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Elements and Performance Criteria

Required Skills

Required skills

Required skills include

accessing interpreting and applying relevant legislativeregulatory requirements standards codes guidelines and manuals

implementing environmental management plans policy and procedures relating to community engagement communication protocols and decision making

developing and maintaining a range of useful contacts and networks

responding effectively to complaints and requests for information

explaining environmental management concepts principles and procedures clearly

gathering analysing and summarising environmental information

listening actively asking questions and clarifying points to reach mutual understanding

encouraging participation and audience feedback

adapting communication style language and media to suit audience

drawing logical evidencebased conclusions

making valid decisions and preparing sound recommendations

resolving differences of opinionconflicts constructively

seeking advice when issuesproblems are beyond scope of competenceresponsibility

providing accurate complete and timely reports briefings and handovers

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes

environmental protectionmanagement terminology concepts and principles

siteproject characteristics nature of activities conducted at site environmental management values environmental issues risks and impacts

environmental legislativeregulatory requirements approvals permits licences and responsibilities relevant to siteproject

riskimpact assessments enterprise environmental management plans procedures control measures and management actions for siteproject

enterprise procedures for engaging interested parties managing stakeholder relations responding to complaints and requests for information and record management and reporting

good practice models for community engagement and environmental decision making

interpersonal communication negotiatinglobbyinginfluencingconflict resolution techniques

problemsolving techniques

relevant health safety and workplace emergency response procedures

Evidence Required

Overview of assessment

Competency must be demonstrated in the ability to perform consistently at the required standard

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

Assessors must be satisfied that the candidate can competently and consistently apply the skills covered in this unit of competency in new and different situations and contexts Critical aspects of assessment and evidence include

applying enterprise decisionmaking procedures

identifying and obtaining sufficient information to make valid decisions andor sound recommendations

consulting effectively with interested parties and keeping them informed about the decisionmaking process

analysing information rigorously to provide a reliable basis for informed decision making

making decisions andor providing recommendations in sufficient time to inform decision making and enable effective action to be taken

communicating decisions clearly

Context of and specific resources for assessment

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

Assessment should emphasise a workplace context and procedures found in the candidates workplace

This unit of competency may be assessed with

MSSA Coordinate environmental management activities

MSS027001A Coordinate environmental management activities.

The competencies covered by this unit would be demonstrated by an individual working alone or as part of a team

Resources may include

siteprojectprogram history

relevant legislation codes standards enterprise environmental management policies plans procedures and checklists

access to a computer internet maps data sets enterprise reports published case studies and research

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are suggested

review of environmental decisions andor recommendations made and the supporting documentation provided by the candidate

review of information developed by the candidate about the issueproblem for interested parties

feedback from managers andor stakeholder representatives that the candidate is able to contribute effectively to environmental decision making within scope of responsibility

oralwritten tests involving environmental management terms principles and procedures enterprise procedures and strategies for community engagement and decision making and techniques for analysing information

analysis of case studies involving issuesproblems within scope of responsibility

observation of the candidate representing the enterprise to interested parties and collecting or providing information

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

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

Guidance information for assessment

Range Statement

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
Legislation, standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements	Legislation, standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements may include: federal legislation, such as: Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 Australian Heritage Council Act 2003 Native Title Act 1993 state/territory government legislation and regulations and local government by-laws, policies, and plans dealing with: land use, acquisition, planning and protection environmental protection cultural/heritage protection vegetation management nature conservation and wildlife/plant protection water and water management soil conservation pollution and contaminated sites fisheries, forestry and mining operations Australian and international standards, such as: AS/NZS ISO 14000 Set:2005 Environmental management standards set environmental management plan, site information about applicable legislative requirements and approval requirements information about community engagement, management of stakeholder relations and communication protocols information about site processes and work schedules monitoring/inspection procedures and management actions to prevent/control environmental impacts or risks procedures for emergency preparedness and response
Environmental issues and problems	Environmental issues and problems may include: developing/negotiating land use and other site agreements, including making changes to these identifying and addressing cultural heritage issues managing site amenity and access issues designing/conducting environmental monitoring baseline studies and social risk/impact assessments managing expectations and addressing community concerns about impacts, community development and local employment opportunities responding to community or stakeholder complaints responding to environmental exceedances (e.g. noise, dust and water quality) and adverse audit findings investigating/responding to environmental incidents or adverse audit findings informing interested parties about changes to site/project operations involving interested parties in site/project closure planning developing a site rehabilitation program
Information	Information may include: legislation, regulations, guidelines, standards, codes of practice, licence conditions and approval processes environmental management case studies, research findings and models of good practice enterprise environmental management policies and procedures site/project initial advice statements, risk/impact assessments and environmental management plans records of site consultations with interested parties site/project environmental reports (e.g. weekly and monthly monitoring) environmental data sets, such as satellite imagery and remote sensing data geophysical, geochemical, geological, hydrological and meteorological data ecological data, such as distribution of vegetation, fauna and pests social science data, such as demographic and census information land use data, zoning and property classifications historical records and photographs community surveys maps (road and topographical) and aerial photos site utilities/services (e.g. water, sewer, electricity and gas)
Sources of information	Sources of information may include: government departments and agencies (e.g. environment, climate change, agriculture, mining and land use/planning) utility authorities/companies (e.g. water, gas and electricity) land title office and Valuer General local government records Geoscience Australia Australian Social Science Data Archive companies providing environmental services internet, library/archive collections, annual reports and community newsletters
Information collection methods	Information collection methods may include: accessing external publications conducting internet searches accessing enterprise files and reports conducting interviews with enterprise personnel, government representatives and interested parties consulting with external experts holding discussion groups, learning circles, workshops, reference groups and community consultative committees conducting community/stakeholder surveys
External expert opinion	External expert opinion may include: government regulators environmental consultants contractors solicitors environmental scientists, engineers and planners professional groups and organisations community leaders, tribal elders and traditional owners
Strategies and activities to encourage effective participation in decision making	Strategies and activities to encourage effective participation in decision making may include: one-on-one informal or impromptu discussions formal interviews regular briefings public meetings, focus groups and workshops a site/project visitor centre, open days and site visits hotline or 24 hour contact numbers to record issues or complaints websites direct mail or newsletters links with community liaison or advisory groups translation of key information into local languages
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