The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.

Critical aspects of assessment:

The individual being assessed must provide evidence of specified essential knowledge as well as skills

Consistency of performance should be demonstrated over the required range of situations relevant to the workplace

Where, for reasons of safety, space, or access to equipment and resources, assessment takes place away from the workplace, the assessment environment should represent workplace conditions as closely as possible

Conditions of assessment:

This unit includes skills and knowledge specific to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander culture

Assessment must therefore be undertaken by a workplace assessor who has expertise in the unit of competency or who has the current qualification being assessed and who is:

Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander him/herself

or:

accompanied and advised by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person who is a recognised member of the community with experience in primary health care

Context of assessment:

Competence should be demonstrated working individually, under supervision or as part of a primary health care team working with Aboriginal and/or
Torres Strait Islander clients.

Assessment should replicate workplace conditions as far as possible.

Related units:

This unit may be assessed independently or in conjunction with other units with associated workplace application.

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level required for this unit.

Essential knowledge:

The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively do the task outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage the task and manage contingencies in the context of the identified work role

This includes knowledge of:

Organisation guidelines on supervising staff

Relevant requirements of:

Industrial Relations Act

EBAs (where they exist)

union documents/guidelines/policies

OH&S legislation and guidelines

awards and conditions of services

Organisation human resource management policies

Strategies to meet staff training needs

Networking and information exchange processes

Community support mechanisms

Existing program policy

Essential skills:

It is critical that the candidate demonstrate the ability to:

Provide supervision and support to a team of workers involved in provision of primary health care services to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients

Maintain the team competencies, information exchange, objectives and daily activities in line with management objectives

In addition, the candidate must be able to effectively do the task outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage the task and manage contingencies in the context of the identified work role

This includes the ability to:

Communicate effectively (verbal essential, written may not be essential)

Network, negotiate

Resolve conflict

Represent personnel as required

The Range Statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Add any 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.

Cultural respect

This competency standard supports the recognition, protection and continued advancement of the inherent rights, cultures and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

It recognises that the improvement of the health status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people must include attention to physical, spiritual, cultural, emotional and social well being, community capacity and governance

Its application must be culturally sensitive and supportive of traditional healing and health, knowledge and practices

Community control

Community participation and control in decision-making is essential to all aspects of health work, and the role of the health worker is to support the community in this process

Supervision

Supervision must be conducted in accordance with prevailing state/territory and organisation legislative and regulatory requirements

References to supervision may include either direct or indirect supervision of work by more experienced workers, supervisors, managers or other health professionals

A person at this level should only be required to make decisions about clients within the organisation's standard treatment protocols and associated guidelines

Legislative requirements

Federal, state or territory legislation may impact on workers' practices and responsibilities. Implementation of the competency standards should reflect the legislative framework in which a health worker operates. It is recognised that this may sometimes reduce the application of the Range of Variables in practice. However, assessment in the workplace or through simulation should address all essential skills and knowledge across the Range of Variables

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers may be required to operate in situations that do not constitute 'usual practice' due to lack of resources, remote locations and community needs. As a result, they may need to possess more competencies than described by 'usual practice circumstances'

Under all circumstances, the employer must enable the worker to function within the prevailing legislative framework

Teams may include:

Groups of workers who function as a team to provide health services

Program managers and/or team leaders, supervisors/managers/coordinators

Volunteers, community members

Networks and or information exchange processes may include:

Staff and team meetings

Newsletters, memos, information, flyers

Telephone and CB radio hook ups

Verbal and written reports and letters/faxes

E-mail and other formal and informal structures

Unit and worker objectives may be based upon:

Work group or service plans

Project plans

Individual work tasks, duties and action plans

The workers' and/or work groups' goals and aims

Action plans may be operational or strategic and may include:

Specific plans for achieving specific outcomes

The resources required

Training plans to develop the required knowledge and skills

The time frame for achieving the outcomes