Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to observe, record and report on the presence of plants of Indigenous cultural significance against criteria provided by a supervisor or as required under legislation, regulations, and or community protocols.
This unit involves the recognition of plants of Indigenous significance that are commonly encountered in land management situations and covers knowledge of Indigenous plant identification techniques, Indigenous plant names, community and organisational procedures for obtaining and supplying advice and information about Indigenous plants, and community or organisational expectations about the range and number of Indigenous plants to be recognised.
This unit has a particular focus on culturally significant Indigenous plants, management and conservation.
This unit applies to the identification and recording of Indigenous plants, local bushland and bush foods on Country. The unit applies to working with lore/law men and women either as an autonomous worker or under the supervision and cultural authority of Traditional Owners or Elders for specific Country.
This unit applies to all Aboriginal sites workers. However, cultural beliefs and practices vary across locations and communities and in some situations non-Aboriginal learners may not be able to access the cultural knowledge or materials required to achieve competency in this unit due to restrictions that are applied to non-Aboriginal people gaining access to cultural knowledge, material or sites. In these situations the Registered Training Organisation will be required to make alternative arrangements for learners that are still consistent with the delivery and assessment requirements for this unit.
No occupational licensing, legislative or certification requirements are known to apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Element | Performance criteria |
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Prepare for plant recognition | 1.1 Identify range of Indigenous plants and plant species according to pre-determined criteria, and job or client needs 1.2 Identify and locate resources required for use in recognition activity 1.3 Identify, select and prepare processes for Indigenous plant recognition including consultation and seeking approval from relevant cultural authorities to be on specific Country 1.4 Identify safety hazards and apply work health and safety procedures |
2. Identify specified Indigenous plants | 2.1 Name specified Indigenous plants according to their identifiable characteristics and by their Indigenous name 2.2 Determine plant habits, characteristics and significant features according to enterprise requirements 2.3 Seek advice from cultural authorities or supervisors when necessary and where appropriate in the recognition activity |
3. Survey and record identification of Indigenous plants in a specified area | 3.1 Identify survey site and record location of plants using maps and grid references 3.2 Determine and record cultural uses and significance of specified Indigenous plants 3.3 Document information about Indigenous plants and add to reference collection according to organisational requirements 3.4 Update reference collection if new Indigenous plants are recognised 3.5 Identify rare or endangered plant species in location 3.6 Determine disposal techniques for plant debris if specimen collection is necessary 3.7 Apply environmentally sustainable practices for carrying out observation activities to minimise degradation and disturbance 3.8 Follow work health and safety policies and procedures for carrying out survey activities |
4. Identify local bushland and/or bush foods and their uses | 4.1 Determine the relationship between local foods, general health and the land in Aboriginal culture 4.2 Locate and gather information from a range of sources about access to bush foods 4.3 Identify local Indigenous plants using their common, scientific and cultural names 4.4 Identify Indigenous cultural uses of available bush resources for food and medicine 4.5 Identify land management practices and conservation of Indigenous species |
Evidence of Performance
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 provide evidence that they can:
identify Indigenous culturally significant plants
observe and accurately identify species of Indigenous plants
document observations in required format, according to Community and organisational needs
apply environmentally sustainable practices to carry out survey activities in a natural area in order to minimise disruption to the environment
explain and/or demonstrate uses of plants for food and medicine
utilise available resources and equipment to identify Indigenous plants accurately
read map and grid references to identify locations of plants
use standard industry terminology and local Community names for Indigenous plants
apply work health and safety practices in the context of own work.
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
criteria used to categorise plant species
common and scientific names of Indigenous plants
biological species occurring in the study area
the importance, value or potential impact of the species in a designated area
rare and endangered species
plant identification techniques and plant names used by enterprise
organisational expectations relating to the range and number of Indigenous plants to be recognised in the survey
cultural protocols for obtaining and utilising information about Indigenous plants
nutritional and medicinal purposes of bushland and/or bush foods
land management and conservation techniques applicable to Aboriginal sites work.
Assessment Conditions
Assessment must comply with Community protocols and be supported by Elders and Custodians of Country.
Assessors must satisfy current standards for RTOs.
Foundation Skills
Foundation Skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.
Range Statement
Sectors
Aboriginal Sites Work (ASW)