Unit of competency

Modification History

Application

This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to plan and implement a farm or enterprise biosecurity plan which includes a set of measures designed to protect a property from the entry and spread of pests and diseases.

This unit applies to individuals who take responsibility for their own work and for the quality of the work of others within known parameters. They provide and communicate solutions to a range of predictable and sometimes unpredictable problems.

Licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements may apply to this unit in some states and territories in relation to use of farm chemicals in quarantine situations, national vendor declarations, and movement of livestock and plant material. Therefore, it will be necessary to check with the relevant state or territory regulators for current licensing, legislative or regulatory requirements before undertaking this unit.

Pre-requisite Unit

Nil.

Unit Sector

Biosecurity (BIO)

Elements and Performance Criteria

Foundation Skills

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

Range of Conditions

Unit Mapping Information

This unit is not equivalent to AHCBIO403A Plan and implement a biosecurity program.

Links

Companion Volume implementation guides are found in VETNet - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=c6399549-9c62-4a5e-bf1a-524b2322cf72

Assessment requirements

Modification History

Performance Evidence

The candidate must be assessed on their ability to integrate and apply the performance requirements of this unit in a workplace setting. Performance must be demonstrated consistently over time and in a suitable range of contexts.

The candidate must provide evidence that they can:

• determine biosecurity threats to farm or enterprise and control measures using standards and protocols
• identify sources of current biosecurity best practice
• identify current access points to property
• establish control measures and procedures for:

• controlling farm inputs including:

• new plants or animals
• the quality of water sources
• bee hives coming onto the property
• bedding material
• records of source, and use of organic and inorganic fertiliser

• measures to support biosecurity for farm outputs including:

• harvest bins
• packaging operations
• transport and movement of plants, produce, livestock and livestock products, and plant waste
• intensive rearing of young animals
• animal breeding facilities
• animal milking facilities
• maintaining records

• movement of people including:

• controlled access points and production areas
• visitors, their vehicles, and risk profile
• general hygiene

• vehicles and equipment including:

• equipment hygiene
• dedicated equipment use
• storage areas
• vehicle entry points
• vehicle movement and parking
• vehicle hygiene and washes
• run off from wash areas
• roads and tracks

• production practices including:

• water management
• plant byproducts and waste
• animal manure and waste effluent
• feed storage, feed spills and disposal of unwanted feed
• feed and water troughs
• product storage
• resistance to chemicals
• animal disease control
• monitoring and surveillance
• monitoring frequency
• fencing

• control of feral animals, plant pests and weeds including:

• wild and feral animals
• boundary fences
• property cleanliness
• weeds
• volunteer plants
• straying animals
• agisted or other visiting animals
• property and land destruction

• training staff and keeping records including:

• staff training
• traceability (both trace back and trace forward)
• animal health assurance
• vendor declarations and animal health and product statements
• monitoring and surveillance data

• seek vendor declarations or animal health statements for:

• quality and disease free assurance status of animals, animal feed and compliance with national, state and territory standards and regulations and industry health assurance programs
• disease and weed free status of organic fertilisers and compliance with Industry Purchasing Code of Practice or equivalent quality controls
• purchased animal bedding material being fit for purpose

• provide and retain supporting documentation for:

• moving plants, or animals on and off the property
• appropriate chemical usage and storage in accordance with industry best practice

• develop, document, and induct and train staff in control measures for:

• controlling farm inputs
• biosecurity for farm outputs
• movement of people
• vehicles and equipment
• production practices
• control of feral animals, plant pests and weeds
• training staff
• keeping records

• develop a plan for implementing biosecurity
• monitor staff performance
• monitor effectiveness of control measures, and identify improvements
• revise and amend control measures as needed
• review staff training and induction records.

Knowledge Evidence

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

• national industry standards and guidelines relevant to farm or enterprise biosecurity
• Nationally Agreed Standard Operating Procedures (NASOP) relevant to farm or enterprise biosecurity plan
• diseases, pests and weeds that pose a threat and potential causes of spread
• principles of risk management applied to biosecurity
• biosecurity practices for:
• farm inputs
• farm outputs
• people, vehicles and equipment
• production
• feral animals, pests and weeds
• training staff, biosecurity planning, and maintaining records
• planning processes for costing, allocating resources and establishing timelines
• processes for improving staff performance.

Assessment Conditions

Assessors must satisfy current standards for RTOs.

Links

Companion Volume implementation guides are found in VETNet - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=c6399549-9c62-4a5e-bf1a-524b2322cf72