Elements and Performance Criteria

The Range Statement provides details of the scope of the Elements and Performance Criteria to allow for differences within enterprises and workplaces, including practices, knowledge and requirements. It also provides a focus for assessment and relates to the unit as a whole. The Range Statement is provided as a guide only and lists are not exhaustive. The following variables may be present:

Legal and regulatory documentation requirements may include:
relevant Cemeteries' Acts
Birth, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act
consumer protection
relevant Coroner's Act
embalmer's association guidelines
Anti-Discrimination Act
Workplace Health and Safety Act
Crematorium Act
Environment Protection Act
Federal Transport Regulations/Airlines Act
relevant local government Acts
Public Health Act
Dangerous Goods Act
Federal Funeral Industry Award
Public Hospitals Act
Fair Trading Act
Funerals (Pre-paid Money) Act
Equal Opportunity Act
Equal Employment Opportunity Act.

Relevant documentation may include:
identification of body
notification of death
clothing and jewellery receipts
casket/coffin orders
application for cremation
funeral service details
celebrant's instructions
application for burial
certificate of burial/delivery for cremation
embalming form/details
pre arrangement costing details
coroner's orders
exhumation licenses.

Unwanted documentation may include:
legal documents
letterhead
personal notes
computer reports
e-mail hardcopies
faxes
financial data
publications/brochures
general files.

The following components relate directly to this unit's Performance Criteria and Range Statement and will inform and provide guidance for assessment of the unit in the workplace and/or training program.
Critical Aspects of Evidence

Evidence of the following knowledge and skills is considered essential to demonstrate competency in this unit. This includes demonstration of the Key Competencies at the performance level identified at the end of this unit:

Accurate understanding of Funeral Industry documentation requirements.
Accurate and legible completion of documentation.
Accurate checking and verification of documentation.
Accurate recording and registering of the personal effects and valuables of the deceased person.
Correct storage and disposal of documents.

Underpinning Knowledge and Skills

The following knowledge, understanding and skills are essential to perform this unit to the required standard:


Verbal and non-verbal communication skills, including:

listening skills
negotiation and assertiveness skills.
Ability to respect and keep confidentiality.

Literacy and numeracy skills, including:

ability to interpret and understand written documentation
ability to accurately complete required documentation
computer literacy.
Knowledge of workplace policies, procedures and practices.
Knowledge and understanding of relevant Federal, State/Territory and Local Government legislation and regulations.
Ability to recognise professional parameters.
Life experience and common sense.
Time management skills.
Personal integrity, ethics and accountability.

Context of Assessment
For valid and reliable assessment of this unit, competency should be consistently demonstrated over a period of time and observed by the assessor and/or the technical expert working in partnership with the assessor. The technical expert may include an experienced person at the workplace.
Competency should be demonstrated in the workplace or a simulated workplace environment through a range of situations which may include interruptions and involvement in other related activities normally expected in the work environment.
Assessment should be undertaken in an environment that meets industry codes of practice and relevant industry regulations and legislation.

Interdependent Assessment of Unit
All units which relate to a job function can be considered as co-requisites to assist with an integrated approach to assessment.
For advice on integrated assessment of units within and across qualifications, refer to the Assessment Guidelines.

Assessment Methods

Observation of staff member performing a range of workplace tasks over sufficient time to demonstrate the handling of a range of contingencies. Tasks may include but are not limited to:

identifying and interpreting legal and regulatory documentation relating to processing funeral industry documentation
demonstrated ability to accurately complete relevant documentation
demonstrated ability to maintain records systems.
Written and/or oral questioning to assess knowledge and understanding with regard to processing funeral industry documentation. Questions will be asked in a manner appropriate to the language and literacy level of the staff member.
Completing workplace documentation relevant to workplace requirements.

Assessment Resources
All resources must be provided for the assessment. If workplace based, the resources should relate specifically to policies, procedures and range of tools and equipment. If an off the job or simulated work environment is used then resources should be applicable to the work environment.

Resources may include:

A real or simulated work environment.

Relevant documentation such as:

workplace policies and procedures
documentation as identified in the Range Statement.
Industry codes of practice and relevant legislation and regulations.
Access to a range of stakeholders with a range of requirements (real or simulated).
Access to a range of tools and equipment.
A qualified workplace assessor and/or a technical expert working in partnership with the assessor.

There are a number of processes that are required in all jobs. They are fundamental processes and generally transferable to other work functions. Some of these are covered by the key competencies. Key competencies are generic competencies that focus on the capacity to apply knowledge and skills in an integrated way in work situations, but are not specific to any particular industry. Key competencies foster the development of skills, knowledge and understanding necessary to perform work operations. The questions below highlight how these processes are applied in this competency standard. Following each question a number indicates the level to which the key competency needs to be demonstrated where 1 = the ability to undertake tasks effectively, 2 = the ability to manage tasks, and 3 = the ability to use concepts for evaluating and reshaping tasks.
Communicating ideas and information
By communicating with colleagues, ideas and information relevant to preparing and completing funeral industry documentation. (1)

Collecting analysing and organising information
By collecting information relevant to the requirements of funeral industry documentation and collating it in a useable format. (1)

Planning and organising activities
By organising the work requirements and planning the required tasks associated with completing documentation, in conjunction with other assigned activities, such that the task is undertaken in a realistic time frame. (1)

Working with others and in teams
By interacting with colleagues to ensure accuracy and conformance requirements are met. (1)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Mathematical ideas and techniques are likely to be involved in completing documentation. (1)

Solving problems
By identifying issues associated with completing funeral industry documentation that are not within defined guidelines, resolving those that are routine and involving colleagues where they are not. (1)

Using technology
Data or information may be required to be accessed or recorded using technology in relation to completing documentation. (1)