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Elements and Performance Criteria

Determine the requirements for setting up an opal cutting workshop.
Identify suppliers of machinery and consumables and establish set up cost.
Investigate resources needed 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.
Document the information.
- 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.

Required Skills

Required skills

basic research skills including internet searching skills

documenting and accessing information on opal cutting equipment manufacturers and the setting up of an opalcutting workshop

sourcing suppliers and costing landed equipment

Required knowledge

knowledge of opal cutting workshop requirements

knowledge of the manufacturers and suppliers of opalcutting equipment

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

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

To achieve competency in this unit a person must be able to determine the requirements for setting up and financing an opalcutting workshop and organise the information in such a way that it can be used as a basis for decisionmaking

Assessment must confirm

accurate identification and description of the requirements for the setting up of an opalcutting workshop

ability to locate and procure the equipment necessary for the workshop

accurate documentation of the information collected including projected cost of set up sales and cash flow

Competence in this unit must be assessed over a period of time in order to ensure consistency of performance over the range of variables and contexts applicable to the work environment

Context of and specific resources for assessment

This unit may be assessed in a work environment in a simulated work environment or in a combination of these situations

Method of assessment

For valid and reliable assessment of this unit evidence should be gathered through a range of methods to indicate consistent performance

Assessment of this unit of competence will usually include observation of processes and procedures oral andor written questioning on underpinning knowledge and skills and other methods as required

Assessment methods should closely reflect workplace demands eg literacy and the needs of particular groups eg 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

Assessment of this competency requires access to

various reference materials

lapidary magazines and catalogues

a qualified workplace assessor or assessment team

Range Statement


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 cupboard cupboards floor coverings safes security requirements such as locks (door and window) 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 saw grinding arbours with belt drive leather or felt polishing units multi blade saw slab saw trim saw ventilation system and filters wet sanding units.

OHS issues may include:	chemicals clean work areas clothing dangers of using electricity and water in the same environment dust and fumes ergonomics fire extinguishers
	first aid kit footwear 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 Gem-tec 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 on-going maintenance postage set up costs.

Services may include:	electrician plumbing.

Sources of finance may include:	banks credit unions partnerships private loans.