Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit covers developing a pest management action plan within a local area and defines the standard required to: determine the lifecycle, distribution and loss of production caused by the pest; document the economic losses and environmental risks and impacts of the pest; develop control measures based on a combination of strategies to control the pest at its most vulnerable stage with minimal environmental impact; establish the costs and benefits of implementing the selected control strategies; select management options to eradicate or manage the pest across a local region; negotiate an action plan to implement the management options across an area or region.

Application of the unit 

This unit applies to regional pest management officers and is likely to be undertaken independently, with reference to specialist advice.

Prerequisite units 

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Determine land management/production objectives

1.1. Land users and other stakeholders are consulted regarding local objectives.

1.2. Objectives address major land uses and production activities in the local area affected by the impacts of the target pests.

1.3. Objectives relate to the problem definition and the reduction in the pest impacts and associated losses.

1.4. Objectives comply with national, state and regional legislation and regulations.

1.5. Objectives support strategies for land and pest management.

2. Estimate costs and advantages for management units

2.1. The diversity of land management and production values that the target pests affect within the local area is defined.

2.2. The likely costs of preferred options for control of pest populations and/or changes to land management or production activities associated with each value are estimated.

2.3. The likely costs are compared with the impacts and losses caused by the target pests.

2.4. The management units most affected, both actually and potentially, by the target pests are defined and prioritised.

3. Define the performance level for each land management/production objective

3.1. Performance levels are defined in accordance with sustainable land use principles to address target pests population levels, economic impacts and environmental impacts.

3.2. Performance levels are realistic and measurable.

4. Select management options for the target pests

4.1. Options for controlling pest populations and/or changing land management or production practices are assessed in terms of economic factors, technical difficulty, practical feasibility, social and/or environmental acceptability.

4.2. A range of management options are assessed in terms of current and future financial support, when control activities are to be implemented, level of target pests population reduction required, and the most suitable control methods and techniques.

4.3. A management option is selected in accordance with sustainable land use principles, economic feasibility, environmental acceptability, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles, and statutory requirements for pest control.

5. Negotiate possible actions with relevant stakeholder

5.1. The action is based on the definition of the problem using data from measurement of abundance and impacts.

5.2. The action clearly documents the pest problem, the objectives, the stakeholders, the prioritised management units, the performance criteria, and the most suitable management options.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

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

Required skills 

• identify hazards and implement safe work practices
• determine land use objectives
• estimate costs and advantages for areas affected by the target pest/s
• define performance levels for pest management for each land use
• select management control options for the target pest/s
• use literacy skills to read, interpret and follow organisational policies and procedures, develop sequenced written instructions, record accurately and legibly information collected and select and apply procedures to a range of tasks
• 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 routine and more complex workplace measures and data
• 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 local, regional, state and national strategies for pest management including those for individual species
• motivational effects of stakeholder involvement
• community facilitation processes
• local land management process
• relevant legislative and regulatory requirements including statutory requirements for pest control
• environmental protection legislation
• principles of IPM
• pest control methods and techniques
• defining local land management and production values
• determining cost benefit analysis of management options
• sustainable land use principles
• Occupational Health and Safety (OHS), environmental and pesticides legislation, codes of practice and enterprise procedures.

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:

• determine the lifecycle, distribution and loss of production caused by the pest
• document the economic losses and environmental risks and impacts of the pest
• develop control measures based on a combination of strategies to control the pest at its most vulnerable stage with minimal environmental impact
• establish the costs and benefits of implementing the selected control strategies
• select management options to eradicate or manage the pest across a local region
• negotiate an action plan to implement the management options across an area or region.

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.

Action plans may include:

• those relating to a range of weeds and vertebrate and invertebrate pests.

Unit sector 

Pest management

Co-requisite units 

Competency field