AHCBER301
Work effectively in an emergency disease or plant pest response


Application

This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to work effectively within own area of responsibility while responding to an emergency disease or plant pest incursion.

The unit applies to personnel who have been appointed or engaged to undertake a role within an emergency disease or plant pest incursion response.

This unit applies to individuals who work under broad direction and take responsibility for their own work including limited responsibility for the work of others. They provide and communicate solutions to a range of predictable problems.

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. Identify information required

1.1 Access information about emergency disease or plant pest and appropriate response to apply during an emergency response

1.2 Use information to address specific work needs and identify further information requirements

1.3 Identify and access information and resources required from stakeholders

2. Carry out work

2.1 Communicate with stakeholders according to organisational procedures

2.2 Carry out work activities to conform to relevant legislation, regulations, procedures and codes of practice appropriate to work area and level of responsibility

2.3 Identify hazards and risks relevant to specific work being undertaken and respond as required

3. Manage own work

3.1 Interpret work instructions and seek clarification if inconsistencies are noted

3.2 Assess workload and prioritise competing demands to achieve personal, team and organisational goals and objectives

3.3 Communicate the need for physical and human resources clearly to appropriate person

3.4 Perform own role, responsibilities and duties in a positive manner to promote cooperation within the workplace

3.5 Respect the importance of own and others' roles in achieving organisational goals

3.6 Recognise personal symptoms of stress and its potential to impact on performance and take action to minimise negative effects

3.7 Report undue personal stress to appropriate person

4. Comply with biosecurity requirements

4.1 Identify biosecurity procedures relevant to own work area

4.2 Maintain personal protective equipment and fomites according to biosecurity procedures

4.3 Report biosecurity breaches immediately to appropriate person

4.4 Complete biosecurity records according to work area requirements

5 Adapt to change as required

5.1 Identify and asses any need for change in own work practices to reflect critical emergency issues or emerging trends

5.2 Discuss and seek agreement with senior staff if changes are required

5.3 Change own work practices where required and according to agreed arrangements

5.4 Apply a flexible approach that takes account of changing priorities and circumstances when implementing instructions for changes to work practices

5.5 Monitor change to determine the effectiveness of revised work practices and advise senior staff members of findings

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:

access and use information to determine appropriate response, work needs, and information and resources to be accessed from stakeholders

carry out work activities to conform with national plan

communicate with stakeholders

identify hazards ad risks

manage own work load and priorities

interpret work instructions and seek clarification as needed

recognise and respond to personal stress

promote cooperation and respect within work team

communicate the need for physical and human resources

comply with biosecurity requirements for personal protective equipment and fomites, reporting biosecurity breaches and completing records

adapt to and monitor change

complete biosecurity records.


Evidence of Knowledge

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

AUSVETPLAN or PLANTPLAN, relevant standards, guidelines and protocols, and Nationally Agreed Standard Operating Procedures (NASOP) relating to an emergency disease or plant pest incursion response

organisational procedures for communication in an emergency response

common physical and human resources needed in an emergency response

common work health and safety, and biosecurity hazards in an emergency response

personal protective equipment, and fomites relevant to emergency response

signs of personal stress and potential impact on response

techniques for prioritising work activities and time management

techniques for managing own responses to change, and to personal stress

communication principles for working effectively in teams, and reporting information

records required to be kept during an emergency response.


Assessment Conditions

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

Emergency Response (BER)