Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit covers the process of recognising fauna that are commonly encountered when undertaking agricultural, horticultural and land management activities and defines the standard required to: move through a nominated natural area in a manner suitable for fauna observation; select sites and situations where fauna are likely to be present; observe and record the details of fauna and survey a natural area causing minimal disruption to the environment and fauna that inhabit it.

Application of the unit 

This unit applies to supervised workers in land management projects who operate under routine supervision with intermittent checking by supervisors.

Prerequisite units 

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Prepare for fauna recognition

1.1. Range of fauna requiring recognition is identified according to supervisors/customers needs.

1.2. Resources and equipment for use in recognition activity are located and identified.

1.3. Available processes for fauna recognition are identified, selected and prepared for use.

2. Recognise specified fauna

2.1. Specified fauna are recognised and named according to their identifiable characteristics.

2.2. Brief descriptions of fauna habits, characteristics and significant features are recorded.

2.3. The advice of supervisors is sought when necessary and where appropriate in the identification activity.

3. Complete identification of fauna

3.1. Information about identified fauna is documented according to enterprise requirements and added to the reference collection.

3.2. Field notes are updated as new fauna are recognised.

3.3. Rare, uncommon or notifiable pest fauna are reported to supervisor according to enterprise guidelines.

3.4. Handling, transporting and housing of fauna comply with fauna ethics guidelines, fauna welfare regulations and statutory requirements.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

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

Required skills 

• recognise fauna specific to the enterprise and describe their features and main occurrence within the enterprise
• use simple fauna identification keys
• communicate with customers and clients, interpret questions effectively, and provide limited advice and information about the fauna specific to the enterprise
• use literacy skills to follow sequenced written instructions and record information accurately and legibly
• use numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record routine workplace measures
• use interpersonal skills to relate to people from a range of social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities.

Required knowledge 

• fauna identification techniques and nomenclature
• fauna behaviour
• fauna habitats
• fauna tracks and traces
• techniques for observing, collecting/catching and reporting fauna
• enterprise procedures for obtaining and supplying advice and information about fauna
• enterprise expectations about the range and number of fauna to be recognised
• fauna welfare, Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) and environmental management requirements.

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 

Competence in recognising fauna requires evidence that a person can identify and utilise available resources and equipment to identify fauna accurately. The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy holistically all of the requirements of the performance criteria and required skills and knowledge and include achievement of the following:

• move through a nominated natural area in a manner suitable for fauna observation
• select sites and situations where fauna are likely to be present
• observe and record the details of fauna
• survey a natural area causing minimal disruption to the environment and fauna that inhabit it.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

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

RANGE STATEMENT 

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

Fauna will comprise those encountered within the industry workplace and may include:

• native or introduced species and can include:

• mammals
• birds
• reptiles
• amphibians
• fish
• arthropods
• micro fauna.

Unit sector 

Fauna

Co-requisite units 

Competency field