Google Links

Follow the links below to find material targeted to the unit's elements, performance criteria, required skills and knowledge

Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Prepare for shearing
   • Check shearing materials, tools and equipment for serviceability and prepare in readiness for shearing operations
   • Identify, draft and move alpacas to be shorn
   • Position alpacas for shearing
   • Identify potential and existing hazards in the workplace and report to the supervisor
   • Select, use and maintain suitable personal protective equipment
2. Perform shearing operations
   • Shear alpacas using shearing methods that minimise damage to the alpaca and fleece while meeting volume of shearing expectations
   • Use safe and humane handling techniques at all times
   • Monitor own shearing performance and adjust posture, shearing rate or speed and position of alpaca as required
   • Comply with work health and safety and animal welfare requirements
3. Respond to complications
   • Identify contamination during shearing operations and report to owner
   • Treat cuts to alpacas as required
   • Identify problem alpacas and report
4. Complete shearing operation
   • Place fibre to avoid contamination and for collection by handlers
   • Set handpiece to non-operational position and store
   • Release alpacas safely from the board into holding yards
   • Report shearing grievances and difficulties
   • Monitor and control environmental implications associated with shearing activities
   • Follow enterprise biosecurity policies where required

Range Statement

---

Performance Evidence

The candidate must be assessed on their ability to integrate and apply the performance requirements of this unit in a workplace setting. Performance must be demonstrated consistently over time and in a suitable range of contexts.

The candidate must be observed shearing alpacas.

The candidate must provide evidence that they can:

identify hazards, apply safe work practices and maintaining safe and hazard-free equipment

select, set up and operate equipment appropriate to shearing tasks

position alpaca and restrain for shearer safety

handle and shear alpacas with due care using industry-accepted methods and procedures

appropriately treat injured alpacas

avoid contamination, second cuts and damage to fleece, alpacas and people

demonstrate safe and environmentally responsible workplace practices

apply enterprise work health and safety policies in the context of own work

apply enterprise animal welfare and biosecurity policies in the context of own work

---

Knowledge Evidence

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

basic alpaca anatomy and behavioural characteristics as they impact on shearing of alpaca

common goat diseases and treatments as they impact on work health and safety and humane treatment of goats

components and functions of shearing equipment and machinery

industry-accepted handling and shearing techniques and positions

enterprise biosecurity policies applying to the job role

work health and safety legislation and codes of practice applying to the job role

animal welfare legislation and codes of practice applying to the job role

---