Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to follow workplace directions and instructions while observing permaculture principles and practices.
Permaculture work can be carried out in the community, home, school and permaculture or community gardens and farms.
This unit applies to individuals who work alongside a supervisor in most situations and exercise limited autonomy within established and well known parameters. They identify and seek help with simple problems.
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. Prepare to work in a permaculture environment | 1.1 Meet with supervisor, observe conditions and receive work tasks for the day 1.2 Identify required materials, tools and equipment 1.3 Check materials, tools and equipment and tell supervisor if there are insufficient or faulty items 1.4 Use correct manual handling techniques when loading and unloading materials 1.5 Identify hazards and tell supervisor 1.6 Use suitable personal protective equipment (PPE) and ensure correct fit |
2. Identify permaculture work practices | 2.1 Identify good environmentally sustainable practices, and seek clarification when necessary 2.2 Adopt work practices which maximise productivity and time efficiency and minimise waste and resource use 2.3 Follow instructions and directions and ask for clarification when necessary |
3. Contribute to improved permaculture practices | 3.1 Gather information about permaculture and support the development of improved permaculture practices 3.2 Discuss environmental issues, community issues and their relationship to permaculture practices with supervisor and colleagues 3.3 Contribute to the review of permaculture practices in a permaculture environment |
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 consistently over time and in a suitable range of contexts.
The candidate must provide evidence that they can:
communicate with supervisors and workplace colleagues
recognise basic environmental influences
contribute to improved permaculture work practices
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
permaculture
ethics – earth care, people care, fair share
principles – at this level, limited to the trainer/supervisor’s interpretation and simplification of those contained in the two seminal permaculture text books (Mollison 1988 and Holmgren 2002)
good practice approaches to minimising environmental hazards and risks
producing no waste
thinking globally and acting locally
observing nature and learning from her patterns
responding to change creatively and with consideration for the needs of all users of and/or elements in the system
learning from mistakes and developing successes
factors to improve environmental performance in regard to water catchments, ecosystems, habitat, efficient use of resources, sustainability and waste minimisation
factors to improve community issues, especially in regard to caring for people, sharing surpluses and setting limits to growth
environmental issues and their potential impacts
sustainability of land use and agricultural work practices
reduction and disposal of waste
improvements to water quality
improvements to air quality
energy efficiency
biodiversity and habitat protection
conservation of natural resources
wild-fire management and mitigation
food, water and energy security
human rights and right livelihood
Assessment Conditions
Assessors must satisfy current standards for RTOs. Assessors must also hold a nationally accredited Certificate III (or higher) in Permaculture to assess this unit of competency and/or have completed a Permaculture Design Course (PDC) and/or have completed the Permaculture Demonstrator Skill Set.
Foundation Skills
Foundation Skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.
Range Statement
Sectors
Permaculture (PER)