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Elements and Performance Criteria

Required Skills

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level required for this unit

Required Skills

appropriate personal protective equipment worn correctly

deal appropriately with clues and location of objects or causalities

implement lost searcher procedures

maintain search information

observation skills

spacing and boundary marking

survival techniques

working in a team

Required Knowledge

local documentation requirements

local hazards and environmental threats

local operating procedures

local operational briefing and debriefing procedures

lost searcher procedures

object recovery procedures

recall procedures

relevant occupational health and safety principles and practices

relevant search management arrangements in their State or Territory

requirements to preserve a crime scene and the preservation of evidence

signs and symptoms of operational stress

Evidence Required

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

It is essential for this unit that competence is demonstrated in compliance with search orders

Safety of self and others is observed at all times during the search

Consistency in performance

Evidence should be gathered over a period of time in a range of actual or simulated workplace environments

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Context of assessment

Evidence of competence is to be gathered in an actual or simulated search environment

Specific resources for assessment

An appropriate environment to conduct the search operation is essential Support may include other organisations

Guidance information for assessment

Information that will assist or guide assessment will be written during Phase II of the Review of the PUA Public Safety Training Package

Information that will assist or guide assessment will be written during Phase II of the Review of the PUA00 Public Safety Training Package.

Range Statement


The Range Statement relates to the Unit of Competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording in the Performance Criteria is detailed below.
Search operations may include	Operations are normally conducted in support of the police Volunteers may be involved in searches for missing persons objects or evidence Land searches are most commonly on foot, although searches may be undertaken from two or four wheel vehicles or on horseback, skis and snowshoes
Search terrain may include	forests grassland steep rock areas sand snow urban areas
Land search may be conducted under conditions which include	hazardous environmental conditions including: adverse weather after dark operations difficult terrain time pressure dangerous flora and fauna urban or rural environments operating as part of a multi-agency response
Incident and task information may include	number, nature and description of persons or objects that are the focus of the search weather forecast operating area access and egress routes emergency rendezvous points terrain and environmental information potential hazards Command, control and co-ordination arrangements time constraints
Communication may include	feedback of information modes of communication as per PUACOM001C calming and reassuring a casualty
Equipment used may include	Personal protective equipment, especially wet weather gear cold weather clothing sun protection water food overnight sleeping equipment personal first-air equipment personal hygiene items notebook and pencil boundary marking tapes radio communications equipment map compass or other positioning equipment
Specific team roles	Determined based on the selected search technique
Search formations	Determined based on the selected search techniques
Observation skills	Day and night vision skills
Procedures to locate person or object	are determined locally depending on the nature of the incident and the requirements of the controlling authority. They are made clear in pre-search briefings
Survival techniques may include	Skills relevant to the local areas (such as cold, heat, terrain and forest) Obtain water constructing fires locating shelter constructing temporary shelters conserving water food and energy
Operational documentation may include	notes or sketches of findings or other relevant information required for potential coronial or other legal proceedings
Symptoms of operational stress	may include fatigue intolerance indecision lack of focus nausea headaches illness