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Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Recognise and correct faults in shearing technique
   • Analyse shearing technique.
   • Recognise and correct faults in sheep position, footwork and free hand use.
   • Recognise and correct faults in the number of blows and their placement.
   • Improve co-ordination of footwork, free hand use, sheep control and blow placement.
2. Apply techniques to increase shearing speed and accuracy
   • Increase speed at which the handpiece is pushed forward and returned between blow placements.
   • Improve the power, direction and manoeuvrability applied at the increased speed.
   • Improve rhythm at the increased speed.
   • Maintain calm temperament for 8-hour working day.
   • Recognise the importance of stamina and fitness in improvement of output consistency.
3. Shear required number of sheep in an eight hour day working day to quality standard of the industry for both sheep and wool
   • Demonstrate safety procedures during shearing in relation to people and sheep.
   • Avoid excessive wool contamination and damage to the wool.
   • Shear 120 adult merino sheep or equivalent using identified method and positions in line with industry standards in a normal eight-hour working day.
   • Use correct movement of feet and hands, and maintain correct positioning to the downtube.
   • Release sheep at increased speed in line with industry and enterprise requirements.
   • Comply with Occupational Health and Safety (OHS), animal welfare and industry and enterprise quality requirements.

Required Skills

Required skills

identify hazards and implement safe work procedures select use and maintain shearing equipment avoid contamination second cuts and damage to animals shear sufficient sheep within eight hours to match skill level of a professional shearer analyse and improve on improver shearer level shear with coordination and rhythm stitch wounds catch and release sheep safely demonstrate safe and responsible workplace practices provide due care and handle sheep humanely clean and maintain shearing equipment and sharpen combs and cutters work in a team as a team member review quality of own work tally shorn sheep count use literacy skills to read interpret and follow organisational policies and procedures follow sequenced written instructions record accurately and legible information collected and select and apply procedures for a range of tasks use oral communication skillslanguage competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation including questioning techniques active listening clarifying information and consulting with supervisors as required use interpersonal skills to work with and relate to people from a range of cultural social and religious backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities

Required knowledge

types of shearing sheds boards and catching pens service and maintenance of handpieces industry agreed shearing techniques and positions and method of shearing grinding procedures safe handling techniques for catching dragging shearing and releasing sheep animal welfare requirements in relation to sheep sheep behaviour shearing clothing and equipment and when and how it should be used Federal Pastoral Industry Award andor State Shearing Award of Queensland or Western Australian Shearing Contractors Award relevant StateTerritory legislation and awards regulations and codes of practice with regard to workplace OHS and animal welfare

Evidence Required

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	The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy holistically all of the requirements of the performance criteria and required skills and knowledge and include achievement of the following select use and maintain shearing equipment avoid contamination second cuts and damage to wool and sheep recognise problem and diseased sheep and apply treatments accordingly shear sufficient sheep within eight hours to match skill level of a professional shearer analyse and build skills from improver shearer level
Context of and specific resources for assessment	Competency requires the application of work practices under work conditions Selection and use of resources for some worksites may differ due to the regional or enterprise circumstances

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Range Statement

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole.
Breeds of sheep may include:	all ages and genders including: rams ewes wethers lambs hoggets stags.

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