Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to catch, handle and shear alpacas.
All work must be carried out to comply with workplace procedures, work health and safety, animal welfare and biosecurity requirements and sustainability practices.
This unit applies to individuals who work under general supervision and exercise limited autonomy with some accountability for own work. They identify and provide solutions to a limited 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. Prepare for shearing | 1.1 Check shearing materials, tools and equipment for serviceability and prepare in readiness for shearing operations 1.2 Identify, draft and move alpacas to be shorn 1.3 Position alpacas for shearing 1.4 Identify potential and existing hazards in the workplace and report to the supervisor 1.5 Select, use and maintain suitable personal protective equipment |
2. Perform shearing operations | 2.1 Shear alpacas using shearing methods that minimise damage to the alpaca and fleece while meeting volume of shearing expectations 2.2 Use safe and humane handling techniques at all times 2.3 Monitor own shearing performance and adjust posture, shearing rate or speed and position of alpaca as required 2.4 Comply with work health and safety and animal welfare requirements |
3. Respond to complications | 3.1 Identify contamination during shearing operations and report to owner 3.2 Treat cuts to alpacas as required 3.3 Identify problem alpacas and report |
4. Complete shearing operation | 4.1 Place fibre to avoid contamination and for collection by handlers 4.2 Set handpiece to non-operational position and store 4.3 Release alpacas safely from the board into holding yards 4.4 Report shearing grievances and difficulties 4.5 Monitor and control environmental implications associated with shearing activities 4.6 Follow enterprise biosecurity policies where required |
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 be observed shearing alpacas.
The candidate must provide evidence that they can:
identify hazards, apply safe work practices and maintaining safe and hazard-free equipment
select, set up and operate equipment appropriate to shearing tasks
position alpaca and restrain for shearer safety
handle and shear alpacas with due care using industry-accepted methods and procedures
appropriately treat injured alpacas
avoid contamination, second cuts and damage to fleece, alpacas and people
demonstrate safe and environmentally responsible workplace practices
apply enterprise work health and safety policies in the context of own work
apply enterprise animal welfare and biosecurity policies in the context of own work
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
basic alpaca anatomy and behavioural characteristics as they impact on shearing of alpaca
common goat diseases and treatments as they impact on work health and safety and humane treatment of goats
components and functions of shearing equipment and machinery
industry-accepted handling and shearing techniques and positions
enterprise biosecurity policies applying to the job role
work health and safety legislation and codes of practice applying to the job role
animal welfare legislation and codes of practice applying to the job role
Assessment Conditions
Competency is to be assessed in the workplace or workplace and simulated environment that accurately reflects performance in a real workplace setting.
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
Shearing (SHG)