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Unit of competency details

AHCOCM304 - Implement cultural burning practices on Country (Release 1)

Summary

Usage recommendation:
Current
Mapping:
MappingNotesDate
Supersedes AHCILM307 - Implement Aboriginal cultural burning practicesTitle updated. Application updated. Elements and Performance Criteria revised for clarity. Foundation Skills added. Performance Evidence, Knowledge Evidence and Assessment Conditions updated 23/Jan/2023

Release Status:
Current
Releases:
ReleaseRelease date
1 1 (this release) 24/Jan/2023

Companion volumes:
Unit of competency Assessment requirements

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Classifications

SchemeCodeClassification value
ASCED Module/Unit of Competency Field of Education Identifier 090311 Indigenous Studies  

Classification history

SchemeCodeClassification valueStart dateEnd date
ASCED Module/Unit of Competency Field of Education Identifier 090311 Indigenous Studies  30/Mar/2023 
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Unit of competency

Modification History

Release

Comments

Release 1

This version released with Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation and Land Management Training Package Version 9.0.

Application

This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to use cultural burning practices on Country to manage natural and cultural resources.

This unit applies to cultural sites workers and land managers who carry out burns on Country as part of their job role.

The unit involves and requires a high level of awareness and experience working with local cultures and Communities, and it is expected that this work will be undertaken as part of a team working under supervision in most cases.

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

On Country Management (OCM)

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. Plan burn activities

1.1 Develop working relationships with local Community to support the planning and implementation of traditional cultural burning

1.2 Identify and consult appropriate Cultural Authorities and obtain approval to be on Country

1.3 Obtain and record cultural knowledge through the appropriate Knowledge Holder or local Community members

1.4 Identify and record ceremonial requirements for fire practices necessary for inclusion in burn plan

1.5 Develop a burning plan and schedule for the target area

1.6 Advise local fire services and agencies of proposed burn plan

2. Protect life and property and conserve fauna and flora species in burn area

2.1 Implement burn according to cultural burning techniques consistent with the burn plan and schedule

2.2 Exclude visitors from target areas, entertainment areas and areas possibly affected by smoke or risk from escaping fire

2.3 Advise neighbours and agencies of the intention to burn

2.4 Protect cultural sites, assets and entertainment areas according to cultural protocols and fire industry practices

2.5 Apply fire breaks to the area to maintain control of the fire and burn intensity

2.6 Remove animals in danger in the burn area before starting the controlled cultural burn, where possible

2.7 Assess flora for impact on fire-sensitive communities and species

3. Burn defined areas

3.1 Assess weather forecasts and current weather conditions to determine appropriate conditions and timing for burn

3.2 Use appropriate personal protective equipment and follow work health and safety policies and procedures during the burn

3.3 Use appropriate ignition techniques, patterns, fire control and safety procedures to conduct the burn

3.4 Identify targeted areas defined by burn specification or limiting factors and confirm with supervisor

3.5 Apply fire to targeted areas according to cultural burning techniques, traditional frequency and organisation requirements

3.6 Maintain radio communication with other workers in the area throughout the burn

3.7 Check area to ensure all sections have received required burn in accordance with the burning plan

3.8 Complete and record assessment of burn

3.9 Monitor burning area to avoid wildfire outbreaks

3.10 Assess seasonal conditions and life cycles of flora and fauna for the end of fire practices

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.

Skill

Description

Reading
  • Interpret and extract information from a range of sources

Oral communication
  • Use culturally appropriate verbal and non-verbal communication

Unit Mapping Information

Code and title current version

Code and title previous version

Comments

Equivalence status

AHCOCM304 Implement cultural burning practices on Country

AHCILM307 Implement Aboriginal cultural burning practices

Title updated

Application updated

Elements and Performance Criteria revised for clarity

Foundation Skills added

Performance Evidence, Knowledge Evidence and Assessment Conditions updated

Not equivalent

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

Release

Comments

Release 1

This version released with Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation and Land Management Training Package Version 9.0.

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 implemented cultural burning practices on Country at least once and has:

  • identified appropriate Cultural Authorities for a Community, place or site
  • consulted and collaborated with local Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and non-Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander stakeholders
  • followed work health and safety policies and procedures throughout the burn process to protect self and others
  • selected and used personal protective equipment (PPE)
  • applied traditional cultural burning techniques
  • followed burn plans and controlled burning operations according to organisation's procedures to:
  • protect cultural sites, assets and entertainment areas according to local Community protocols and requirements
  • protect life and property and conserve fauna and flora species during burning
  • achieve the correct intensity of burn
  • maintain biosecurity
  • meet environmental sustainability requirements
  • adhered to organisational safety and environmental protection policies and procedures
  • selected existing, and constructed additional fire breaks according to organisational requirements to maintain control of fire
  • ignited fires according to burn plan and organisational procedures
  • used radio communication according to organisational procedures
  • applied appropriate animal welfare practices when handling and moving animals in preparation for the burn.

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:

  • Cultural Authorities within the local Community
  • traditional cultural knowledge of:
  • seasonal conditions
  • historical information on burns
  • local cultural ceremonial requirements
  • traditional rationale and techniques for cultural burning
  • the life cycles of flora and fauna of forests/plantations and effect of burning operations
  • required intensity and appropriate frequency of fire
  • sequence, location and pattern of recent and historical fire burns
  • ceremonial requirements for fire practices
  • seasonal cycle of weather patterns
  • work health and safety policies and procedures, including use of PPE
  • protocols and procedures for use of radio equipment
  • emergency procedures
  • ignition techniques and patterns
  • fire control techniques
  • emergency fire services
  • organisational policies and procedures for conservation of places of cultural significance
  • key concepts of Cultural and Heritage legislation or National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) legislation relevant to own prescribed burns
  • sustainable environmental practices
  • safety procedures for conducting fire operations
  • organisational work health and safety policies and procedures for carrying out controlled burning
  • basic requirements for ensuring the welfare of animals described in the relevant codes of practice.

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 Community or an environment that accurately represents workplace conditions
  • resources, equipment and materials:
  • PPE
  • radio communications equipment
  • ignition devices
  • firefighting equipment
  • specifications:
  • legislation/codes of practice relevant to cultural burning practices
  • organisation's policies and procedures relevant to cultural burning practices
  • 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 Elder and/or Custodian

or:

  • accompanied by, and/or in communication with, an Aboriginal 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

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