Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to use traditional Aboriginal controlled burning practices on Country to manage natural and cultural resources.
This unit applies to Aboriginal sites workers and Land Managers who carry out burns on Country as part of their job role. They work under broad direction and use discretion and judgement in the selection and use of available resources.
The unit involves and requires a high level of awareness and experience with Aboriginal culture and communities and the need to observe Aboriginal cultural protocols. It is expected that this work will be undertaken as part of a team working under supervision in most cases.
Cultural beliefs and practices vary across locations and communities and in some situations non-Aboriginal learners may not be able to access the cultural knowledge and/or materials required to achieve competency in this unit due to restrictions that are applied to non-Aboriginal people gaining access to cultural knowledge, material or sites. In these situations the Registered Training Organisation will be required to make alternative arrangements for learners that are still consistent with the delivery and assessment requirements for this unit.
No occupational licensing, legislative or certification requirements are known to apply to this unit at the time of publication. However, all units of competency dealing with animals in the AHC Training Package have the requirements for animals to be handled humanely to minimise stress and discomfort.
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. Plan burn activities | 1.1 Develop working relationships that will assist in the planning and implementation of traditional Aboriginal cultural burning on Country with stakeholders 1.2 Identify and consult appropriate cultural authorities and obtain approval to be on Country 1.3 Obtain cultural knowledge through the appropriate knowledge holder or Cultural Manager 1.4 Identify ceremonial requirements for fire practices necessary for inclusion in burn plan 1.5 Develop a burning plan and schedule for the target area based on traditional cultural knowledge of seasonal conditions, historical information on burns, Aboriginal ceremonial requirements, legislative requirements, environmental sustainability, biosecurity and work health and safety considerations and safety concerns 1.6 Advise local fire services and agencies of proposed burn plan |
2. Protect life, property and conserve fauna and flora species in burn area | 2.1 Implement burn according to Aboriginal cultural burning techniques and consistent with the burn plan and schedule 2.2 Exclude visitors from target areas, entertainment areas and areas possibly affected by smoke or risk from escaping fire 2.3 Advise neighbours and agencies of the intention to burn to ensure safety and maintain client relations 2.4 Protect Aboriginal sites, assets and entertainment areas according to Aboriginal cultural protocols and fire industry practices 2.5 Apply fire breaks to the area to maintain control of the fire and burn intensity 2.6 Remove animals in danger in the burn area before starting the controlled cultural burn, where possible 2.7 Assess flora for impact on fire-sensitive communities and species |
3. Burn defined areas | 3.1 Maintain radio communication with other workers in the area throughout the burn 3.2 Use appropriate personal protective equipment and follow work health and safety policies and procedures during the burn 3.3 Assess weather forecasts and current weather conditions to determine appropriate conditions and timing for burn 3.4 Use appropriate ignition techniques, patterns, fire control and safety procedures to conduct the burn 3.5 Apply fire to targeted areas according to Aboriginal cultural burning techniques, traditional frequency and organisation requirements 3.6 Identify targeted areas defined by burn specification or limiting factors 3.7 Check area to ensure all sections have received required burn in accordance with the burning plan 3.8 Complete and record assessment of burn 3.9 Monitor burning area to avoid wildfire outbreaks 3.10 Assess seasonal conditions and life cycles of flora and fauna for the end of fire practices |
Evidence of Performance
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 on at least one occasion.
The candidate must provide evidence that they can:
identify appropriate cultural authorities for a Community, place or for a site
develop working relationships with Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal stakeholders
apply traditional Aboriginal cultural burning techniques
follow burn plans and control burning operations according to enterprise procedures to:
protect Aboriginal sites, assets and entertainment areas to Community protocols and requirements
protect life, property and conserve fauna and flora species during burning
achieve the correct intensity of burn
maintain biosecurity
meet environmental sustainability requirements
adhere to organisational safety and environmental protection policies and procedures
select existing, and construct additional fire breaks according to enterprise requirements to maintain control of fire
ignite fires according to burn plan and enterprise procedures
use radio communication according to enterprise procedures
apply appropriate animal welfare practices when handling and moving animals in preparation for the burn
follow work health and safety policies and procedures throughout the burn process to protect self and others
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
cultural Authorities within the Community
traditional Aboriginal rationale and techniques for cultural burning
the life cycles of flora and fauna of forests/plantations and effect of burning operations
required intensity and appropriate frequency of fire
sequence, location and pattern of recent and historical fire burns
Aboriginal ceremonial requirements for fire practices
seasonal cycle of weather patterns
work health and safety policies and procedures
emergency procedures
ignition techniques and patterns
fire control techniques
emergency fire services
organisational and enterprise policies and procedures for conservation of places of cultural significance
key concepts of Cultural and Heritage Legislation or National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) legislation relevant to own prescribed burns
sustainable environmental practices
safety procedures for conducting fire operations
enterprise work health and safety policies and procedures for carrying out controlled burning
basic requirements for ensuring the
Assessment Conditions
Assessment must comply with Community protocols and be supported by Elders and Custodians of Country.
Assessors must satisfy current standards for RTOs.
Foundation Skills
Foundation Skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.
Range Statement
Sectors
Indigenous Land Management (ILM)