Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to plan and make preparations prior to alpaca shearing.
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 broad direction and take responsibility for their own work including limited responsibility for the work of others. They use discretion and judgement in the selection and use of available resources.
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. Complete work contracts for shearers and shed staff | 1.1 Arrange shearing services in advance 1.2 Agree on terms and conditions of employment or engagement and check against the award or other accepted arrangements 1.3 Record employment terms and conditions into an employment contract where employment is arranged and ensure they are signed by employer and employees |
2. Develop work plan for shearing day | 2.1 Discuss, develop and agree on a shearing work plan with shearing team and document 2.2 Identify hazards relevant to the preparation and conduct of shearing and document in work plan and take appropriate action to minimise risks 2.3 Carry out work according to work plan 2.4 Review work plan with shearing team and note required improvements for future action |
3. Check shearing equipment | 3.1 Use work plan to identify and obtain all equipment and supplies necessary for shearing 3.2 Check and prepare equipment required for shearing and ensure it is clean, set up and functioning correctly |
4. Ensure shed and yards are prepared for shearing | 4.1 Check and clean shearing shed prior to commencement of shearing 4.2 Check and clean yards prior to commencement of shearing 4.3 Remove sources of alpaca fibre contamination 4.4 Report safety hazards to fibre grower or shed manager |
5. Pen up alpacas | 5.1 Move alpacas according to shearing sequence 5.2 Pen alpacas by mobs, according to work plan 5.3 Determine pen density to avoid crushing, trampling or soiling of alpaca fibre 5.4 Secure gates to prevent mixing of mobs or escape of alpacas 5.6 Monitor alpaca numbers in holding pens to ensure continuous supply to shearer 5.7 Monitor pens to maintain alpaca in standing position to avoid soiling of alpaca fibre 5.8 Apply enterprise animal welfare policies 5.9 Apply 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 produce a shearing work plan and ensure that all required planning and preparation for shearing has been completed.
The candidate must provide evidence that they can:
carry out cleaning and decontamination of pens and shearing shed to industry standards
move alpacas according to work health and safety, animal welfare and enterprise requirements
muster and draft alpacas into pens according to enterprise and industry standards
operate any necessary equipment to industry standards
use industry-accepted alpaca handling techniques
apply enterprise biosecurity policies in the context of own work
apply enterprise animal welfare policies in the context of own work
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
Alpaca Industry Best Practice Standards for Harvesting of Alpaca Fibre
elements of effective and appropriate alpaca shearing work plans
equipment requirements for alpaca shearing
how to clean and decontaminate sheds and pens
industry-accepted alpaca handling and moving techniques
relevant industry awards and conditions
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)