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

Assessment must be carried out in a manner that recognises the cultural and literacy requirements of the assessee and is appropriate to the work performed. Competence in this unit must be achieved in accordance with food safety standards and regulations.

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

Evidence of ability to:

select and prepare appropriate vine material for grafting including disbudding

undertake bench grafting of vines to instructions

post-grafting treatment and packing of vines is to instructions

monitor grafted vines and out of specification grafted vines identified and rectified or reported

follow personal and work area hygiene procedures

dispose of waste correctly

record and report results of grafting according to procedures.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must occur in a real or simulated workplace where the assessee has access to:

personal protective clothing and equipment as required

work procedures, including advice on company practices, safe work practices, food safety, quality and environmental requirements

instructions, information, specifications and schedules as required

equipment, services and corresponding information as required

products and materials as required

internal and external customers and suppliers as required

cleaning procedures, materials and equipment as required

documentation and recording requirements and procedures.

Method of assessment

This unit should be assessed together with other units of competency relevant to the function or work role.

Guidance information for assessment

To ensure consistency in one's performance, competence should be demonstrated on more than one occasion over a period of time in order to cover a variety of circumstances, cases and responsibilities, and where possible, over a number of assessment activities.

Required skills

Note: The following required skills should be applied as appropriate to the equipment and processes that are used in the particular winery or workplace.

Ability to:

Access workplace information to identify grafting requirements

Select, fit and use appropriate personal protective clothing and/or equipment

Liaise with other work areas and customers

Confirm supply of necessary materials

Select appropriate vine material for grafting. This may include consideration of:

variety and clone

matching cambium

matching bevels and sizes

wood diameters

customer or workplace requirements

Prepare vine material for grafting. This may include:

removal from cold storage

soaking

heat treatment

disbudding

hydration

grading

Select, prepare and set equipment as required

Operate equipment

Disbud vines according to instructions

Bench graft vines to match specifications

Treat vines after grafting. This may include:

packing into callusing boxes

hormonal treatment

careful handling

following hygiene procedures

Monitor the process and equipment operation to identify out-of-specification results or non-compliance. This may include monitoring:

tightness of graft union

progress (e.g. number per day)

Take corrective action in response to out-of-specification results or non-compliance

Report and/or record corrective action as required

Sort, collect, treat, recycle or dispose of waste as required

Maintain work area to meet housekeeping standards. This should include hygiene requirements to prevent cross-infection

Clean equipment as required

Pack, label and store grafted vines. This may include consideration of:

cold room layout

cold room temperature variations

customer requirements

storage time requirements

care of vine material (e.g. moisture and disease)

Identify, rectify and/or report environmental non-compliance

Conduct routine maintenance of equipment according to enterprise procedures

Use oral communication skills/language to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation, including questioning, active listening, asking for clarification and seeking advice from supervisor

Work cooperatively within a culturally diverse workforce

Required knowledge

Note: The following required knowledge should be applied as appropriate to the equipment and processes that are used in the particular winery or workplace.

Knowledge of:

Purpose of grafting and various methods of budding and grafting

Purpose and methods of disbudding

Criteria for successful grafting

Importance of selection and use of rootstock and Vinifera

Advantages of using clonal and registered vine improvement rootstock material

Criteria for selecting parent vines for scion material

Procedures and optimum conditions for the storage of material until required for grafting

Stages of the grafting procedure and their purpose

Common problems and corrective action required

Hygiene requirements and procedures

Purpose and components of grafting equipment

Operating procedures for grafting equipment

Methods of callusing vine cuttings and the criteria for best callus development

Procedures and responsibility for reporting problems

Environmental issues and controls

Cleaning requirements and procedures for work area and equipment

Reporting and recording requirements and procedures

Routine maintenance procedures for equipment where relevant

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.

Policies and procedures

Work is carried out in accordance with workplace procedures, licensing requirements and legislative requirements

Workplace information

Workplace information can include:

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

specifications

production schedules

instructions

routine maintenance schedules

work notes

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

manufacturer instructions

verbal direction from manager, supervisor or senior operator

Grafting methods

Grafting methods may include:

T buds

Chip

Wedge

side bark

V

omega

Equipment

Equipment may include:

secateurs

grafting knife

grafting machine

vermiculite boxes

gloves

budding tape

Grafting seals

Grafting seals may include:

tape

fungicides

paint

wax

Materials

Vine material may include:

rootstock

scion

rootlings and cuttings (at various sizes)

Information systems

Information systems may be:

print or screen based

Confirming equipment status

Confirming equipment status will include:

checking that safety standards and pre-start requirements are met and that equipment is operational