Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to prepare arborist reports with specific arboricultural content at consultant level.
This unit applies to individuals who take personal responsibility and exercise autonomy in undertaking complex work, to analyse and synthesise information and design and communicate solutions to complex problems. They provide professional services in arboricultural report writing involving tree assessment and risk, tree management, arboricultural impact, tree pathology and structural tree problems.
Preparing arboricultural reports involves the self-directed application of knowledge with substantial depth in some areas such as tree identification, tree assessment techniques and reporting methods.
No occupational licensing, legislative or certification requirements are known to apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Element | Performance criteria |
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Determine client brief and report limits | 1.1 Determine the client brief and manage client expectations 1.2 Determine client need for evidentiary data records 1.3 Determine statutory requirements for report 1.4 Establish specific focus points within report topic 1.5 Establish report limits and assumptions 1.6 Determine arboricultural content required by evaluation of all relevant requirements and limitations 1.7 Determine the textual and visual content of report |
2. Determine and collate evidentiary data | 2.1 Research information about topic and specific focus points 2.2 Assess primary and secondary sources of research material 2.3 Evaluate information validity and reliability 2.4 Inspect and record details and observations of site, trees, location and matters relevant to focus points and topic 2.5 Record relevant visual evidence using photographic equipment 2.6 Obtain and record information from test results 2.7 Collate observations, test results, research material and inspection data into a body of evidentiary data 2.8 Backup and store data for later retrieval |
3. Format the report document template | 3.1 Determine presentation style of report to meet client and statutory outcomes 3.2 Determine requirements for specific document content and layout using accepted arboriculture industry conventions 3.3 Obtain necessary permissions for use of tables, diagrams or other copyright information 3.4 Utilise appropriate custom document templates, logo, tables, charts, and art required to produce word-processor documents 3.5 Insert required document elements such as title, page numbers, table of contents, footers and headers and watermark 3.6 Incorporate collated data, information and evidentiary data into formatted body of the report 3.7 Operate computer and software application to edit document for language use, text content, spelling, grammar and punctuation appropriate for consulting arborists |
4. Formulate a conclusive determination and recommendations | 4.1 Assess body of evidentiary data 4.2 Determine value of supporting and contradictory evidence 4.3 Use considered viewpoints to make an informed decision 4.4 Formulate a conclusive determination 4.5 Inform client whether or not determination can meet the client brief 4.6 Develop a set of recommendations based on that determination in accordance with the client brief |
5. Prepare draft report | 5.1 Prepare a draft document based on brief, method, observation, conclusion and recommendations system 5.2 Evaluate the impact of using active and passive voice 5.3 Seek feedback on prepared report 5.4 Respond to feedback and edit report based on feedback provided if applicable |
6. Deliver the final report | 6.1 Draft final sections of report document 6.2 Develop summary of report 6.3 Produce final version of arboricultural report 6.4 Deliver final report to client and statutory authority 6.5 Formulate a glossary of arboricultural terminology and industry jargon |
Evidence of Performance
The candidate must produce a body of work compiling evidentiary data, research material, data, observations and test results into a stylised presentation of custom format using component industry conventions. 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 provide evidence for and demonstrate:
determining the client brief and manage client expectations
determining client need for evidentiary data records
determining statutory requirements for report
establishing specific focus points within report topic
establishing report limits and assumptions
determining arboricultural content required by evaluation of all relevant requirements and limitations
determining the textual and visual content of report
researching information about topic and specific focus points
assessing primary and secondary sources of research material
inspecting and recording details and observations of site, trees, location and matters relevant to focus points and topic
recording relevant visual evidence using photographic equipment
obtaining and recording information from test results
collating observations, test results, research material and inspection data into a body of evidentiary data
backing up and storing data for later retrieval
determining presentation style of report to meet client and statutory outcomes
determining requirements for specific document content and layout using accepted arboriculture industry conventions
obtaining necessary permissions for use of tables, diagrams or other copyright information
utilising appropriate custom document templates, logo, tables, charts, and art required to produce word-processor documents
inserting required document elements such as title, page numbers, table of contents, footers and headers and watermark
incorporating collated data, information and evidentiary data into formatted body of the report
operating computer and software application to edit document for language use, text content, spelling, grammar and punctuation appropriate for consulting arborists
assessing a body of evidentiary data
determining value of supporting and contradictory evidence
using considered viewpoints to make an informed decision
formulating a conclusive determination
informing client whether or not determination can meet the client brief
developing a set of recommendations based on that determination in accordance with the client brief
preparing a draft document based on brief, method, observation, conclusion and recommendations system
evaluating the impact of using active and passive voice
seeking feedback on prepared report
responding to feedback and editing report based on feedback provided
drafting final sections of report document
developing summary of report
producing final version of arboricultural report
delivering final report to client and statutory authority
formulating a glossary of arboricultural terminology and industry jargon.
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
client briefs
management of client expectations
client need for evidentiary data records
statutory reporting requirements
specific focus points within report topics
limits and assumptions of reports
required arboricultural content
textual and visual content of report
information research
assessment of primary and secondary sources of research material
methods of determining information validity and reliability
site inspections
photographic equipment for recording of visual evidence
collation of observations, test results, research material and inspection data into a body of evidentiary data
data collection, collation, backup, storage and retrieval
reporting and presentation styles for statutory and client outcomes
requirements for specific document content and layout using accepted arboriculture industry conventions
permissions for use of tables, diagrams or other copyright information
custom document templates, logo, tables, charts, and art required to produce word-processor documents
document elements such as title, page numbers, table of contents, footers and headers and watermark
computer and software application to edit documents
language use, text content, spelling, grammar and punctuation
consulting arborist terminology
assessment of a body of evidentiary data
evaluation of supporting and contradictory evidence
consideration of different viewpoints in making informed decisions
decision-making processes
formulation of conclusive determinations
draft document preparation
system of brief, method, observation, conclusion and recommendations
evaluation of impact of using active and passive voice
report editing based on feedback provided
development of a report summary
final report formulation, formatting and writing
production of a glossary of arboricultural terminology and industry jargon.
Assessment Conditions
Assessment must be demonstrated consistently over time in a suitable range of contexts and have a productivity-based outcome. No single assessment event or report is sufficient to achieve competency in this unit.
Assessment may be conducted in a simulated or real work environment, however determination of competency requires the application of work practices under work conditions.
The mandatory equipment and materials used to gather evidence for assessment include:
equipment:
computer
digital camera/phone camera
internet connection
word processing software
trees
materials:
arborist report
glossary of arboricultural terminology
Assessors must satisfy current standards for RTOs in the assessment of arboriculture units of competency.
Assessment must be conducted only by persons who have:
arboriculture vocational competencies at least to the level being assessed
current arboriculture industry skills directly relevant to the unit of competency being assessed
Foundation Skills
Foundation Skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.
Range Statement
Sectors
Arboriculture (ARB)