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Elements and Performance Criteria

Required Skills

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

Required Skills

tie knots and lashes

Required Knowledge

priorities of survival shelter water food warmth

threat to survival from elements wind rain sun

Evidence Required

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

Assessment must confirm the ability to construct a shelter capable of withstanding a vertical or horizontal loading to the framework of N roughly equivalent to an adult leaning at not more than degrees from the vertical

that repels all water when litres is poured along the topleading edge of the structure to simulate rain

whose tiling and thatching remains adhered to the shelter under wind conditions of Beaufort Scale knots

Consistency in performance

Competency should be demonstrated constructing at least two shelters

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Context of assessment

Competency must be assessed in a simulated workplace environment

While a person can demonstrate the technical ability to construct and maintain a shelter doing so in a survival situation is crucial consequently it is strongly recommended that holistic assessment be conducted with other associated survival units

Assessment under simulated survival conditions should include

food restrictions food should be restricted to half the recommended daily caloric intake

the absence of normal living conditions and amenities such as showers beds and bedding warmth to be provided by fire kitchens etc with the attendant levels of personal discomfort and fatigue

a significant period of time the recommendation is four days

Specific resources for assessment

Access to a suitable survival area which is remote and has suitable natural resources and natural features and a knife

Guidance information for assessment

Information that will assist or guide assessment will be written during Phase II of the Review of the PUA Public Safety Training Package

Information that will assist or guide assessment will be written during Phase II of the Review of the PUA00 Public Safety Training Package.

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 in the Performance Criteria is detailed below.
Natural features may include	Caves/rock scoops Embankments Hollow logs Trees
Natural resources may include	Bark Grass Timber
Hazards may include	Animal pads Deadfall Exposure to wind, rain, sun Flood Insects Lightning
Survival shelter resources may include	Binding materials Framing materials (e.g. live tree trunks and branches, fallen limbs) Roofing and siding materials (bark shingles, grass bundles, large leafs e.g. 15+ cm diameter)
Constructing traditional two-ply string may include	Associated fibrous material Bark
Establishing survival shelter's framework includes	Using and binding with improvised cordage such as: animal skins/gut bark strips reeds and grasses traditional two-ply string
Protecting the survival shelter from wind and rain includes using	Shingling (bark sections and large leaves) for roofing and siding Thatching (bound grass and bundled grass) for roofing and siding