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

AHCSHG203 Mapping and Delivery Guide
Shear sheep to novice level

Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024


Qualification -
Unit of Competency AHCSHG203 - Shear sheep to novice level
Description
Employability Skills
Learning Outcomes and Application This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to select, handle and shear sheep under supervision to novice level.Novice level is defined as shearing a minimum of 40 adult merino sheep or 50 adult crossbred sheep per day to industry standards.All work must be carried out to comply with workplace procedures, work health and safety, animal welfare and biosecurity legislation and codes, and sustainability practices.This unit applies to individuals who work under general supervision and exercise limited autonomy with some accountability for their own work.No occupational licensing, legislative or certification requirements are known to apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Duration and Setting X weeks, nominally xx hours, delivered in a classroom/online/blended learning setting.

Competency is to be assessed in the workplace or workplace and simulated environment that accurately reflects performance in a real workplace setting.

Assessors must satisfy current standards for RTOs.
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: Set-up shearing handpiece
  • Identify potential and existing hazards in the workplace and report to supervisor
  • Check shearing equipment for correct operation
  • Assemble comb and cutter on handpiece
  • Set lead and throw for comb and cutter
  • Set tension to enable comb and cutter to cut wool cleanly with minimum friction
  • Lubricate working surfaces and moving parts
       
Element: Follow health and fitness procedures
  • Prepare for exercises to warm-up the body
  • Perform back, shoulder, leg, arm, and abdomen stretches
  • Recognise the necessities of hydration, nutrition and rest periods
       
Element: Catch sheep for shearing
  • Select, use and maintain suitable personal protective equipment
  • Catch sheep and move to required location in line with organisational, work health and safety, industry and animal welfare standards
  • Drag sheep from the catching pen to the shearing board using safe manual handling techniques
  • Position sheep for shearing
       
Element: Remove fleece
  • Activate handpiece and position in readiness for shearing operations
  • Shear section of sheep in position suitable to the individual's competence
  • Shear the six basic positions in sequence
  • Minimise injury to sheep and treat injuries where required
  • Release sheep safely from the board into the count-out pens
  • Minimise second cuts and contamination
  • Maintain shearing effort to achieve the required minimum rate per day to acceptable standard
       


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.

Element

Performance criteria

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1. Set-up shearing handpiece

1.1 Identify potential and existing hazards in the workplace and report to supervisor

1.2 Check shearing equipment for correct operation

1.3 Assemble comb and cutter on handpiece

1.4 Set lead and throw for comb and cutter

1.5 Set tension to enable comb and cutter to cut wool cleanly with minimum friction

1.6 Lubricate working surfaces and moving parts

2. Follow health and fitness procedures

2.1 Prepare for exercises to warm-up the body

2.2 Perform back, shoulder, leg, arm, and abdomen stretches

2.3 Recognise the necessities of hydration, nutrition and rest periods

3. Catch sheep for shearing

3.1 Select, use and maintain suitable personal protective equipment

3.2 Catch sheep and move to required location in line with organisational, work health and safety, industry and animal welfare standards

3.3 Drag sheep from the catching pen to the shearing board using safe manual handling techniques

3.4 Position sheep for shearing

4. Remove fleece

4.1 Activate handpiece and position in readiness for shearing operations

4.2 Shear section of sheep in position suitable to the individual's competence

4.3 Shear the six basic positions in sequence

4.4 Minimise injury to sheep and treat injuries where required

4.5 Release sheep safely from the board into the count-out pens

4.6 Minimise second cuts and contamination

4.7 Maintain shearing effort to achieve the required minimum rate per day to acceptable standard

The candidate must be assessed on their ability to integrate and apply the performance requirements of this unit in a workplace setting. Performance must be demonstrated consistently over time and in a suitable range of contexts.

The candidate must be observed shearing a minimum of 40 adult merino sheep or 50 adult crossbred sheep per day to industry standards.

The candidate must provide evidence that they can:

follow safe work practices

select and use equipment and materials appropriate for shearing sheep

load a handpiece correctly

avoid contamination, second cuts

shear sufficient sheep within eight hours to match novice skill level

use appropriate suturing for cuts to sheep

catch and release sheep safely

provide due care and handle sheep humanely

clean and maintain shearing equipment, site and facilities

communicate problems, faults and workplace hazards to the owner or overseer

tally shorn sheep count

apply work health and safety policies in the context of own work

apply enterprise animal welfare policies in the context of own work

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

types of shearing sheds, boards and catching pens

shearing machinery required and their relative functions

industry agreed shearing techniques and positions, and method of shearing

safe handling techniques for catching, dragging, shearing and releasing sheep

basic anatomy of male and female sheep as it relates to the safe humane removal of wool

common sheep diseases as they relate to work health and safety and humane treatment of animals

the impacts of sheep behaviour on moving, handling and shearing sheep

personal protective clothing and equipment, and when and how it should be used

Federal and/or State shearing awards and agreements associated with shearing sheep

enterprise biosecurity policies applying to the job role

work health and safety legislation and codes of practice applying to the job role

animal welfare legislation and codes of practice applying to the job role

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.

Element

Performance criteria

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1. Set-up shearing handpiece

1.1 Identify potential and existing hazards in the workplace and report to supervisor

1.2 Check shearing equipment for correct operation

1.3 Assemble comb and cutter on handpiece

1.4 Set lead and throw for comb and cutter

1.5 Set tension to enable comb and cutter to cut wool cleanly with minimum friction

1.6 Lubricate working surfaces and moving parts

2. Follow health and fitness procedures

2.1 Prepare for exercises to warm-up the body

2.2 Perform back, shoulder, leg, arm, and abdomen stretches

2.3 Recognise the necessities of hydration, nutrition and rest periods

3. Catch sheep for shearing

3.1 Select, use and maintain suitable personal protective equipment

3.2 Catch sheep and move to required location in line with organisational, work health and safety, industry and animal welfare standards

3.3 Drag sheep from the catching pen to the shearing board using safe manual handling techniques

3.4 Position sheep for shearing

4. Remove fleece

4.1 Activate handpiece and position in readiness for shearing operations

4.2 Shear section of sheep in position suitable to the individual's competence

4.3 Shear the six basic positions in sequence

4.4 Minimise injury to sheep and treat injuries where required

4.5 Release sheep safely from the board into the count-out pens

4.6 Minimise second cuts and contamination

4.7 Maintain shearing effort to achieve the required minimum rate per day to acceptable standard

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
Identify potential and existing hazards in the workplace and report to supervisor 
Check shearing equipment for correct operation 
Assemble comb and cutter on handpiece 
Set lead and throw for comb and cutter 
Set tension to enable comb and cutter to cut wool cleanly with minimum friction 
Lubricate working surfaces and moving parts 
Prepare for exercises to warm-up the body 
Perform back, shoulder, leg, arm, and abdomen stretches 
Recognise the necessities of hydration, nutrition and rest periods 
Select, use and maintain suitable personal protective equipment 
Catch sheep and move to required location in line with organisational, work health and safety, industry and animal welfare standards 
Drag sheep from the catching pen to the shearing board using safe manual handling techniques 
Position sheep for shearing 
Activate handpiece and position in readiness for shearing operations 
Shear section of sheep in position suitable to the individual's competence 
Shear the six basic positions in sequence 
Minimise injury to sheep and treat injuries where required 
Release sheep safely from the board into the count-out pens 
Minimise second cuts and contamination 
Maintain shearing effort to achieve the required minimum rate per day to acceptable standard 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

AHCSHG203 - Shear sheep to novice level
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

AHCSHG203 - Shear sheep to novice level

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: