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 for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate this competency unit:

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

Observation of performance in the workplace or a simulated workplace (defined as a supervised clinic) is essential for assessment of this unit

Consistency of performance should be demonstrated over a range of workplace situations

Assessment may contain both theoretical and practical components and examples covering a range of clinical situations

Evidence is required of both knowledge and skills application

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

Assessment must be undertaken by an assessor who has skills and knowledge to the standard required for recognition by an appropriate aromatherapy peak body

Assessment of sole practitioners must include a range of clinical situations and different client groups covering at minimum, age, culture and gender

Assessment of sole practitioners must consider their unique workplace context, including:

interaction with others in the broader professional community as part of the sole practitioner's workplace

scope of practice as detailed in the qualification and component competency units

holistic/integrated assessment including:

working within the practice framework

performing a health assessment

assessing the client

planning treatment

providing treatment

Access and equity considerations:

All workers in the health industry should be aware of access and equity issues in relation to their own area of work

All workers should develop their ability to work in a culturally diverse environment

In recognition of particular health issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, workers should be aware of cultural, historical and current issues impacting on health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Assessors and trainers must take into account relevant access and equity issues, in particular relating to factors impacting on health of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities

Context of and specific resources for assessment:

Resources essential for assessment include:

An appropriately stocked and equipped clinic or simulated clinic environment

Skilled assessors

Relevant assessment instruments

Appropriate assessment environment

An appropriately qualified assessor

Method of assessment

Observation of performance

Examples of assessment notes

Simulated assignments

Written or verbal short answer tests

Practical demonstrations and exercises

Research work or written reports of observations in a practical setting

Oral questioning on technique or assessment strategy

Case studies and scenarios as a basis for discussion of issues and strategies to contribute to best practice in the work environment

Clinical skills involving direct client care are to be assessed initially in a simulated clinical setting (supervised student clinic). If successful, a second assessment is to be conducted during workplace application under direct supervision

Related units:

This unit should be assessed after or in conjunction with the following related competency unit:

HLTARO601B Manage work within an aromatic medicine framework

This unit should be assessed in conjunction with the following related competency units:

HLTARO602B Apply an aromatic medicine diagnostic framework

HLTARO604B Plan aromatic treatment strategy

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:

Critical information required for diagnosis and treatment according to aromatic medicine framework

Anatomical terminology and levels of organisation

Knowledge and understanding of

anatomical systems including musculoskeletal - including muscles, bones, cartilage, joints, head, upper trunk, upper limb, pelvis, lower limb

nervous - including peripheral, autonomic and central nervous systems

cardiovascular including haemopoetic - including vascular system, spleen, heart and pericardium, systemic arteries, systemic veins, portal veins, foetal circulation

lymphatic - including thoracic viscera, abdominal and pelvic viscera, alimentary tract, urinary and genital systems, trunk and limbs, deep and superficial lymph nodes

gastrointestinal - including mouth, salivary glands, tongue, pharynx, oesophagus, abdomen and peritoneum, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, liver, biliary system, pancreas

respiratory - including larynx, trachea, lungs and mediastinum, pleura

urogenital (reproductive and urinary) and endocrine - including kidneys, ureter and bladder, male genital organs, female genital organs, thyroid, parathyroid glands, pituitary gland, adrenal gland, thymus gland

ENT and special senses - including hearing and equilibration, vision, smell, taste.

Physiology including:

general physiology - including cell structure and function, metabolism, levels of organisation in the body

basic physiology - including physiology of musculoskeletal system - muscles, posture and movement; nervous system - central, peripheral and automatic nervous systems

ENT and other senses - hearing and equilibration, vision, smell, taste

respiratory system - pulmonary function

cardiovascular system - heart, circulation

lymphatic system - lymph, immunity and allergy

gastrointestinal - motility, secretions, movement of food, digestion and absorption

urogenital and endocrine - renal function, micturition, extracellular fluid, metabolism, thyroid gland, hormones, and reproduction

Biochemistry

Symptomology and pathology according to aromatic medicine practice

Anatomy and physiology according to various stages of life

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Essential knowledge (contd):

Knowledge of:

Pathophysiology and disease processes of common clinical diseases and interactivity between them, to the level necessary to support the making of a screening assessment and assessment of the client's condition to support the practice of natural/traditional medicine

Pathophysiology and disease processes affecting the nervous system

central and peripheral nervous tissue, brain, spinal cord and associated nerves, sensory, motor and integrative systems, autonomic nervous system

endocrine system - thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal glands, pancreas, calcium and bone metabolism, pituitary gland, pineal gland

ENT and special senses - vision, hearing, smell, taste

respiratory system - pulmonary function, gas transport, regulation of respiration, respiratory adjustments

cardiovascular system - blood, clotting, erythropoietin, cardiac cycle

lymphatic system - immunity, allergy

urogenital system - renal function, fluid balance, male and female reproductive systems, musculoskeletal system - processes affecting joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments and bones

Factors affecting transmission of disease and choice of treatments of common infectious diseases

Identification of infectious organism, indications, complications, epidemiology, occurrence, mode of transmission, vectors, incubation period, period of communicability, presentation, diagnosis, treatment, management and prevention

Clinical features and pathophysiology of common bacterial and viral diseases to assess, stage, severity and likely prognosis

Relevant testing and assessment options and procedures

Ethical and legal implications of enquiry

The legal and ethical requirements for confidentiality

Time management requirements during consultation

Physical signs and symptoms of disease

The minimum number of required additional tests to request

The cost benefit ratio of special tests or studies

Terminology correct to discipline

Philosophical approach to diagnosis and treatment

Essential skills:

It is critical that the candidate demonstrate the ability 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:

Access and interpret up-to-date information

Apply knowledge of the legal and ethical requirements for confidentiality

Apply knowledge of time management requirements during consultation

Apply methods of keeping medical records

Communicate effectively to gain required information

Conduct external physical examination

Demonstrate communication skills, including the ability to communicate with people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds

Demonstrate observation skills

Demonstrate physical examination procedures

Demonstrate record keeping skills

Demonstrate respect for practitioner/client boundaries

Detect and record symptoms and signs present including precipitating factors, relieving factors and associated manifestations

Identify location, stage and characteristics of disease

Request high precision laboratory and/or radiology tests when required

Understand and discuss medical reports

Use a range of medical equipment used in external physical examinations

Use equipment and technology competently and safely

Use terminology correct to discipline

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.

Factors likely to have a negative impact on assessment may include:

Language difficulties

Disabilities

Emotional trauma

Lack of privacy or focus due to other parties being present

Cultural or gender factors

Other health care professional may include:

Doctors

Social workers

Alternative and complementary health practitioners

Counsellors

Podiatrists, physiotherapists

Client history may include:

Date of presentation

Identifying personal details

Source of referral (if applicable)

Main presenting complaint or reason for consultation

Presenting symptom picture

General state of health

physical

emotional

allergies

dietary picture

sleep pattern

exercise

leisure activities

Childhood and adult illness

Accidents, injuries, operations

Hospitalisations

Occupational history and environment

Other current medical treatment

Medication, supplements and natural remedies - current and previous

Social lifestyle including social drug use

Family history

Potential sensitivities may include:

Gender

Ethnicity

Language

Religious beliefs

Cultural heritage

Sexuality

Ability

Presenting disease state and personal history

Signs of disease/condition may refer to:

Precipitating factors

Relieving factors

Associated manifestations

Indications of stage and status of illness

Symptom qualities

Functional and pathological disturbances

Other appropriate assessment techniques may include:

Observation

Discussion

Taking temperature

Taking pulse and blood pressure

Palpation and auscultation

Percussion

External physical examination

Iridology techniques

Skin examination

Urine tests

Assessment of growth (height, weight, head circumference) and development

Overview of system by enquiring about the presence of previously diagnosed organic diseases and functional disorders

Any other method in which the practitioner has been trained to a competent standard

Legislative requirements:

All procedures must be conducted according to legislative and regulatory requirements