Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit covers management and implementation of an emergency disease or plant pest control program and defines the standard required to: direct and monitor activities of one or more operational units; source resources; work effectively under stressful conditions; apply approved standards and protocols for emergency disease or plant pest control within a specific area; provide accurate and detailed reports to appropriate authorities.

Application of the unit 

This unit applies to personnel who have been appointed or engaged to undertake a role within an emergency disease or plant pest incursion response.

Prerequisite units 

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Initiate emergency disease or plant pest control program

1.1. Control procedures needed to manage an infection or infestation are identified, sourced or developed according to standards, protocols and situational variables.

1.2. Operational plans are developed for own area of responsibility.

1.3. Contributions are made as required to other plans and strategies.

1.4. Resources required to control or eradicate emergency disease or plant pest are sourced.

2. Direct implementation of emergency disease or plant pest control procedures

2.1. Implementation of emergency disease or plant pest control plan and procedures is managed according to operational plan, other specified guidelines and situational variables.

2.2. Reports on progress of emergency disease or plant pest control are disseminated as required.

2.3. Relevant management systems are implemented, and confirmed as functioning and available as required.

3. Monitor emergency disease or plant pest control procedures

3.1. Emergency disease or plant pest status of properties is monitored in line with relevant guidelines and operational or control plan.

3.2. Appropriateness and effectiveness of emergency disease or plant pest control procedures being used are monitored.

3.3. Resource expenditure and availability are monitored to ensure adequacy for job.

3.4. Effectiveness of emergency disease or plant pest control information management system is monitored.

4. Review emergency disease or plant pest control program

4.1. Emergency disease or plant pest control operational plans and procedures are reviewed and revised.

4.2. Emergency disease or plant pest control information management procedures are revised as appropriate to ensure a complete set of records.

4.3. Where required, resources are reallocated or acquired.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit.

Required skills 

• accessing standards and protocols such as Australian Veterinary Emergency Plan (AUSVETPLAN) or Australian Emergency Plant Pest Response Plan (PLANTPLAN) to interpret and determine requirements for implementing specific emergency animal disease or plant pest control programs
• collating, interpreting and analysing relevant information
• operating effectively under stress in tasks involving high-level problem solving and decision making
• managing people under stressful conditions
• use literacy skills to fulfil job roles as required by the organisation. The level of skill may range from reading and understanding documentation to completion of written reports
• use oral communication skills/language competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation including questioning, active listening, asking for clarification, negotiating solutions and responding to a range of views
• use numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record complex workplace measures
• use interpersonal skills to work with others and relate to people from a range of cultural, social and religious backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities.

Required knowledge 

• application of emergency management principles when implementing an emergency disease or plant pest control program
• common reactions and behaviours of people working under stressful conditions
• occupational health and safety requirements, particularly for use of chemicals, specific control procedures and managing personnel under emergency conditions
• relevant public sector policies, practices and constraints in relation to emergency disease or plant pest management
• relevant standards and protocols, such as AUSVETPLAN or PLANTPLAN
• requirements of relevant commonwealth, state and territory legislation.

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment 

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit 

Selection and use of resources for some worksites may differ due to the regional or enterprise circumstances. Competency requires the application of work practices under work conditions.

• direct and monitor activities of one or more operational units
• source resources
• work effectively under stressful conditions
• apply approved standards and protocols for emergency disease or plant pest control within a specific area
• provide accurate and detailed reports to appropriate authorities.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

For valid assessment, one must have opportunities to participate in exercises, case studies and other real and simulated practical and knowledge assessments that demonstrate the skills and knowledge required to manage the implementation of an emergency disease or plant pest control program.

The candidate must also have access to a functioning emergency disease or plant pest control centre, or a control centre established for an emergency disease or plant pest response simulation exercise.

Method of assessment 

For valid assessment, one must have opportunities to participate in exercises, case studies and other real and simulated practical and knowledge assessments that demonstrate the skills and knowledge required to manage the implementation of an emergency disease or plant pest control program.

The candidate must also have access to a functioning emergency disease or plant pest control centre, or a control centre established for an emergency disease or plant pest response simulation exercise.

Guidance information for assessment 

To ensure consistency in one's performance, competency should be demonstrated on more than one occasion over a period of time in order to cover a variety of circumstances, cases and responsibilities, and where possible, over a number of assessment activities.

The skills and knowledge required to manage the implementation of an emergency disease or plant pest control program must be transferable to a range of work environments and contexts, including the ability to deal with unplanned events. For example, this could include work within control centres established to deal with a range of different emergency disease or plant pest incursion responses.

RANGE STATEMENT 

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole.

Relevant standards and protocols may include:

• approved standard operating procedures
• emergency disease or plant pest specific guidelines such as AUSVETPLAN or PLANTPLAN
• jurisdiction's approved response plan
• state and territory legislation defining legal powers in an emergency disease or plant pest situation
• other relevant guidelines for handling an emergency disease or plant pest.

Emergency diseases or plant pests include:

• disease that may affect animals, fish and other marine animals including:

• disease that is exotic to Australia
• serious infectious disease of unknown or uncertain cause
• severe outbreak of a known endemic disease that is considered to be of national significance with serious social or trade implications
• variant of an endemic disease

• species, biotype or strain of invertebrate pest or pathogen injurious to plants or plant health.

Emergency disease or plant pest control procedures may include:

• cleaning and decontaminating
• collecting samples
• destruction
• disposal
• epidemiological assessments
• movement control
• permits
• quarantine
• surveillance
• tracing
• vaccination
• vector control measures
• wild animal control measures.

Formats that may be used for reports include:

• electronic
• paper-based.

Management systems may include:

• electronic
• paper-based.

Unit sector 

Biosecurity

Co-requisite units 

Competency field