Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to apply advanced shearing techniques.
All work must be carried out to comply with workplace procedures, work health and safety, animal welfare and biosecurity requirements and sustainability practices.
This unit applies to individuals who take responsibility for their own work and use discretion and judgement in the selection, allocation and use of available resources.
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 and set up equipment to optimise shearing output | 1.1 Confirm that the range and condition of equipment available for selection meets anticipated shearing conditions 1.2 Select equipment and set up based on the assessment of shearing conditions to ensure the optimum yield and shearing throughput 1.3 Monitor equipment performance and make adjustments to maintain optimum shearing throughput |
2. Assess and monitor the shearing conditions and environment | 2.1 Confirm that the style and approach adopted for the shear are appropriate to the shearing conditions, and maintain the quality and throughput at the appropriate level 2.2 Adopt approaches for mitigating adverse shearing conditions prior to and during the shearing 2.3 Monitor and assess the shearing environment with consideration of the whole wool harvesting operation 2.4 Identify potential and existing hazards, assess risks and implement control measures 2.5 Identify opportunities to support and encourage the performance of other shearers and respond constructively while maintaining own output 2.6 Implement enterprise animal welfare policies |
3. Maintain control, rhythm and output during shearing | 3.1 Adapt personal position and shearing method to accommodate limitations in equipment performance and set up 3.2 Use timing, length and width of blows that optimise selected shearing pattern 3.3 Ensure blow commencement and finish positions are economical of effort and reflect the shortest route 3.4 Ensure blow placement, body work and sheep positioning combine to represent sustainable shearing effort and output |
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 be observed applying advanced shearing techniques while shearing.
The candidate must provide evidence that they can:
identify potential and existing hazards, assess risks and implement control measures
prepare and set up equipment to optimise shearing output
assess and monitor a diverse range of shearing conditions and environments
maintain control, co-ordination, rhythm, high quality performance and output during shearing
support and encourage the performance of other shearers as part of a team and respond constructively while maintaining own output
implement enterprise animal welfare policies in the context of own work
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
types of shearing sheds, boards and catching pens
shearing machinery required and their relative functions
industry shearing techniques and positions and method of shearing
aspects of safe handling techniques for catching, dragging, shearing and releasing sheep
basic anatomy of male and female sheep as it relates to the safe humane removal of wool
common sheep diseases
the impacts of sheep behaviour on moving and handling sheep and shearing sheep
personal protective clothing and equipment, and when and how it should be used
Federal and/or State shearing awards and agreements associated with shearing sheep
work health and safety legislation and codes of practice applying to the job role
animal welfare legislation and codes of practice applying to the job role
Assessment Conditions
Competency is to be assessed in the workplace or workplace and simulated environment that accurately reflects performance in a real workplace setting.
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
Shearing (SHG)