

range of appropriate measuring and testing procedures

investigation procedures

customer expectations and requirements

operations and maintenance policies and procedures

occupational health and safety and environmental legislation, Acts and procedures

impact of the principles of hydraulics on the operation of flows

coordination processes

principles of scheduling

system layout

system operations

policies and standard operating procedures

communication systems

lock out procedures for mechanical and electrical installations

environmental aspects of irrigation and/or stock and domestic supply system asset infrastructure

safety procedures

environment, landscape and ground structure of work area

risk factors and potential hazards of irrigation and/or domestic and stock supply systems

equipment operation, capacity and limitations

effects of weather and conditions on operation of site plant

water flow calculations

flow measurement procedures

gravity systems

control systems.

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. Add any essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs if the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.

Environmental factors may include:

environmental flows

chemicals

nutrients

salinity

downstream requirements.

Historic system information may include:

previous studies

impact of weather

relevant hydrometric information

previous system deliveries

previous flow rates

operational procedures.

Stakeholders may include:

customers

government

farmer and grower associations

downstream land holders

other water authorities

employees

customer representative committees

land care or similar active groups

local communities.

Irrigation system management plan may include:

service levels

capital investment

maintenance levels.

Equipment may include:

electronic monitoring and metering systems

manual chart recording systems

on- and off-road vehicles

communication equipment

personal protective equipment.

Monitoring and testing programs may include:

timeliness of deliveries

flow

input and output quality

testing procedures

frequency

sampling locations

budgets

physical achievement targets

operational procedures

number of complaints.

Organisational and statutory requirements may include:

relevant federal legislation

relevant state or territory legislation

relevant local government by-laws or planning instruments

board or authority by-laws.