RTD2502A
Maintain wildlife habitat refuges

This competency standard covers the process of maintaining wildlife habitats and refuges to protect desirable animal species from predators. It requires the ability to assess the scope of the refuge maintenance job, prepare for the work, maintain wildlife habitat refuges, and clean and store equipment and materials. Maintaining wildlife habitat refuge for protection of desirable animal species requires knowledge of relevant legislation and regulations, common law principles relating to property, stock, duty of care and due diligence, vertebrate pest life cycles and behaviours, harbours used by vertebrate pests, and harbours used by desirable animal species.This competency standard covers the process of maintaining wildlife habitats and refuges to protect desirable animal species from predators. It requires the ability to assess the scope of the refuge maintenance job, prepare for the work, maintain wildlife habitat refuges, and clean and store equipment and materials. Maintaining wildlife habitat refuge for protection of desirable animal species requires knowledge of relevant legislation and regulations, common law principles relating to property, stock, duty of care and due diligence, vertebrate pest life cycles and behaviours, harbours used by vertebrate pests, and harbours used by desirable animal species

Application

Not applicable.


Prerequisites

Not applicable.


Elements and Performance Criteria

Elements and Performance Criteria

Element

Performance Criteria

1

Assess the scope of the refuge maintenance job

1.1

Desirable wildlife species to be protected are identified and their behaviour pattern determined.

1.2

Characteristics of wildlife habitat refuges are identified.

1.3

Locations of wildlife habitat refuges are determined.

1.4

Time required to complete the wildlife habitat refuge maintenance job is estimated.

1.5

Hazards associated with the wildlife habitat refuge maintenance job are identified in accordance with OHS standards.

1.6

Environmental risks associated with the wildlife habitat refuge maintenance job are identified in accordance with statutory and local authority requirements.

1.7

Vehicles, equipment and materials required to complete the wildlife habitat refuge maintenance job are identified.

2

Prepare for the refuge maintenance job

2.1

Location and boundaries for the wildlife habitat refuge maintenance job are determined in accordance with the vertebrate pest management strategy and monitoring program.

2.2

Precautions to minimise hazards associated with the wildlife habitat refuge maintenance job are taken in accordance with OHS standards.

2.3

Precautions to minimise environmental risks associated with the wildlife habitat refuge maintenance job are taken in accordance with statutory and local authority requirements.

2.4

Vehicles, equipment and materials are checked for serviceability in accordance with manufacturer's specifications and relevant policies.

3

Maintain wildlife habitat refuges for protection of desirable species from predators

3.1

Vehicles and equipment are operated and/or driven in accordance with manufacturer's instructions, statutory requirements and industry practice.

3.2

Wildlife habitat refuges which protect desirable animal species are maintained in accordance with industry practice and environmental statutory requirements.

3.3

Desirable animal species are protected as required in accordance with environmental statutory requirements.

3.4

Debris is disposed of in accordance with industry practice.

4

Clean and store equipment and materials

4.1

Equipment and materials are cleaned and stored in accordance with relevant standards and policies.

4.2

Job completion is reported or recorded in accordance with relevant policies and procedures.

Required Skills

Not applicable.

Evidence Required

What evidence is required to demonstrate competence for this standard as a whole?

Competence in maintaining wildlife habitat refuge for protection of non-target animals from predators requires evidence that a site has been selected, assessed and maintained according to enterprise and industry standards. The skills and knowledge required to maintain wildlife habitat refuge for protection of native species from predators must be transferable to a range of work environments and contexts. For example, this could include different wildlife habitats and locations and predators.

What specific knowledge is needed to achieve the performance criteria?

Knowledge and understanding are essential to apply this standard in the workplace, to transfer the skills to other contexts and to deal with unplanned events. The knowledge requirements for this unit are listed below:

Relevant legislation and regulations.

Common law principles relating to property, stock, duty of care and due diligence.

Risks to land users' posed by vertebrate pests including exotic diseases and zoonoses.

Vertebrate pest life cycles and behaviours.

Harbours used by vertebrate pests.

Wildlife habitats used by desirable animal species.

Wildlife habitat modification techniques.

What specific skills are needed to achieve the performance criteria?

To achieve the performance criteria, some complementary skills are required. These skills include the ability to:

Communicate with work colleagues.

Use and maintenance of tools and equipment.

Record and report task completion and, where necessary, observations of property status.

Prepare for the refuge maintenance job.

Maintain wildlife habitat refuges for protection of desirable animal species from predators.

Clean and store equipment and materials.

What processes should be applied to this competency standard?

There are a number of processes that are learnt throughout work and life, which are required in all jobs. They are fundamental processes and generally transferable to other work functions. Some of these are covered by the key competencies, although others may be added. The questions below highlight how these processes are applied in this competency standard. Following each question a number in brackets indicates the level to which the key competency needs to be demonstrated where 0 = not required, 1 = perform the process, 2 = perform and administer the process and 3 = perform, administer and design the process.

How can communication of ideas and information (1) be applied?

Clarify requirements and expectations for the job and liaise with work colleagues.

How can information be collected, analysed and organised (2)?

Inspect areas to be maintained and distinguish between features which harbour pests and features which provide protection for desirable animal species.

How are activities planned and organised (2)?

Organise own work activities.

How can team work (2) be applied?

Collaborate with work colleagues during work activities.

How can the use of mathematical ideas and techniques (2) be applied?

Perform mathematical operations - estimation of task duration.

How can problem-solving skills (1) be applied?

Consider problems that arise during the job and determine contingency activities.

How can the use of technology (2) be applied?

Apply modern techniques and utilise equipment and materials.

Are there other competency standards that could be assessed with this one?

This competency standard could be assessed on its own or in combination with other competencies relevant to the job function.

For information about assessing this competency standard for consistent performance and where and how it may be assessed, refer to the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.

What evidence is required to demonstrate competence for this standard as a whole?

Competence in maintaining wildlife habitat refuge for protection of non-target animals from predators requires evidence that a site has been selected, assessed and maintained according to enterprise and industry standards. The skills and knowledge required to maintain wildlife habitat refuge for protection of native species from predators must be transferable to a range of work environments and contexts. For example, this could include different wildlife habitats and locations and predators.

What specific knowledge is needed to achieve the performance criteria?

Knowledge and understanding are essential to apply this standard in the workplace, to transfer the skills to other contexts and to deal with unplanned events. The knowledge requirements for this unit are listed below:

Relevant legislation and regulations.

Common law principles relating to property, stock, duty of care and due diligence.

Risks to land users' posed by vertebrate pests including exotic diseases and zoonoses.

Vertebrate pest life cycles and behaviours.

Harbours used by vertebrate pests.

Wildlife habitats used by desirable animal species.

Wildlife habitat modification techniques.

What specific skills are needed to achieve the performance criteria?

To achieve the performance criteria, some complementary skills are required. These skills include the ability to:

Communicate with work colleagues.

Use and maintenance of tools and equipment.

Record and report task completion and, where necessary, observations of property status.

Prepare for the refuge maintenance job.

Maintain wildlife habitat refuges for protection of desirable animal species from predators.

Clean and store equipment and materials.

What processes should be applied to this competency standard?

There are a number of processes that are learnt throughout work and life, which are required in all jobs. They are fundamental processes and generally transferable to other work functions. Some of these are covered by the key competencies, although others may be added. The questions below highlight how these processes are applied in this competency standard. Following each question a number in brackets indicates the level to which the key competency needs to be demonstrated where 0 = not required, 1 = perform the process, 2 = perform and administer the process and 3 = perform, administer and design the process.

How can communication of ideas and information (1) be applied?

Clarify requirements and expectations for the job and liaise with work colleagues.

How can information be collected, analysed and organised (2)?

Inspect areas to be maintained and distinguish between features which harbour pests and features which provide protection for desirable animal species.

How are activities planned and organised (2)?

Organise own work activities.

How can team work (2) be applied?

Collaborate with work colleagues during work activities.

How can the use of mathematical ideas and techniques (2) be applied?

Perform mathematical operations - estimation of task duration.

How can problem-solving skills (1) be applied?

Consider problems that arise during the job and determine contingency activities.

How can the use of technology (2) be applied?

Apply modern techniques and utilise equipment and materials.

Are there other competency standards that could be assessed with this one?

This competency standard could be assessed on its own or in combination with other competencies relevant to the job function.

For information about assessing this competency standard for consistent performance and where and how it may be assessed, refer to the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.


Range Statement

The Range of Variables defines the different contexts, work environments and parameters governing the performance of this unit of competency. The variables chosen in training and assessment will need to reflect local industry and regional contexts.

What are desirable wildlife species?

Native animals that are not targeted as vertebrate pests.

What wildlife habitat maintenance work may be relevant to this standard?

Monitoring of vertebrate pest occurrence, trapping of pest animals, removal of pest habitats, planting of vegetation including revegetation of open areas, and installation of structures including exclusion fencing.

What are the relevant federal, state legislation and local regulations that may be included?

Environmental protection, threatened species conservation, vertebrate pests, humane treatment of animals, activities in nature reserves and heritage areas, poisons and veterinary substances, identification and reporting of suspected outbreaks of exotic disease, OHS regulations, and common law principles relating to property, stock, duty of care and due diligence.

What might be included as resources?

Human, financial, physical (traps, firearms, ammunition, poisons, fencing materials, veterinary products), land, air and water transport facilities and plant (excavators, front-end loaders), and plant materials.

For more information on contexts, environment and variables for training and assessment refer to the Sector Booklet.

The Range of Variables defines the different contexts, work environments and parameters governing the performance of this unit of competency. The variables chosen in training and assessment will need to reflect local industry and regional contexts.

What are desirable wildlife species?

Native animals that are not targeted as vertebrate pests.

What wildlife habitat maintenance work may be relevant to this standard?

Monitoring of vertebrate pest occurrence, trapping of pest animals, removal of pest habitats, planting of vegetation including revegetation of open areas, and installation of structures including exclusion fencing.

What are the relevant federal, state legislation and local regulations that may be included?

Environmental protection, threatened species conservation, vertebrate pests, humane treatment of animals, activities in nature reserves and heritage areas, poisons and veterinary substances, identification and reporting of suspected outbreaks of exotic disease, OHS regulations, and common law principles relating to property, stock, duty of care and due diligence.

What might be included as resources?

Human, financial, physical (traps, firearms, ammunition, poisons, fencing materials, veterinary products), land, air and water transport facilities and plant (excavators, front-end loaders), and plant materials.

For more information on contexts, environment and variables for training and assessment refer to the Sector Booklet.


Sectors

Not applicable.


Employability Skills

Not applicable.


Licensing Information

Not applicable.