Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to interpret cultural landscapes from an Aboriginal cultural and spiritual perspective. The unit also covers if and how this knowledge may be collected and provided to others.
This unit applies to individuals who are required to interpret cultural landscapes on Country. The unit applies to working with lore/law men and women either as an autonomous sites worker or under the supervision and cultural authority of Traditional Owners and Elders for specific Country. This unit is also applicable to the work of repatriation workers and anthropologists.
This unit applies to all Aboriginal sites workers. However, 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 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. Investigate cultural knowledge | 1.1 Acknowledge the determination of Aboriginal people as the primary source of information about cultural knowledge 1.2 Work with cultural authorities to identify appropriate persons within communities who hold cultural knowledge 1.3 Access cultural knowledge through reference to the appropriate Knowledge Holders or Cultural Manager 1.4 Consult appropriate cultural authorities to obtain approval to be on Country 1.5 Determine boundaries and extent of Country 1.6 Establish ownership rights and intellectual property rights to Aboriginal cultural knowledge 1.7 Establish parameters for access and access restrictions in transferring cultural knowledge and information 1.8 Determine and record key principles, values and practices of Aboriginal cultural knowledge 1.9 Define relationships between cultural knowledge and Country according to Aboriginal cultural protocols 1.10 Determine and record the history of dispossession from Community sources and available resources 1.11 Recount lost connections to Country due to colonisation |
2. Acquire information | 2.1 Manage movement through Country/park/reserve to minimise disturbance and degradation to the park/reserve and surrounding environments 2.2 Determine the relationships between Aboriginal beliefs, Aboriginal sites, land features, seasons, artefacts, objects and spirituality 2.3 Identify landscape features and sites on Country in accordance with their place and role in Dreaming, Aboriginal spirituality and local cultural practices and ceremony 2.4 Make the association of connection to Country through language, stories, song, dance and art 2.5 Determine the role of lore and customs in matters of land, family, marriage, kinship, totem, clan and obligation 2.6 Use Aboriginal and common names to identify fauna and flora used for food and medicine 2.7 Investigate knowledge of relationships between plants and animals from Aboriginal beliefs, land management and cultural perspectives 2.8 Define simple bush tucker food chains relevant to Country and determine relationships to the cultural landscape 2.9 Carry out investigations in accordance with work health and safety and environmental sustainability policies and procedures 2.10 Document investigation in accordance with Community protocols and permissions, to enterprise standards |
3. Relate information on cultural knowledge to others | 3.1 Seek permissions from cultural authorities, relevant individuals and organisations for access, use and documentation of Aboriginal cultural information and material 3.2 Provide information on Aboriginal cultural knowledge to those who are authorised to possess that knowledge according to Community guidelines and Aboriginal cultural protocols 3.3 Relate information on cultural knowledge in an appropriate format and medium according to Community guidelines and cultural protocols 3.4 Refer requests for disclosure of information on Aboriginal cultural sites, landscapes and cultural material that infringes intellectual property rights of a group or Community to appropriate persons 3.5 Decline requests for disclosure of information on aspects of cultural knowledge by unauthorised individuals |
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:
interpret cultural landscapes from an Aboriginal cultural and spiritual perspective
identify details of plant and animal species on Country, their Aboriginal names and their roles and place in the cultural landscape
collate information on Aboriginal culture and history for Country in culturally appropriate ways
collect and use information according to Community guidelines and cultural protocols
follow community lore/laws, customs on accessing and sharing cultural knowledge
identify landscape features and sites on Country in accordance with their place and role in Dreaming, Aboriginal spirituality and local cultural practices and ceremony
use Aboriginal names and standard industry terminology appropriate to the task
apply work health and safety practices in the context of own work
apply appropriate sustainability practices to minimise disturbance and degradation to park or reserve and surrounding environments.
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
Aboriginal history, cultural values and interpersonal and Community protocols associated with area
Aboriginal cultural customs and heritage related to area
authentic and authoritative sources for Aboriginal cultural information, material and expression able to be accessed and shared
designated cultural areas and features of Country, boundaries and extent of Country
key principles, values and practices of Aboriginal cultural knowledge
connection to Country through stories, song, dance and art
role of Community lore and customs in matters of land, family, marriage, kinship, totem, clan and obligation
protocols and customs relating to disclosure of knowledge about Country
when and how to relate and document information and when it is not appropriate according to cultural protocols
Aboriginal names for plants, animals and landscape features
cultural knowledge about plant and animals relating to a particular Community, group or region
role and rights of Indigenous people in maintaining and controlling cultural knowledge
individuals who are authorised to possess cultural knowledge.
Assessment Conditions
Assessment must comply with Community protocols and be supported by Elders and Custodians of Country.
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)