This unit applies pest control officers and managers for work carried out independently within organisational guidelines.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Define the land management and/or production process for the area affected by the target pest problem

1.1. Consultation with other land users, regional land management bodies and other relevant stakeholders in the affected area is documented.

1.2. Desired land management and/or production outcomes are identified.

1.3. Performance criteria for measuring land management and/or production outcomes are determined.

1.4. Critical activities required to achieve the desired outcomes are identified.

1.5. Land management and/or production process is mapped against the annual planning cycle.

1.6. Land management and/or production process budget is determined.

2. Analyse the pest problem

2.1. Target pest(s) distribution within the affected area is determined in consultation with other stakeholders.

2.2. Target pest distribution data supplied by stakeholders is validated.

2.3. Factors that influence the target pest(s) population and distribution within the affected area are described.

2.4. Pest life cycle is mapped.

3. Determine critical control points for management of the pest problem

3.1. Periods of greatest risk in the land management and/or production process are identified in consultation with other stakeholders.

3.2. Periods of target pest vulnerability within its life cycle are identified.

3.3. Land management and/or production process map and target pest life cycle map are consolidated.

3.4. Critical points for controlling pest populations and/or changing land management or production practices within the annual planning cycle are determined in consultation with other stakeholders.

4. Analyse the impacts of the pest

4.1. Economic losses resulting from the pest presence are measured or estimated in consultation with other stakeholders.

4.2. Environmental impacts from the pest presence are measured or estimated in consultation with other stakeholders.

4.3. Potential risks relating to disease or toxicity are defined.

Required skills

analyse problems

plan strategically

define the land management and/or production process for the area affected by the target pest problem

analyse the pest problem

determine critical control points for management of the pest problem

analyse the impacts of the pest

use literacy skills to fulfil job roles as required by the organisation. The level of skill may range from reading and understanding documentation to completion of written reports

use oral communication skills/language competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation including questioning, active listening, asking for clarification, negotiating solutions and responding to a range of views

use numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record complex workplace measures

use interpersonal skills to work with others and relate to people from a range of cultural, social and religious backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities.

Required knowledge

land use processes, ecological systems and production systems

relevant legislative and regulatory requirements

environmental protection legislation

plant and animal identification

ecological systems and production systems

pest biology

survey techniques

target pest distribution and characteristics

statutory requirements for pest control

environmental and OHS legislation, codes of practice and enterprise procedures.

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy holistically all of the requirements of the performance criteria and required skills and knowledge and include achievement of the following:

define the land management and/or production process for the area affected by the target pest problem

analyse the pest problem

determine critical control points in the life cycle for management of the pest problem

assess the economic and environmental impacts of the pest.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Competency requires the application of work practices under work conditions. Selection and use of resources for some worksites may differ due to the regional or enterprise circumstances.

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole.

Pests to be targeted may include:

insects

weeds

pathogens

vertebrates

nematodes

molluscs.

Unit sector

Pest management

This unit contains employability skills.