Unit of competency

Modification History

Application

This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to develop an awareness of and apply the protocols involved in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander culture as they relate to individuals and communities, specifically in relation to materials with restrictions on access for cultural reasons.

The unit covers Community cultural processes, including the need to identify the appropriate persons when approaching a Community and the cultural and social rules associated with that task. On Country refers to the land, waterways and the sea.

This unit applies to following Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural protocols when coming into contact and working with cultural materials defined as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander ceremonial and sacred objects. The unit applies to working with this material on Country and off Country where rules apply for limited access to the material for cultural and ceremonial reasons. This unit is also applicable to the work of repatriation workers, archaeologists and anthropologists.

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

Pre-requisite Unit

AHCOCM303 Follow Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural protocols

Unit Sector

Cultural Sites Work (CSW)

Elements and Performance Criteria

Foundation Skills

This section describes those language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills that are essential for performance in this unit of competency but are not explicit in the performance criteria.

Unit Mapping Information

Links

Companion Volumes, including Implementation Guides, are available at VETNet: - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=c6399549-9c62-4a5e-bf1a-524b2322cf72

Assessment requirements

Modification History

Performance Evidence

An individual demonstrating competency must satisfy all of the elements and performance criteria in this unit.

There must be evidence that the individual has worked with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander ceremonial and sacred materials at least once and has:

• identified Cultural Authority for Ceremony in a particular area or site
• consulted effectively with Traditional Owners and relevant Community representatives about the handling, access to and display of cultural material
• observed cultural protocols and followed collection management practices and industry cultural requirements when moving, storing, displaying and maintaining cultural material
• selected and used handling, storage and transport systems in accordance with cultural protocols and workplace health and safety requirements
• created, maintained and stored records of the process, guidelines and timeframes for handover of ownership, control and access to ceremonial and sacred materials
• used standard industry terminology and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander names for sites and materials, as appropriate
• applied workplace health and safety practices in the context of own work.

Knowledge Evidence

An individual must be able to demonstrate the knowledge required to perform the tasks outlined in the elements and performance criteria of this unit. This includes knowledge of:

• key principles of Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property requirements, especially in relation to agreements with handover of sacred materials
• Community Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander history, cultural values and interpersonal and Community protocols
• authentic and appropriate sources for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural information, material and expression
• processes, guidelines and agreed timelines in relation to assignment and control of sacred materials
• ownership relationships for ceremonial and sacred materials
• function and operation of handling and moving equipment
• content of contracts and confidentiality agreements applicable to working with ceremonial and sacred materials
• organisational procedures and guidelines for working with ceremonial and sacred materials
• workplace health and safety processes in the organisation
• Burra Charter guidelines appropriate to working with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander ceremonial and sacred materials
• key concepts of Cultural and Heritage Legislation or National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) legislation relevant to working with ceremonial and sacred materials.

Assessment Conditions

Assessment of the skills in this unit of competency must take place under the following conditions:

• physical conditions:

• skills must be demonstrated on Country and/or within an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Community or an environment that accurately represents workplace conditions

• resources, equipment and materials:

• handling and moving equipment relevant to transportation of ceremonial and sacred materials

• specifications:

• specific legislation/codes of practice relevant to working with working with ceremonial and sacred materials

• relationships:

• local Community Elders and/or Custodians.

Assessors of this unit must satisfy the requirements for assessors in applicable vocational education and training legislation, frameworks and/or standards. In addition, the following specific assessor requirements apply to this unit:

• Assessment must be undertaken by a workplace assessor who has expertise in this unit of competency and who is:

• an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Elder and/or Custodian

or:

• accompanied by, and/or in communication with, an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person who is a recognised member of the community with experience and knowledge of local cultural protocols.

Links

Companion Volumes, including Implementation Guides, are available at VETNet: - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=c6399549-9c62-4a5e-bf1a-524b2322cf72