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Elements and Performance Criteria

Required Skills

Required skills

infection control practices and safe manual handling techniques

communication skills including clear and direct communication and active listening and questioning techniques to liaise with relevant agencies and key personnel to manage receipt and release of deceased persons

organisational skills to manage receipt and release of deceased persons

literacy and numeracy skills to accurately check and complete required documentation

problemsolving skills to monitor and manage the maintenance of mortuary equipment

Required knowledge

workplace policies and procedures for receiving and releasing deceased persons

documentation requirements

broad working knowledge of relevant federal state or territory and local government legislation and regulations relating to transfer documentation OHS infection control and handling human remains

environmental impacts regarding mortuary operations and minimal impact practices to reduce these

correct and environmentally sound disposal methods for all types of waste and in particular for hazardous substances

funeral services industry parameters and protocols for dealing with the deceased

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

Evidence of the following is essential

the ability to receive position and release deceased persons and to accurately review and complete documentation for receiving and releasing deceased persons

monitoring and maintenance of mortuary equipment availability and serviceability the cleanliness and security of mortuary

knowledge of infection control practices and safe manual handling techniques

coordinating mortuary operations over a period of time to ensure consistency of performance and ability to respond to and evaluate different situations

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure

demonstration of skills in a mortuary facility where deceased persons can be received and correct temperature and security requirements can be maintained

access to relevant documentation such as mortuary occupancy register

access to mortuary equipment

Methods of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge The following examples are appropriate for this unit

observation of candidate receiving positioning and releasing deceased persons at a mortuary and applying relevant legislation and workplace policies and procedures to maintain mortuary environment

written or verbal questioning to assess knowledge and understanding of relevant procedures with regard to maintaining a mortuary and releasing deceased persons to other relevant agencies

review of workplace documents completed by candidate

review of portfolios of evidence and thirdparty workplace reports of onthejob performance by the candidate

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector workplace and job role is recommended for example

SIFMWKA Determine body preparation requirements

SIFMWK005A Determine body preparation requirements.

Employability skills embedded in this unit should be assessed holistically with other relevant units that make up the skill set or qualification and in the context of the job role

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.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.

Documentation may include:	Death Certificate or Certificate of Life Extinct notification of life extinct coroner's warrant medical report transfer instructions waterproof identification tag fixed securely to body list of personal property, including clothing and shoes for dressing the deceased receipts for jewellery and other valuables mortuary occupancy register embalming form.

Workplace policies and procedures may include:	standard operating policies and procedures reporting and recording procedures standards and certification requirements quality assurance procedures OHS procedures, including: infection control manual handling material handling procedures, including hazardous or infectious materials emergency procedures, including fire and accident procedures security procedures. workplace practices in regard to environmental considerations.

Relevant legislation, regulations and codes of practice may include:	OHS Anatomy Act Coroner's Act federal transportation regulations Airlines Act Public Health Act Environment Protection Act Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration approved code of practice for embalmers Dangerous Goods Act local government regulations funeral services industry code of practice cemetery Acts and by-laws Crematorium Acts Worksafe Australia certification and standards.

Mortuary equipment may include:	personal protective equipment, including: disposable gloves heavy duty gloves protective overgarments overshoes waterproof aprons masks and goggles positioning devices aspirating instruments sterilisation equipment sterilisation chemicals and solutions portiboy feature setting devices instruments and instrument tray dressing table tubing for aspirating or injecting electric drill or grinder disinfectant hand solution, paper towels and soap body grooming equipment plastic laundry bags plastic infectious waste bags biomedical waste containers for infectious and radioactive human tissue pedestal lamps linen flow meter first aid kit packs of padding cotton packer plastic sheeting for wrapping bodies waterproof tape capsules for transporting babies.

Key personnel may include:	transfer workers embalmer embalmer's assistant mortuary technicians other mortuary staff other relevant agency staff.

Relevant agency may include:	Coroner's Office other funeral homes hospitals.