Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to prepare a sustainable community and bioregional development strategy, including the ability to prepare a brief, analyse available information, consult with individuals, groups and the community, identify required strategies, design organisational structures, and document a community and bioregional development strategy.
It requires knowledge of permaculture and community development principles and practices, transition town processes, community profiles, structure, processes and characteristics of community organisations, funding sources and their policies and strategies for encouraging community input and participation, relevant local, state and federal strategies and legislation and specific knowledge of particular groups or issues.
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 broad knowledge in an area of work with depth in areas of specialisation. They undertake functions with initiative and judgement and take personal responsibility and exercise autonomy in undertaking complex work. They have accountability for the work of others (teams) within broad parameters, analyse and synthesise information as well as 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. Prepare a brief | 1.1 Define aims and objectives of the sustainable community and bioregional development strategy in the brief and the strategic plan 1.2 Define core values, principles and guidelines in the brief and the strategic plan 1.3 Develop protocols for the design, implementation and ongoing management in consultation with stakeholders |
2. Analyse available information | 2.1 Collate information on the community and bioregion 2.2 Identify key elements and themes 2.3 Map interconnections and relationships between key elements and themes 2.4 Determine legal and planning instruments and guidelines relating to the community and bioregion 2.5 Identify key people, specialist advisers and consultants to assist in the development of the strategy |
3. Consult with individuals, groups and the community | 3.1 Respond to individual concerns in a manner which engages support and cooperation 3.2 Identify opportunities and approaches to ensure community access and involvement in consultation and participatory processes 3.3 Identify and develop processes for feedback and ongoing community or group involvement in the planning process and action outcomes 3.4 Provide guidance to the group and respond with appropriate options and solutions to address their concerns and issues 3.5 Select and apply appropriate community consultation methods and document results |
4. Identify required strategies | 4.1 Develop steps required to implement strategies that are logical and capable of implementation 4.2 Clearly formulate strategies and make available to relevant parties for comment, where appropriate 4.3 Develop strategies in consultation with all relevant parties 4.4 Recognise and document opportunities and constraints to implementation 4.5 Document approaches and methods and any adjustments for future reference |
5. Design organisational structures | 5.1 Provide assistance to groups in designing appropriate mechanisms and actions to address the range of issues 5.2 Contribute to the development of policies and processes to facilitate resolution of group concerns in the public arena 5.3 Employ effective interpersonal skills to motivate the group to work cooperatively 5.4 Develop operational arrangements to facilitate group processes 5.5 Assist the group to identify additional assistance and resources as required 5.6 Contribute to organisational or management strategies for coordination of multiple activities and initiatives |
6. Document community and bioregional development strategy | 6.1 Support proposed strategies for sustainable community and bioregional development and transition with available evidence 6.2 Confirm that sound operational plans can be implemented based on the proposed strategies 6.3 Develop documentation 6.4 Distribute the strategy plan to all relevant parties and ensure effective communication of information |
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:
prepare a brief
analyse available information
consult with individuals, groups and the community
identify required strategies
design organisational structures
document a community and bioregional development strategy
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
permaculture principles and practices related to bioregional development
bioregional analysis and development
climate change, Peak Oil and resource depletion responses
Transition Towns
community or bioregional development strategies, such as:
Transition Towns group activities or programs
ways of reducing the ecological ‘footprint’ of individuals, organisations or the community at large
ways of influencing government policy
ways of influencing business practices
support for ideas and solutions which enable transition to a low-carbon/low-energy future
environmental, water catchment and natural resource conservation projects
community economics and enterprise
social and cultural programs
housing and community development programs
strategic planning frameworks
community supported agriculture, organic and sustainable primary production and consumer networks and programs
energy descent plans
local food and water security
renewable energy and appropriate technologies
greenhouse emission reduction and sequestration
disaster preparedness, response and recovery
strategic planning framework including:
core values
vision
goals
strategies
action plans
benchmarks
timelines
community profile development
community consultation and facilitation methodologies, such as:
team and community building activities
community forums and discussion
open space events
cultural mapping processes
creative problem solving processes
visualisation and experiential processes
information gathering processes
structure, processes and characteristics of community organisations, such as:
non-government organisations
government organisations
cooperatives
incorporated and non-incorporated groups
companies both limited and unlimited
public companies both listed and unlisted
trusts
funding sources and their policies and strategies for encouraging community input and participation, such as grands, gifts and crowd-sourced funding
relevant local, state and federal strategies and legislation
specific knowledge of particular groups or issues
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)