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

The meat industry has specific and clear requirements for evidence. A minimum of three forms of evidence is required to demonstrate competency in the meat industry. This is specifically designed to provide evidence that covers the demonstration in the workplace of all aspects of competency over time.

These requirements are in addition to the requirements for valid, current, authentic and sufficient evidence.

Three forms of evidence means three different kinds of evidence - not three pieces of the same kind. In practice it will mean that most of the unit is covered twice. This increases the legitimacy of the evidence.

All assessment must be conducted against Australian meat industry standards and regulations.

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

Competency must be demonstrated through sustained performance over time, at an appropriate level of responsibility and authority under typical operating and production conditions for the enterprise.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Resources may include:

real work environment

relevant documentation such as:

regulatory requirements

workplace policies and procedures

relevant equipment and materials.

Method of assessment

Recommend methods of assessment include:

assignment

workplace project

workplace referee or third-party report of performance over time.

Assessment practices should take into account any relevant language or cultural issues related to Aboriginality or Torres Strait Islander, gender, or language backgrounds other than English. Language and literacy demands of the assessment task should not be higher than those of the work role.

Guidance information for assessment

A current list of resources for this Unit of Competency is available from MINTRAC www.mintrac.com.au or telephone 1800 817 462.

Required skills

Ability to:

apply food safety and QA requirements as applicable

apply problem-solving skills to resolve issues that impact on capacity to meet contractual obligations

apply relevant mathematical skills

calculate costs and prices for local, national and international markets, including the impacts of inter-market taxes, tariffs, duties, charges or exchange rates

complete documentation accurately and on time

work effectively as an individual and as part of a team

use effective communication strategies, including cross cultural communication, to negotiate or confirm transactions in the market place e.g. new, distant and diverse markets

determine implications for the enterprise of information relevant to the sale of meat and meat products in a local, national and international context (e.g. market regulations, agents' terms and conditions, etc)

identify and apply relevant Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S), regulatory and workplace requirements

identify and follow freight, insurance and banking procedures

liaise, as required, with agents, representatives and brokers

prepare schedules and coordinate supply, production, packaging and transhipment of product to meet contract specifications and deadlines.

review enterprise operations and processes to meet regulatory requirements

take action to improve own work performance as a result of self-evaluation, feedback from others, or in response to changed work practices or technology

use appropriate communication and information technology to complete communication, scheduling, monitoring and reporting tasks as required

Required knowledge

Knowledge of:

legislation, regulations and codes of practice that apply to the production, sale, packaging and transport of meat products in local, national or international markets including legislative requirements and regulations for meat and other ingredients

standard documentation required for local, national or international trade

product specifications and enterprise contractual obligations

negotiation and communication strategies appropriate for use with government agencies and business clients

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.

Agents, representatives and brokers may include:

national or import and export forwarders, distributors, insurers, financiers, bankers, government agencies and departments.

Supplies of raw product may include:

a range of species

carcase

carton meat

dry ingredients.

Interstate and export documentation may include:

certifications, permits, declarations, licences applying to product origin, product quality, product ingredients etc

insurance dockets

invoices

manifests, bills of lading, bills of exchange, bar codes, goods and container identification

packaging and labelling, tickets and product codes.

Targets, goals and performance measures may be:

short, medium and long term and relate to operations, finances, human resources, marketing, customer service, resources and stock levels, productivity and profitability. Local, national and international targets may include sales, market penetration, share, quality and service targets.

Mathematical skills may relate to:

exchange rates

import duties

levies

packaging and freight requirements

price

product and product quality

sales and turnover

taxes and fees.

Characteristics of local, national and international markets and clients may include:

economic, political and physical environment

language, culture and customs

legislative frameworks.

Communication may:

be conducted in person or using a range of technologies including telephone, fax, email, internet services, and video conferencing

be spoken, written, non-verbal and include the use of signs, signals, symbols and pictures

be with colleagues, team members, superiors, customers, clients, external parties from a range of cultural, social and ethnic backgrounds

involve preparation of explanations and reports which are presented in language styles suitable for the audience and acknowledge the communication requirements of the importing country

require reading and interpreting workplace documents such as status reports, plans and projections, technical manuals, industry journals, financial records, government notices, export documentation, licences, invoices, bills of exchange, etc.

OH&S requirements may include:

enterprise OH&S policies, procedures and programs

OH&S legal requirements

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) which may include:

coats and aprons

ear plugs or muffs

eye and facial protection

head-wear

lifting assistance

mesh aprons

protective boot covers

protective hand and arm covering

protective head and hair covering

uniforms

waterproof clothing

work, safety or waterproof footwear

requirements set out in standards and codes of practice.

Regulatory requirements may include:

animal welfare

Australian Quarantine Information Service (AQIS) notices and circulars

Australian customs service requirements, e.g. Export Integration (EXIT), ELMER, harmonised tariff system

commercial law including fair trading, trade practices, import or export regulations

consumer law

corporate law, including registration, licensing, financial reporting

criteria for supply and processing of raw product or ingredient for export (inspection and certification of fresh product and ingredients)

environmental and waste management regulations

equal opportunity, anti-discrimination and sexual harassment regulations

Export Control Act

export licensing requirements

Export Meat Orders (EMOs)

food standards

importing country requirements

industrial awards, agreements

prescribed goods orders

relevant regulations

sales taxes and duties

federal, state and territory regulations regarding meat processing

taxation

Trade Practices Act.

Workplace requirements may include:

enterprise ethical standards, values and obligations

enterprise-specific procedures, policies and plans

hygiene and sanitation requirements

OH&S requirements

QA requirements

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

the ability to perform the task to production requirements

work instructions.

Communication and information technology may:

include:

computerised equipment

personal computers

calculators

online commercial transactions

telex

internet

databases

be used for:

compliance with regulations

confirmation of requirements

monitoring production and costs

preparation of quotes

research

scheduling

tracking consignments.

Packaging and transport conditions may include:

carton product

chilled or frozen product

road trains, trucks and containers

shipping, rail, air freight containers

vacuum packaging etc.