Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to develop a strategic plan for a permaculture project or enterprise. It requires the ability to prepare a strategic plan brief, research and analyse planning information, develop strategic plan stages, document a strategic plan, and review a strategic plan against desired outcomes. Developing a strategic plan for a permaculture project requires knowledge of permaculture principles and practices, climate change and peak oil impacts, sustainable community development practices, research methods and strategic planning methodologies.
All work is carried out to comply with workplace procedures.
This unit applies to individuals who analyse information and exercise judgement to complete a range of advanced skilled activities and demonstrate deep knowledge in a specific technical area. They have accountability for the work of others and analyse, design and communicate solutions to a range of complex 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. Develop a strategic plan brief for a permaculture project or enterprise | 1.1 Evaluate the current context of the permaculture project or enterprise 1.2 Determine core values of the project or enterprise 1.3 Define project vision statement, aims and objectives 1.4 Establish project or enterprise goals in consultation with stakeholders 1.5 Evaluate strategic plan values, goals and vision statement with respect to permaculture principles and ethics 1.6 Document strategic planning brief 1.7 Develop protocols on cultural respect and sensitivity 1.8 Review and revise strategic plan brief at appropriate project development intervals |
2. Research and analyse strategic planning information | 2.1 Determine information needed for strategic plan with reference to plan brief 2.2 Identify key elements and themes 2.3 Determine research subjects 2.4 Compose research plan and methodologies 2.5 Review local, state and national government legal and planning acts and codes relevant to project or enterprise 2.6 Review and revise strategic plan brief in relation to research findings |
3. Identify strategic planning stages | 3.1 Identify strategies required to achieve planning goals in consultation with relevant parties 3.2 Determine action plans required to execute strategies 3.3 Order strategies and action plans into a series of strategic planning stages 3.4 Determine planning benchmarks for future stage completion review 3.5 Review and revise plan brief with reference to strategic planning stages |
4. Document and distribute strategic plan | 4.1 Produce a clear, concise and consistently formatted written strategic planning document 4.2 Distribute strategic plan to all relevant parties to ensure effective communication of project or enterprise planning 4.3 Take feedback on plan documentation and review and revise documentation as required |
5. Review strategic plan | 5.1 Determine mechanism for evaluation of strategic plan 5.2 Determine timeframes for evaluation 5.3 Evaluate with reference to permaculture principles and practices 5.4 Evaluate feedback from all relevant parties on implementation issues and outcomes 5.5 Identify problems and revise as required |
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:
develop a strategic plan brief
acquire project resources
undertake stakeholder consultation
document a strategic plan
evaluate the vision statement
interpret feedback on the strategic plan
demonstrate group leadership
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
permaculture principles, ethics and practices
The two main summaries of permaculture principles are found in Bill Mollison and Reny Mia Slay Introduction to Permaculture (1991) and David Holmgren Permaculture: Principles & Pathways Beyond Sustainability (2002)
sustainable agriculture
garden agriculture
sustainable horticulture
sustainable aquaculture
soil restoration
bush regeneration
biodiversity regeneration
sustainable community development
sustainable project and enterprise development
bioregional development
relocalisation
sustainable design
sustainability education
earth care
people care
return of surpluses and setting limits to growth
permaculture values
environmental restoration
sustainable food production
sustainability education
environmentally sustainable human habitation
sustainable community development
sustainable community transition
right livelihood
social justice
ecological economics
universal human rights
cultural recognition
permaculture projects or enterprises
community gardens
permaculture workshops, training and education
sustainable agricultural systems
urban permaculture systems
community sustainable transition initiatives
climate change initiatives
conservation organisations
sustainability not-for-profits, NGOs, businesses, companies, trusts and incorporated community associations
permaculture design consultancies
permaculture system implementation services
alternative community finance and economic systems
permaculture information and communication services
strategic planning
vision statement
statements of where project or enterprise would like to be in future
imagined futures
statements of possible futures for world outside of project
project or enterprise goals
environmental targets
community development targets
food production
design criteria
happiness indicators
sustainability indicators
strategies
human resource management
financial planning
purchases and acquisitions
cost cutting
income generation
promotion and marketing
organisational restructuring
project or enterprise start up
mentoring and education
new project or enterprise initiatives
political lobbying
grant applications
community consultation
research and development
action plans - sequences of smaller steps necessary to achieve strategies
timelines
benchmarks, such as
verifiable stage completion criteria
numerical indicators
qualitative indicators
observable outcomes
community development
project management
feasibility study methodology
contract law
budgetary frameworks
Assessment Conditions
Assessors must satisfy current standards for RTOs. Assessors must also have a nationally accredited Diploma of Permaculture. Completion of a Permaculture Design Course (PDC) or non-accredited Permaculture Diploma is not sufficient at this level.
Foundation Skills
Foundation Skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.
Range Statement
Sectors
Permaculture (PER)