Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to handle, pack and unpack Aboriginal cultural material for movement and storage.
This unit applies particularly to working around and with Aboriginal cultural materials and objects and focuses on the specific cultural and consultative requirements for sourcing, handling, and possibly interpreting Aboriginal cultural material. 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 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. Source Aboriginal cultural material | 1.1 Confirm traditional ownership of cultural material 1.2 Consult with the appropriate traditional custodians and Community to determine suitable keeping places for cultural materials 1.3 Work with cultural authorities to identify appropriate persons within Community who hold cultural knowledge relevant to establishing any restrictions on access to materials 1.4 Seek permission and advice for being on site and using cultural material according to Aboriginal cultural protocols 1.5 Locate and identify cultural material and objects and assess material’s suitability for moving 1.6 Complete records according to cultural protocols 1.7 Identify issues and follow protocols in relation to the return of cultural material to local Aboriginal Community |
2. Determine movement and storage requirements | 2.1 Implement legislative and work health and safety requirements 2.2 Assess and document the scope of work required for movement and storage of cultural material 2.3 Identify and confirm organisational procedures and guidelines and specific requirements for moving and storing cultural material with relevant personnel 2.4 Determine future storage requirements with relevant personnel 2.5 Assess and arrange the need for specialist expertise |
3. Handle and transfer Aboriginal cultural material | 3.1 Identify, move, store, maintain and return cultural material according to Aboriginal cultural requirements 3.2 Record details of material requiring repair or attention and take action within scope of own job role or refer to relevant personnel as required 3.3 Communicate specific Aboriginal cultural requirements to colleagues 3.4 Select and use appropriate handling and moving equipment 3.5 Handle cultural material in a manner that protects individual items and assists efficient loading and unloading processes 3.6 Prepare transportation documentation 3.7 Transfer Aboriginal cultural material to approved location 3.8 Use techniques for moving material that minimise environmental disturbance and degradation, where appropriate |
4. Store cultural material according to Aboriginal cultural requirements | 4.1 Install, position or store cultural material as required 4.2 Ensure specific storage needs of cultural material are based on knowledge of requirements 4.3 Clear and clean work areas according to organisational procedures 4.4 Maintain storage records according to organisational policies and procedures |
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 appropriate cultural authorities for a Community, place or site
consult effectively with Traditional Owners, Cultural Managers and relevant Community representatives about the handling, access to and display of cultural material
handle, move and store cultural materials according to cultural protocols
seek permissions from cultural authorities for being on site and handling, moving, storing and recording cultural material, according to Community protocols
observe Aboriginal cultural protocols, follow collection management practices and industry requirements when moving, storing, displaying and maintaining cultural material
record details of transporting and storing of cultural material
report damage or faults with cultural material to appropriate persons
select and use handling, storage and transport equipment
apply work health and safety practices in the context of own work
apply appropriate sustainability practices to minimise environmental disturbance and degradation when moving cultural objects from Aboriginal sites.
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
authentic and authoritative sources for Aboriginal cultural information, material and expression able to be accessed and shared
cultural authority for ceremony on the site
ownership relationships for secret, sacred material
record-keeping techniques
organisational procedures and guidelines.
Assessment Conditions
Assessment must comply with Community protocols and be supported by Elders and Custodians of Country.
Assessors must satisfy the 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)