Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to maintain wildlife habitats and refuges to protect desirable animal species from predators.
All work is undertaken in accordance with statutory and local authority requirements.
This unit applies to individuals who work under general supervision and exercise limited autonomy with some accountability for own work. They undertake defined activities and work in a structured context.
No occupational licensing, legislative or certification requirements are known to apply to this unit at the time of publication. However, all units of competency dealing with animals in the AHC Training Package have the requirements for animals to be handled humanely to minimise stress and discomfort.
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. Assess the scope of the refuge maintenance job | 1.1 Identify species to be protected and determine their behaviour pattern 1.2 Identify characteristics of refuges required for target species 1.3 Determine locations of refuges 1.4 Estimate time to complete the work 1.5 Identify environmental risks associated with the work 1.6 Determine vehicles, equipment and materials required to complete the work |
2. Prepare for the refuge maintenance job | 2.1 Determine location and boundaries for the wildlife habitat refuge maintenance job in accordance with the pest management strategy and monitoring program 2.2 Conduct safety risk assessment and apply work health and safety policies and procedures 2.3 Take precautions to minimise environmental and biosecurity risks associated with the work 2.4 Check vehicles, equipment and materials for serviceability and cleanliness in accordance with manufacturer specifications and relevant enterprise policies |
3. Maintain wildlife habitat refuges for protection of desirable species from predators | 3.1 Operate vehicles and equipment in accordance with manufacturer and organisational procedures 3.2 Maintain wildlife habitat refuges in accordance with industry practice and environmental statutory requirements 3.3 Implement strategies to control vertebrate pests in a wildlife habitat 3.4 Identify harbours used by pest animals and notify supervisor 3.5 Dispose of debris from site in accordance with industry practice and environmentally sustainable and work health and safety policies and procedures |
4. Clean and store equipment and material | 4.1 Clean and store equipment and materials to enterprise and environmental standards in order to maintain biosecurity of area 4.2 Record job completion according to relevant 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:
maintain wildlife habitats and refuges to protect desirable animal species from predators
identify native species that are present in the wildlife refuge
confirm the features required for a wildlife habitat refuge
provide harbors and modify habitat where necessary to provide refuge for native species
assess the risk of vertebrate pest predators within the refuge
implement strategies to control vertebrate pests in a wildlife habitat as directed by supervisor
apply work health and safety practices in the context of own work
apply biosecurity measures in the context of own work
apply appropriate sustainability practices in the context of own work
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
vertebrate predators present in local area
harbours used by vertebrate pests
wildlife habitats used by desirable animal species
wildlife habitat modification techniques
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
Natural Area Restoration (NAR)