Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to manage a permaculture project or enterprise. It requires the ability to initiate, plan, manage, monitor and complete a permaculture project or enterprise. Managing a permaculture project or enterprise requires knowledge of permaculture principles and practices, permaculture design, bioregional and community development, community sustainable transition strategies, ecological agriculture, costing and pricing, and project management.
All work is carried out to comply with workplace procedures.
This unit applies to individuals who analyse information and exercise judgement to complete a range of advanced skilled activities and demonstrate deep knowledge in a specific technical area. They have accountability for the work of others and analyse, design and communicate solutions to a range of complex 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. Initiate permaculture project or enterprise | 1.1 Undertake strategic planning assessment of permaculture project or permaculture enterprise 1.2 Initiate community and bioregional assessment of project or enterprise 1.3 Determine the scope of the project or enterprise 1.4 Determine feasibility of project or enterprise 1.5 Determine stakeholders in project or enterprise |
2. Cost and quote for permaculture project or enterprise start up | 2.1 Prepare costings and quotations using realistic price structure 2.2 Include a contingency amount in case of need 2.3 Include allowances for work in kind and volunteers, ensuring that the right livelihood of all is considered 2.4 Prepare a detailed budget with stages of implementation 2.5 Submit quotation and cost outline to client and be prepared to justify costs |
3. Manage permaculture project or enterprise | 3.1 Secure human and material resources required to achieve strategies 3.2 Execute action plans to achieve strategic ends 3.3 Follow budget and project stages 3.4 Direct process outlined in action plans and timelines 3.5 Integrate project human and material resources to achieve planned project outcomes 3.6 Establish communication process including responsibilities for conflict resolution 3.7 Take feedback on management practices and processes |
4. Monitor permaculture project or enterprise | 4.1 Observe execution of project or enterprise action plan processes 4.2 Review and correct problematic planning processes 4.3 Measure project or enterprise activities 4.4 Measure costs against budget and communicate with client regarding any over-runs 4.5 Monitor project or enterprise variables |
5. Undertake permaculture project or enterprise | 5.1 Confirm completion of action plan processes 5.2 Determine success of project or enterprise strategies in relation to stage benchmarks, budget and timelines 5.3 Document permaculture project or enterprise management initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and completion or ongoing progress 5.4 Conclude permaculture project or continue to manage and monitor permaculture enterprise |
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:
carry out strategic planning assessment of a permaculture project or enterprise
acquire project resources
develop project pricing and costing
consult with stakeholders
manage project activities
evaluate and report on project
manage human resources
demonstrate group leadership
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
permaculture principles, ethics and practices
permaculture projects
initiatives with a defined sustainability purpose and time horizon
sustainable community development projects
bioregional initiatives
not-for-profit projects
projects on public land
community gardens
community supported agriculture systems
land restoration and conservation works
alternative technology programs
sustainability education
social and economic development activities
community carbon reduction and sequestration strategies
energy descent or transition projects
disaster preparedness, response and recovery
permaculture enterprises
ethical for-profit businesses where surpluses are returned to earth care and people care
initiatives with a focus on right livelihood with plans for ongoing operation and/or growth
sustainable farming
community food distribution businesses
permaculture design and consultancies
energy descent planning services
climate change planning services
permaculture works implementation businesses
community and bioregional sustainability planning services
community economic and enterprise systems
integrated social, housing and community development programs
community supported agriculture
organic and sustainable primary production
local food and water security enterprises
greenhouse emission reduction and sequestration enterprises
sustainable regional transport networks and systems
strategic planning
project management
human resource management
financial planning
purchases and acquisitions
costing and pricing
income generation including issues of right livelihood
promotion and marketing
organisational restructuring
project or enterprise start up
mentoring and education
new project or enterprise initiatives
political lobbying
grant applications
community consultation
research and development
community development
feasibility study methods
economic and financial assessment
legal and planning issues
market opportunities and challenges
community and cultural acceptance
bioregional suitability
operational considerations
resource availability
sustainability criteria
energy descent/transition strategies
climate change strategies
environmental, water catchment and natural resource conservation issues
contract law
budgetary frameworks
benchmarking
Assessment Conditions
Assessors must satisfy current standards for RTOs. Assessors must also have a nationally accredited Diploma of Permaculture. Completion of a Permaculture Design Course (PDC) or non-accredited Permaculture Diploma is not sufficient at this level.
Foundation Skills
Foundation Skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.
Range Statement
Sectors
Permaculture (PER)