Unit of Competency Mapping – Information for Teachers/Assessors – Information for Learners

AHCBEK306A Mapping and Delivery Guide
Manage pests and disease within a honey bee colony

Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024


Qualification -
Unit of Competency AHCBEK306A - Manage pests and disease within a honey bee colony
Description This unit covers the process of inspecting a honey bee colony for indicators of disease or evidence of pests, and taking appropriate follow-up action and defines the standard required to: inspect hive and colony for signs of disease and ill thrift; identify key signs and symptoms of disease and pests that may affect brood or adult honey bees; undertake remedial action to ensure colony is maintained in healthy and productive condition for intended use.
Employability Skills This unit contains employability skills.
Learning Outcomes and Application This unit relates to managing pests and disease within a honey bee colony. Beekeepers may be working by themselves or as part of a small team. Work may be performed in a workshop or similar facility or in the field. Work is likely to be undertaken with limited supervision. The standard requires a broad range of knowledge about honey bee health and nutrition, as well as skills in handling and working with bees.
Duration and Setting X weeks, nominally xx hours, delivered in a classroom/online/blended learning setting.
Prerequisites/co-requisites
Competency Field
Development and validation strategy and guide for assessors and learners Student Learning Resources Handouts
Activities 		Slides
PPT 		Assessment 1 Assessment 2 Assessment 3 Assessment 4
Elements of Competency Performance Criteria              
Element: Prepare to check brood
  • Suitable Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is selected and checked prior to use.
  • Tools and equipment required to open a hive are selected and checked prior to use.
  • Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) hazards associated with opening a hive are identified and actions are taken to minimise risk to self and others.
       
Element: Assess health and condition of brood
  • Brood is inspected for signs of disease and, where notifiable disease is observed, appropriate authorities are notified as required by legislation and appropriate action is taken.
  • Brood is inspected for evidence of pests and parasites and, where found, appropriate action is taken and appropriate authorities are notified as required by legislation.
  • Signs of disease or pest are identified, appropriate samples for testing are collected, and evidence is gathered to support a diagnosis according to relevant standards and protocols.
  • Hive is inspected for signs of diseased brood being ejected from hive at entrance or bottom board.
       
Element: 3 Assess health and condition of adult bees
  • Flight paths around hive entrance are observed for signs of poor or irregular flight patterns, and for dead or dying bees at hive entrance.
  • Adult bees and brood combs are observed for signs of disease and, where notifiable disease is present, appropriate authorities are informed as required by legislation and appropriate action is taken.
  • Signs of disease or pest are identified, appropriate samples for testing are collected and evidence is gathered to support a diagnosis according to relevant standards and protocols.
  • Biosecurity measures are implemented according to enterprise biosecurity plans and instructions from appropriate authority.
  • Results of inspections and any remedial action taken are recorded and used as the basis for future beekeeping operations.
       


Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

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.

Overview of assessment

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

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy holistically all of the requirements of the performance criteria and required skills and knowledge and include achievement of the following:

inspect hive and colony for signs of disease and ill thrift

identify key signs and symptoms of disease and pests that may affect brood or adult honey bees

undertake remedial action to ensure colony is maintained in healthy and productive condition for intended use.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Competency requires the application of work practices under work conditions. Selection and use of resources for some worksites may differ due to the regional or enterprise circumstances.

Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assignment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)

Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

Required skills

identifying pests and diseases

inspecting broods

preparing supplementary feeds

reporting signs of notifiable diseases

requeening a colony

taking samples

transporting colonies

using PPE

working safely around bees

use literacy skills to read, interpret and follow organisational policies and procedures, follow sequenced written instructions, record accurately and legible information collected and select and apply procedures for a range of tasks

use oral communication skills/language competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation, including questioning techniques, active listening, clarifying information and consulting with supervisors as required

use numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record routine workplace measures

use interpersonal skills to work with and relate to people from a range of cultural, social and religious backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities.

Required knowledge

mode of spread of pests/diseases and level of risk to beekeeping

signs of endemic and exotic disease and pests of honey bees and treatments

where relevant, non-allowable inputs for organic honey production.

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole.

Diseases, pests and parasites may include:

the range of diseases, pests and parasites affecting brood and adult bees.

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Suitable Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is selected and checked prior to use. 
Tools and equipment required to open a hive are selected and checked prior to use. 
Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) hazards associated with opening a hive are identified and actions are taken to minimise risk to self and others. 
Brood is inspected for signs of disease and, where notifiable disease is observed, appropriate authorities are notified as required by legislation and appropriate action is taken. 
Brood is inspected for evidence of pests and parasites and, where found, appropriate action is taken and appropriate authorities are notified as required by legislation. 
Signs of disease or pest are identified, appropriate samples for testing are collected, and evidence is gathered to support a diagnosis according to relevant standards and protocols. 
Hive is inspected for signs of diseased brood being ejected from hive at entrance or bottom board. 
Flight paths around hive entrance are observed for signs of poor or irregular flight patterns, and for dead or dying bees at hive entrance. 
Adult bees and brood combs are observed for signs of disease and, where notifiable disease is present, appropriate authorities are informed as required by legislation and appropriate action is taken. 
Signs of disease or pest are identified, appropriate samples for testing are collected and evidence is gathered to support a diagnosis according to relevant standards and protocols. 
Biosecurity measures are implemented according to enterprise biosecurity plans and instructions from appropriate authority. 
Results of inspections and any remedial action taken are recorded and used as the basis for future beekeeping operations. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

AHCBEK306A - Manage pests and disease within a honey bee colony
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Assessment Record Sheet

AHCBEK306A - Manage pests and disease within a honey bee colony

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: