Application
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 Owner(s) and/or Elder(s) for specific Country. This unit applies to all Aboriginal-sites workers. Cultural beliefs and practices vary across locations and communities however and in some situations non-Aboriginal learners may not be able to access the cultural knowledge and/or materials required to achieve competency in this unit. This applies when restrictions are applied to non-Aboriginal people gaining access to cultural knowledge, material or sites. In these situations the Registered Training Organisation will have to make alternative arrangements for learners that are still consistent with the delivery and assessment requirements for this unit.
Prerequisites
AHCILM306A Follow Aboriginal cultural protocols
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
1. Prepare for plant recognition | 1.1 Identify range of Indigenous plants according to 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 |
2. Recognise 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 and/or supervisors when necessary and where appropriate in the recognition activity 2.4 Observation activities minimise degradation and disturbance and comply with legislation and workplace health and safety requirements |
3. Record recognition of Indigenous plants | 3.1 Determine cultural uses and/or significance of specified Indigenous plants 3.2 Document information about Indigenous plants and add to reference collection according to organisational requirements 3.3 Update reference collection if new Indigenous plants are recognised 3.4 Determine disposal techniques for plant debris if specimen collection is necessary |
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 and/or 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 |
Required Skills
Required skills include: Ability to: plan and organise observations recognise flora collect and record information interpret data use literacy skills to follow sequenced written instructions and record information accurately and legibly use oral communication skills/language competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation including questioning, active listening, asking for clarification and seeking advice from supervisor as required use numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record routine workplace measures use interpersonal skills to relate to people from a range of social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities recognise the range of Indigenous plants specific to the enterprise or locality describe plant attributes describe main purpose of species identified within the organisational or cultural context describe any specific handling requirements and/or growth requirements to facilitate management and conservation of the species use simple keys to identify and describe Indigenous plants communicate with customers and clients understand cultural protocols in relation to accessing and using information about culturally significant species interpret questions effectively explain information about the Indigenous plants specific to the organisation |
Required knowledge includes: Knowledge of: criteria used to group species common and scientific names of Indigenous plants and animals biological species occurring in the study area the importance, value or potential impact of the species in a designated area rare and endangered species undesirable Indigenous plants (weeds) and animals maps and grid references a range of plant identification techniques and plant names enterprise procedures for obtaining and supplying advice and information about Indigenous plants organisational expectations relating to the range and number of Indigenous plants to be recognised 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 |
Evidence Required
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 | |
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit | The delivery and assessment against this unit must comply with Community protocols and be carried out in consultation with and participation with Traditional Owners and/or Elders and custodians of that specific Country. In accordance with Aboriginal cultural protocols, cultural knowledge copyright considerations and Aboriginal lore/law restrictions, it is essential that this requirement be respected and implemented in the delivery and assessment of Cultural Units to guarantee cultural authenticity and quality control around the delivery of training and assessment for Aboriginal-sites workers. The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy holistically all of the requirements of the performance criteria and required skills and knowledge. Candidates must demonstrate evidence of the ability to: observe and accurately identify species of Indigenous plants in a natural area record and report observations in required format carry out a survey of Indigenous plants in a natural area causing minimal disruption to the environment explain and/or demonstrate uses of available bush resources for food and medicine |
Context of and specific resources for assessment | This is a practical unit utilising the local bushland and/or coastal areas and the knowledge of experts and where available, of local Aboriginal Traditional Owners and/or Elders. The focus of assessment for this unit will depend on the industry, workplace, or Community setting. Assessment must be contextualised to meet the needs of the particular group. Assessment context must provide for: an appropriate Community or workplace setting involvement of people approved by Traditional Owners and/or Elders of the relevant local Aboriginal Community candidates who have gained relevant knowledge and skills through their life experience Competence in recognising Indigenous plants requires evidence that a person can identify and utilise available resources and equipment to identify Indigenous plants accurately. The skills and knowledge required to recognise Indigenous plants must be transferable to different work environments. For example, this could include different Indigenous plants, workplace settings, and different cultural experiences. |
Method of assessment | Competency requires the application of work practices under work conditions. The following examples are appropriate for this unit: observation of the candidate on Country identifying Indigenous plants and describing food, medicinal and cultural relationships direct questioning combined with third-party workplace reports of on-the-job performance verbal or written questioning portfolio of evidence, including items such as third party reports; relevant experience; employer or client statements; work documentation; written or visual representations of stories; audio or video tape recordings; photographs; PowerPoint presentations; art works; oral presentations or written reports; glossary of terminology Assessment methods should closely reflect workplace demands (e.g. literacy) and the needs of particular groups (e.g. people with disabilities, and people who may have literacy or numeracy difficulties such as speakers of languages other than English), remote communities and those with interrupted schooling. |
Guidance information for assessment | Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example AHCILM306A Follow Aboriginal cultural protocols Assessment for this unit should comprise a combination of theory and practical application. Both aspects of assessment are best conducted on Country and/or in a keeping place facility for this unit. |
Range Statement
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. | |
Range of Indigenous plants may include: | native or introduced species including weeds indigenous plants will comprise those commonly encountered within the industry workplace |
Resources | enterprise or public library business and research organisation websites suppliers and contractors enterprise supervisor and team colleague experience, and experts in the local area or industry sector personal or enterprise reference collection |
Processes may include: | literature searches internet browsing personal consultation with experts oral histories specimen collections field guides workplace notes, and use of simple keys |
Indigenous | common names botanical names in Aboriginal communities, language names can be used in lieu of common names |
Plant characteristics may include: | shape size colour texture presence of hairs and spikes on leaves stem, fruit, flower or seed |
Cultural authorities may include: | Cultural authority refers to the most appropriate senior person(s) that is able to speak for particular Country, cultural objects, ceremony and/or materials in a specific place. A cultural authority could be a Traditional Owner, a Native Title Claimant, Aboriginal Culture and Heritage Body, Elder, Aboriginal Land Council, etc. A ceremonial/cultural manager in terms of Aboriginal customary law means someone who does the work either under the direct supervision of the Aboriginal Owner or does the work that is authorised by the Owner. In a ceremony for example, the ceremonial manager(s) may provide the food and do the performance (work). Traditional roles and responsibilities swap over depending on a person’s status in any given situation, ie, whose land/estate one is on for business. |
Documentation | written description of the plant species including common Aboriginal and/or visible characteristics details of occurrence or origin optimum growth requirements, and/or a photographic record of the plant a herbarium of plant samples preserved according to the requirements of the enterprise or industry sector |
Bushland and/or bush foods | Any plant that grows in the native Australian bush that is edible or partly edible, that may be used for sustenance, seasoning, or preservation, or for medicinal purposes or part of traditional ceremony |
Land management and conservation techniques may include: | understanding individual species and habitat requirements ensuring the survival of the species through passing down of knowledge harvesting conservative amounts during an appropriate time of year not causing damage to surrounding environs when collecting |
Indigenous Plant species may include: | species covering listed threatened species listed notifiable or noxious weeds indigenous plants not previously seen at regularly visited site indigenous plants to be reported under enterprise or industry guidelines |
Sectors
Aboriginal-sites work
Employability Skills
This unit contains employability skills
Licensing Information
No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement.