This unit applies to an alpaca stud farm owner or employee who will either be shearing the stud's animal fleece or working with a specialist shearer. Work will be carried out under minimal or no supervision according to a work plan.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Complete work contracts for shearers and shed staff

1.1. Arrangements are made in advance to obtain shearing services.

1.2. Terms and conditions of employment or engagement are agreed and checked against the award or other accepted arrangements.

1.3. Where employment is arranged, employment terms and conditions are written into an employment contract and are signed by employer and employees.

2. Develop work plan for shearing day

2.1. Shearing work plan is discussed, developed, agreed and documented with shearing team.

2.2. Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) hazards relevant to the preparation and conduct of shearing are identified and documented in work plan and appropriate action is taken to minimise risks.

2.3. Work is carried out according to work plan.

2.4. Work plan is reviewed with shearing team and any required improvements are noted for future action.

3. Check shearing equipment

3.1. Work plan is used to identify and obtain all equipment and supplies necessary for shearing.

3.2. Equipment required for shearing is checked and prepared according to enterprise procedures to ensure it is clean, set up and functioning correctly.

4. Ensure shed and yards are prepared for shearing

4.1. Shearing shed is checked and cleaned prior to commencement of shearing, ensuring enterprise quality standards.

4.2. Yards are checked and cleaned prior to commencement of shearing, ensuring enterprise quality standards.

4.3. Sources of alpaca fibre contamination are removed according to enterprise and industry quality standards.

4.4. Safety hazards are reported to fibre grower or shed manager.

5. Pen up alpacas

5.1. Alpacas are moved according to shearing sequence, and OHS, animal welfare and enterprise requirements.

5.2. Alpacas are penned by mobs, according to work plan.

5.3. Pen density is determined to avoid crushing, trampling or soiling of alpaca fibre.

5.4. Gates are secured to prevent mixing of mobs or escape of alpacas.

5.5. Alpaca numbers are monitored in holding pens to ensure continuous supply to shearer.

5.6. Pens are monitored to maintain alpaca in standing position to avoid soiling of alpaca fibre.

Required skills

carrying out cleaning and decontamination of pens and shearing shed to industry standards

moving alpacas according to OHS, animal welfare and enterprise requirements

mustering and drafting alpacas into pens according to enterprise and industry standards

operating any necessary equipment to industry standards

using industry-accepted alpaca handling techniques

using safe and environmentally responsible workplace practices

use literacy skills to read, interpret and follow organisational policies and procedures, follow sequenced written instructions, record accurately and legible information collected and select and apply procedures for a range of tasks

use oral communication skills/language competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation, including questioning techniques, active listening, clarifying information and consulting with supervisors as required

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

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

Required knowledge

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

personal protective equipment and when and how it should be used

relevant industry awards and conditions

relevant state and territory legislation regulations and codes of practice with regard to workplace OHS.

animal welfare requirements under the code of practice.

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:

develop a shearing work plan

ensure that all required planning and preparation for shearing are completed

set up facilities for alpaca shearing

arrange employment and communicate with shearers and shed staff

work safely with and around alpacas according to established work plan.

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.

Shearing may include:

all strains and classes of alpacas.

Unit sector

Shearing

This unit contains employability skills.