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Elements and Performance Criteria

Required Skills

Required skills

literacy and numeracy skills to identify review and complete relevant documentation

organisational skills to identify and prepare required facilities instruments apparatus and materials

communication skills including clear and direct communication to clarify body preparation requirements

Required knowledge

workplace policies and procedures for use and preparation of mortuary facilities instruments apparatus and materials

legislation relevant to safe performance of body preparation procedures

mortuary facility requirements

infection control practices

documentation requirements

funeral services industry parameters and protocols for dealing with the deceased

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

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

ability to complete documentation requirements prior to undertaking body preparation identify general body preparation requirements for each case and prepare the mortuary and required instruments accordingly

the selection of correct instruments apparatus and materials

knowledge of infection control practices

determining body preparation requirements on multiple occasions 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 bodies may be safely prepared and appropriate mortuary lighting plumbing and ventilation requirements can be monitored and maintained

access to body preparation tools apparatus and materials

access to relevant documentation

access to personal protective 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 monitoring and maintaining mortuary facilities tools apparatus and materials

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 Cleanse and disinfect deceased bodies

SIFMWK006A Cleanse and disinfect deceased bodies.

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.

Documentation may include:	authorisation for basic mortuary preparation and embalming signed medical certificate 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 special instructions for body preparation and presentation schedule for viewing or funeral booking.

Workplace policies and procedures may include:	standard operating policies and 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.

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

Extent of body preparation may include:	basic cleansing and disinfecting basic preparation for viewing by family temporary restoration and preservation of autopsied bodies temporary restoration and preservation of non-autopsied bodies permanent restoration and preservation of autopsied bodies for repatriation permanent restoration and preservation of non-autopsied bodies for repatriation.

Social, cultural and religious requirements may include:	funeral and mourning dress standards gender of body preparation personnel time required between death and burial or cremation orientation of the deceased person restrictions on methods of body preparation permissible.

Relevant personnel may include:	funeral arranger funeral assistant funeral director other mortuary worker.

Instruments, apparatus and materials may include:	personal protective equipment positioning devices sterilisation equipment sterilisation chemicals and solutions portiboy feature setting devices instruments and instrument tray dressing table aspirating instruments and 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 aneurysm needle bistoury knife scalpels scissors separators suture needles needle holder forceps injection instruments, including: gravity and bulb syringe arterial tube hand pump parietal needle centrifugal pump stopcock Y tube embalming machine drainage instruments, including: drain tube iliac drain tube grooved director angular spring forceps electric or motorised aspirating instruments, including: autopsy aspirator hydroaspirator nasal tube aspirator trocar hydrovalve trocar cavity fluid injectors trocar buttons and applicator.

Personal protective equipment may include:	disposable gloves heavy duty gloves barrier gown or suit waterproof overshoes waterproof aprons splash proof masks eye goggles face visor hair cover filtered air supply: negative air pressure powered positive air supply.