Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit covers the process of exploring and understanding the culture and goals of a community or group and operating appropriately within those parameters and defines the standard required to: investigate the diversity of groups within a community and their culture; identify the roles of informal leaders and influencers in community groups, as well as elders in indigenous communities; research the background and goals of community groups, and their attitudes and perspectives on natural resource management issues; plan for consultation within the community by working with the cultures and goals of the groups that comprise it.

Application of the unit 

This unit applies to persons who explore and understand the culture and goals of a community or group and operate appropriately within those parameters.

Prerequisite units 

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Identify community values

1.1. Range of groups in community is identified through interaction with community members and groups to determine potential diversity of values.

1.2. Values held by various sections of the community relevant to program activities are identified for planning of promotional and group activities.

1.3. Cultural authority is identified in indigenous communities and groups to implement appropriate protocols.

1.4. Community leaders in terms of community involvement and opinion making are identified from community interaction.

2. Research community history and plans

2.1. History of community relevant to program is identified for use in promotional, educational and group activities.

2.2. Relevant documents, symbols, places of value and oral traditions are identified to place program and group in local context.

2.3. Community plans are identified for use in promotional, educational and group activities.

3. Establish role of group in community

3.1. Potential roles of program and group to community are identified for use in group activities.

3.2. Interaction with community is managed to build rapport with individuals and groups.

3.3. Consultation processes are established and maintained with community members and groups.

3.4. Image of group and program in community is maintained by acknowledging community concerns and promoting positive image of group and program.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

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

Required skills 

• identify community values
• research community history and plans
• conform to social protocols for a range of cultures in the community
• develop an approach that is inclusive of indigenous gender issues
• source key information from community sources including approaching leaders
• establish role of groups within the community
• 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 

• relevant government and community action programs
• processes for development and delivery of programs
• typical community and local government structures and organisation
• group processes
• broad Australian and regional history
• current social and environment affairs for local community and wider region
• rural industry operation and processes (for rural programs)
• process for identifying cultural protocols
• understanding of what may be noteworthy to community and newsworthy to media.

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:

• investigate the diversity of groups within a community and their culture
• identify the roles of informal leaders and influencers in community groups, as well as elders in indigenous communities
• research the background and goals of community groups, and their attitudes and perspectives on natural resource management issues
• plan for consultation within the community by working with the cultures and goals of the groups that comprise 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.

Operating within community cultures and goals includes:

• exploring and understanding the culture and goals of a community or group and operating appropriately within those parameters.

Unit sector 

Indigenous land management

Co-requisite units 

Competency field