Application
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to research and critically analyse specialised information on flora, fauna and landscape to develop interpretive themes and messages. It highlights the need for ongoing research to update and expand knowledge.
This unit applies across many industry sectors and has particular application to guides who work in national parks, or who conduct tours with a strong focus on the natural environment. In this context, guides work independently to research and prepare interpretive content.
No occupational licensing, certification or specific legislative requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENTS | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Research specialised information on flora, fauna and landscape. | 1.1.Identify key sources of specialised information about flora, fauna and landscape. 1.2.Evaluate credibility and reliability of information sources. 1.3.Use formal and informal research techniques to access current, accurate and relevant information. 1.4.Determine potential subjects of customer interest and make focus of research activities. |
2. Prepare specialised information on flora, fauna and landscape. | 2.1.Analyse information and develop interpretive themes and messages to meet customer needs. 2.2.Organise information to support ways in which it will be used and presented. |
3. Update knowledge of specialised information on flora, fauna and landscape. | 3.1.Identify and use opportunities to maintain currency of knowledge about specialised topics. 3.2.Proactively seek opportunities to enhance and expand own knowledge base. 3.3.Incorporate updated and expanded knowledge into work activities. |
Evidence of Performance
Evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit in the context of the job role, and:
prepare three different presentations, with each presentation:
using at least four credible and reliable sources of information
demonstrating knowledge of flora, fauna and landscape as listed in the knowledge evidence
using appropriate ecological terminology and concepts
incorporating interpretive themes and messages
organising information in a logical and suitable manner for presentation.
Evidence of Knowledge
Demonstrated knowledge required to complete the tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit:
role of interpretation in creating a powerful customer experience
sources of information on flora, fauna and landscape in the relevant geographic context
landscapes of interest within a local region and their general characteristics
key ecological terminology and concepts:
biodiversity and abundance
biotic and physical factors
carbon cycle
community relations
energy flow
food web
life cycles
nutrient cycle
populations
succession
water cycle
zonation
interrelationships between parts of the ecosystem:
developmental processes related to the formation of local landscapes:
geological formations and history
soil composition and its relation to plant and animal life and water catchment areas
principles of Gondwana theory and the impact of Gondwana on plant and animal communities
major landscape types and their characteristics:
alpine
coastal
desert
outback
temperate
tropical
major species of flora and fauna within the local landscape:
characteristics
commonalities
interactions between species and the environment
nature of species and where it is found
nutrition and life cycles
roles of individual species
species harmful to humans
identification techniques for flora and fauna
environmental influences that affect landscape:
climate
earthquake
fire
flood
human impact on landscape:
industrial activity
land clearing
mining
management regimes and codes of practice for local landscape
Australian Indigenous perspective on local landscape
information sources frequently used by guides:
artworks
events
exhibitions
experiences and observations (of self or others)
films
geological societies, plant study groups or wildlife societies
images
internet
music
local experts
traditional owners
performances
presentations
professional associations
printed texts.
Assessment Conditions
Skills must be demonstrated in an operational guiding environment. This can be:
an industry workplace where specialised interpretive content is developed for guiding activities
a simulated activity involving the development of specialised interpretive content for guiding activities.
Assessment must ensure access to:
current sources of information as listed in the knowledge evidence
current interpretive resources
equipment used to source, record and store information:
computer and software
internet
data storage equipment.
Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations’ requirements for assessors; and:
have worked in industry for at least three years where they have applied the skills and knowledge of this unit of competency.
Foundation Skills
Foundation skills essential to performance in this unit, but not explicit in the performance criteria are listed here, along with a brief context statement. | |
SKILLS | DESCRIPTION |
Reading skills to: | interpret potentially complex and detailed information on flora, fauna and landscape. |
Writing skills to: | make notes from research on flora, fauna and landscape. |
Initiative and enterprise skills to: | establish an interpretive framework evaluate and adapt information for practical workplace purposes create key messages, themes and storylines for customers. |
Technology skills to: | use the internet as a research tool. |
Sectors
Tourism
Competency Field
Guiding