Application
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required by Indigenous Australian performing artists who wish to enhance their performance of cultural dance through mentoring arrangements with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander performance mentors. The unit is also relevant to those whose work requires them to observe industry protocols, copyright requirements, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander protocols.
The knowledge required to achieve competency in this unit may only be accessible to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and may be the cultural and intellectual property of specific communities.
Organisations delivering this unit must respect community protocols and heritage. Collaboration with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on the delivery and assessment of this unit is recommended.
The unit has been developed and written in the context of Indigenous Australians maintaining control of their cultural heritage and directing if and how this heritage may be passed on and assessed. It is intended to be delivered by and to Indigenous Australians.
At this level, individuals are required to use some discretion and judgement and operate under broad supervision within an established framework of plans and procedures.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance Criteria Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Confirm links with own heritage or Indigenous Australian traditions | 1.1 Collect information on features of family, culture and knowledge of own language, region or country from identified holders and custodians of information 1.2 Approach community members and custodians or Elders in culturally appropriate ways showing respect for local Indigenous culture and customs 1.3 Determine own Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander identity and ways in which culture and family may inform performing arts practice 1.4 Identify past and present roles of individuals, families and communities or societies in performing arts practice 1.5 Record cultural beliefs and values related to artistic performance, including cultural significance, economic significance and nature of performing arts in the community 1.6 Develop and record, in consultation with Elders, custodians and mentors, a connection to cultural tradition and current practice 1.7 Identify ways to recognise whether cultural maintenance is being observed in professional performances of Australian Indigenous dance |
2. Negotiate the terms of relationships with mentors | 2.1 Determine benefits of, and need for, a mentoring plan between mentor and mentee 2.2 Negotiate timeframes and outcomes for each party and rules of interaction for the mentoring program 2.3 Agree on reporting methods or reporting technology and report agreed criteria for the mentoring relationship 2.4 Evaluate and report mentoring program against agreed outcomes |
3. Maintain professional relationships | 3.1 Communicate in culturally appropriate ways that show respect for local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and customs 3.2 Behave consistently with respect for mentors, those in cultural authority and those with expertise 3.3 Perform dance movements and activities that appropriately express cultural context according to cultural, copyright and intellectual property requirements 3.4 Adhere to cultural, professional and performance direction from mentors or cultural custodians 3.5 Respond to opportunities to enhance cultural and technical skills and knowledge |
Evidence of Performance
Evidence of the ability to:
develop understanding of own and a community’s cultural history and identity
develop a mentor relationship with an Indigenous Australian Elder or custodian of knowledge
negotiate, record and evaluate a mentoring plan
maintain cultural protocols and effective communication strategies in interactions with mentors
apply knowledge of cultural maintenance of performing arts practice in an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander context.
Note: If a specific volume or frequency is not stated, then evidence must be provided for each of the above points at least once.
Evidence of Knowledge
To complete the unit requirements the individual must:
demonstrate knowledge of the context and structure of cultural systems, including the role of dance, story-telling, music and body painting as expressions of cultural systems
demonstrate well-developed knowledge of the following aspects of contemporary Indigenous Australian cultures, including:
cultural diversity: cultural groupings, skin, country and language groups
family structures, kinship, women’s roles, and men’s roles
relationship to land and customs
racism and discrimination
issues that may affect an individual’s cultural identity
values
traditional law and economy
describe the history and role of the arts in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures
describe how the following issues affect work practices in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander performing arts sector:
commercialisation of cultural material
tourism
intellectual property
protocols relating to moral rights, intellectual property and copyright in the physical expression of cultural material
explain how cultural maintenance can be maximised in the choreographing and performance of dance for multicultural expression.
Assessment Conditions
Assessment must be conducted in a safe environment where evidence gathered demonstrates consistent performance of typical activities experienced in creative arts industry environments. The assessment environment must include access to:
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders, custodians and other culturally knowledgeable people authorised by the relevant communities to act as mentors in performance disciplines
people able and authorised to support both mentors and students in the context of the required skills and knowledge described in this unit.
Assessors of this unit must satisfy the requirements for assessors in applicable vocational educational and training legislation, frameworks and/or standards.
Assessors must ensure that the cultural and intellectual property rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are protected.
Foundation Skills
This section describes language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills incorporated in the performance criteria that are required for competent performance.
Skill | Performance Criteria | Description |
Learning | 3.5 | Accepts guidance from others to enhance skills and knowledge |
Reading | 1.1, 1.7 | Obtains information from written sources |
Writing | 1.1, 1.5 1.6, 2.4 | Documents information as part of mentoring program |
Oral communication | 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.6, 1.7, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.4 | Seeks the views and opinions of others Obtains information by listening and questioning Discusses ideas and solutions |
Navigate the world of work | 1.2, 1.6, 1.7, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4 | Observes protocols appropriate to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in dance performances and interaction with communities, mentors and Elders Operates within legal rights and responsibilities when accessing and performing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dances |
Interact with others | 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.6, 1.7, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.4 | Uses a range of strategies to establish a sense of connection with others Monitors responses from others, and may adjust aspects of own behaviour to ensure that cultural protocols are followed |
Get the work done | 1.5, 1.6, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 3.1, 3.2, 3.4 | Develops and maintains professional relationships with mentors Uses the internet as a research tool Uses standard word processing applications to prepare documentation |
Range Statement
This section specifies different work environments and conditions that may affect performance. Essential operating conditions that may be present (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) are included.
Cultural maintenance must include: | protection and continuation of: natural and cultural integrity stories song lines spiritual practices artefacts sites of significance language responsibilities and obligations to individuals, country and the community authentic replication of approved: cultural stories dance music to demonstrate culture outside the community environment. |
Mentoring plan must include: | agreed reporting methods or reporting technology agreed timeframes monitoring and review strategies objectives purpose rights and responsibilities of each party cultural, personal and professional roles of each party. |
Sectors
Industry capability – industry context