This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to perform blocking and shaping processes of millinery by hand. It includes selecting and, where applicable, modifying the block.

Work may be conducted in small to large scale enterprises and may involve individual and team activities. Work is performed within defined procedures under direct supervision.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy the requirements of the elements and performance criteria, and include:

reading and following work instructions, standard operating procedures (SOPs), safe work practices

confirming blocking and shaping requirements to ensure correct design application

assembling and preparing selected materials ready for preparation process

selecting appropriate block and adapting, if required, to meet requirements

preparing fibre or material and processing over steam vent and ensuring safe processes are followed, on at least two (2) occasions

operating machines or equipment, including steam equipment, used within the enterprise, on at least two (2) occasions

pre-blocking hood to pre-stretching the fibres, if required

performing final blocking to shape the secondary components, including brim, collar line or to obtain particular indentation on at least two (2) occasions

allowing hood to dry on the block, either naturally or by artificial means

adding stiffening to the hat, where required.

Evidence must be provided that demonstrates knowledge of:

safe work practices and procedures and use of personal protective equipment (PPE)

industry and product processes and equipment

manual use of blocks

workplace procedures

recording and reporting practices.

Assessors must:

satisfy the assessor competency requirements that are in place at the time of the assessment, as set by the VET regulator

have vocational competency in blocking and shaping millinery by hand, at least to the level being assessed, with relevant industry knowledge and experience.

Assessment should occur in operational workplace situations. Where this is not possible, or where personal safety or environmental damage are limiting factors, assessment must occur in a sufficiently rigorous simulated environment reflecting realistic operational workplace conditions. This must cover all aspects of workplace performance, including environment, task skills, task management skills, contingency management skills and job role environment skills.

Assessment processes and techniques must be appropriate to the language, literacy and numeracy requirements of the work being performed and the needs of the candidate.

Conditions for assessment must include access to all tools, equipment, materials and documentation required, including relevant workplace procedures, product and manufacturing specifications associated with this unit.

This section describes those required skills (language, literacy and numeracy) that are essential to performance.

Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.

Not applicable

Millinery