Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit covers the process of developing conservation strategies for cultural resources and defines the standard required to: development of conservation strategies and management policies for cultural resources as part of the overall park management and planning process and defines the standard required to review the cultural features in the area and level of deterioration; assess the compatibility of current utilisation with cultural and heritage values; investigate feasible land uses that maintain the cultural integrity of the site; carry out a risk assessment for damage/deterioration to cultural sites; consult with stakeholders according to cultural protocols; develop strategies for management of cultural resources.

Application of the unit 

This unit applies to those who develop conservation strategies and management policies for cultural resources as part of the overall park management and planning process.

Note: for indigenous cultural places, the delivery and assessment against this standard must comply with community protocols and guidelines and be supported by elders and custodians of country.

Prerequisite units 

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Define components of cultural heritage significance

1.1. Geographic and operational boundaries for conservation policy are defined.

1.2. Results of studies of cultural significance for places and areas within the boundaries are reviewed and collated to develop park/reserve/region significance.

1.3. Limits of acceptable change in the forms of deterioration and damage to the places of cultural significance are developed to legislative and enterprise requirements.

2. Review past strategies, plans and activities

2.1. Previous strategies and plans are compared with collated assessment of significance to determine compatibility.

2.2. Current activities in the area are reviewed to assess their compatibility with the collated assessment of significance.

2.3. Areas of incompatibility are documented to enterprise procedures.

3. Review current and potential resource uses

3.1. Impact of current uses on the cultural resources, including setting and surrounds, is assessed against the set limits of acceptable change to determine success of conservation approach.

3.2. Feasible uses and/or client requirements are assessed.

3.3. Possible changes to uses are developed to ensure cultural values are maintained.

4. Identify threats to cultural places

4.1. Threats to cultural significance, both external and internal to the area under consideration, are identified.

4.2. A risk assessment is made of all threats to determine potential impact on strategies.

4.3. Policy changes required to address the threats are documented to enterprise requirements.

5. Develop strategies for management of cultural resource

5.1. Draft policy is developed to address the cultural significance that meets any shortfalls in previous strategies, allows for compatible resource uses, and addresses risks associated with any threats to the cultural values of the area.

5.2. Consultations are conducted with stakeholders on draft policy in accordance with legislative, enterprise and good practice requirements.

5.3. Consultations comply with cultural protocols and enterprise approaches to stakeholders.

5.4. Draft strategies are modified to reflect stakeholder views as required in legislation, enterprise strategies and procedures and good practice.

5.5. Strategies are submitted for approval to legislative and enterprise requirements.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

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

Required skills 

• define components of cultural heritage significance
• review past strategies, plans and activities
• review current and potential resource uses
• identify threats to cultural places
• develop strategies for management of cultural resources
• 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 

• the range of conservation strategies for cultural areas
• the range of scientific and other concepts that are to be integrated into the policies
• policies applying across all levels of government and within the specific region, including those under catchment plans
• international treaties, agreements and charters
• Australian Natural Heritage Charter and the Burra Charter and the interpretation of the charters
• enterprise policies and procedures
• design and implementation of consultation processes
• policy analysis and impact statements
• tendering and contracting processes.

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 

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:

• review the cultural features in the area and level of deterioration
• assess the compatibility of current utilisation with cultural and heritage values
• investigate feasible land uses that maintain the cultural integrity of the site
• carry out a risk assessment for damage/deterioration to cultural sites
• consult with stakeholders according to cultural protocols
• develop strategies for management of cultural resources.

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.

Places of cultural significance may include:

• areas of non-indigenous activity
• buildings and other structures
• natural areas of indigenous cultural significance
• historical events and monuments
• areas of indigenous activity such as burial, occupation and contact sites, engravings, grinding grooves, rock pictures, fish traps, middens and mounds
• buildings and other structures such as jetties and piers
• wrecks of vessels
• tidal movement
• fresh water springs above and below low tide/high tide.

Unit sector 

Indigenous land management

Co-requisite units 

Competency field