Working in compliance with relevant legislation and regulations within which the worker's organisation operates is essential

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Identify community processes for rubbish collection and disposal

1.1 Ensure all work reflects consideration of what constitutes rubbish

1.2 Ensure all work reflects knowledge and understanding of community processes in relation to rubbish collection and disposal

2. Monitor and maintain the rubbish collection and disposal system in the community

2.1 Identify strategies within the worker's own roles and responsibilities to prevent the transmission of diseases as it relates to rubbish collection and disposal

2.2 In conjunction with the supervisor develop a work plan in relation to the identified strategies to be used

2.3 Implement strategies in accordance with the plan

2.4 Discuss any potential issues of cultural concern with relevant community members if necessary

2.5 Report any difficulties or problems to supervisor in accordance with organisational policies and procedures

2.6 Refer any problems or difficulties that are outside of the area of responsibility or expertise to key people or agencies

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level required for this unit.

Essential knowledge:

The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively do the task outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage the task and manage contingencies in the context of the identified work role

This includes knowledge of:

Basic knowledge of rubbish tip designs and environmental health considerations in terms of appropriate location of tip sites

Basic knowledge of tip disposal methods (trench/land fill) and organisation of tip site, e.g. roads leading in and out, signage

Bin designs/sizes

Community processes in relation to rubbish collection and disposal

Recycling/re-using options

Sources of rubbish, e.g. household, living areas, store, clinic, meeting places

Essential skills:

It is critical that the candidate demonstrate the ability to:

Monitor rubbish collection and disposal processes in the community

In addition, the candidate must be able to effectively do the task outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage the task and manage contingencies in the context of the identified work role

This includes the ability to:

Apply problem solving skills in recognising and identifying potential environmental health risks and hazards that can occur with rubbish collection and disposal processes in the community

Effectively network and communicate with the employing organisation, householders, community members, key people and outside agencies

Monitor rubbish collection and disposal processes in the community

Take into account opportunities to address waste minimisation, environmental responsibility and sustainable practice issues

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.

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

The individual being assessed must provide evidence of specified essential knowledge as well as skills

Consistency in performance should consider the worker's ability to be able to monitor rubbish collection and disposal processes in the community and identify any potential environmental hazards and risks

This needs to occur more than once and over a period of time

Assessment of performance must be in relation to the worker's job role and area of responsibility in relation to the community processes that may already be established

Access and equity considerations:

All workers in the health industry should be aware of access and equity issues in relation to their own area of work

All workers should develop their ability to work in a culturally diverse environment

In recognition of particular health issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, workers should be aware of cultural, historical and current issues impacting on health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Assessors and trainers must take into account relevant access and equity issues, in particular relating to factors impacting on health of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities

Context of and specific resources for assessment:

This unit is best assessed on the job

Access to resources, tools and equipment required to monitor and maintain rubbish collection and disposal in the community, such as:

shovel for digging own trenches in small outstations

light plant and machinery if possible and where appropriate

additional bins to place along heavy pedestrian pathways if necessary

The Range Statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Add any essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.

Rubbish may refer to:

Biodegradable waste

Non-biodegradable waste

Solid waste

Liquid waste

Recyclable waste

Community processes in relation to rubbish collection and disposal may refer to:

Position of bins in the community

Collection schedule

Personnel responsible for collection and disposal

Type of vehicle and equipment used to collect rubbish, transport rubbish, and operate the tip

Personnel responsible for vehicle and equipment maintenance

Place and method of eventual disposal

Alternative access routes if roads are cut off at any time, e.g. wet season, 'business'

Alternative strategies for smaller communities and outstations

Identifying strategies within the worker's own roles and responsibilities may include:

Monitoring street litter and the location of bins to ensure that there is an adequate number of bins near community facilities

Ensuring there is provision of bins for each house/ living area for the deposit of household rubbish

Ensuring that bins are located at strategic points along heavy pedestrian pathways

Ensuring bins are durable and appropriately designed, e.g. bins on stands with chained lids to prevent dogs tipping them over and to keep pests out

Assisting with the promotion and implementation of special clean up days in the community, e.g. larger items such as washing machines, car bodies, fridges and freezers etc.

Monitoring tip sites to ensure that they are constructed and operated appropriately, e.g. location of tip site in relation to the community, roads leading in and out, appropriate signage, access, depth of trenches/appropriate land fill methods for example, rubbish to be dumped at the working face only

In smaller outstations or communities the Indigenous Environmental Health Worker may have sole responsibility for maintaining the tip, e.g. digging trenches (2 metres deep) and covering over rubbish; this can be done by shovel if machinery is not available

Education/health promotion, e.g. health effects of littering (hazards), options for recycling, composting, methods of household disposal of rubbish items, e.g. wrap broken glass in paper before taking it out to the bin, wash out tins of food, only throw paper items in the campfire

Develop a work plan may include:

Diary planner/timetable

Prioritising tasks

Organising task checklists

Relevant community members may include:

Elders

Traditional owners

Others in the community

Issues of concern may be:

Rubbish tips being constructed without adequate consultation with the community, particularly in respect to areas of cultural significance, e.g. men's and women's areas, sacred sites

In instances where the Indigenous Environmental Health Worker has sole responsibility for constructing and maintaining the tip site (smaller communities and outstations) the worker may need to ask or seek permission, additional advice/support on the most appropriate location for the site

Report may be:

Verbal in either first language or English

Written in either first language or English

By showing supervisor the problem

Referrals may be:

Verbally in either first language or English depending on the target group and whether or not referrals take place internally within the community, or outside the community to other key people or agencies

Written correspondence, i.e.: fax, letters

Photos of the problem/issue

Video recording the problem/issue

Problems that may be outside of the workers area of responsibility include some of the following:

Grading roads to ensure that there is all season access to the tip site

Constructing alternative access roads if necessary

Picking up people's litter in the community

Key people and outside agencies may include:

Environmental Health Workers

Community council

Relevant government agencies (Planning, environment and transport departments)

Contractors

Community development workers

Others responsible for rubbish collection and disposal in the community

This unit contains Employability Skills