Elements and Performance Criteria

The range statement adds definition to the unit by elaborating critical or significant aspects of the performance requirements of the unit. The range statement establishes the range of indicative meanings or applications of these requirements in different operating contexts and conditions. The specific aspects which require elaboration are identified by the use of italics in the performance criteria.

Environmental regulations may include:
federal, state and territory environmental legislation, including:
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2000
state and territory environmental protection authorities and agencies
International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL)
local government by-laws and regulations, including regional land and water management plans.

Compliance may include meeting the requirements of:
environmental regulations
third party standards such as the ISO 14000 series and those of the Marine Stewardship Council.

Purchasing strategies may include:
influencing suppliers to adopt environmentally sustainable practices by, for example, using a preferred supplier status based on ratings for environmental performance.

Analysis of work practices may involve:
observation
measurement of output, throughput and/or resource usage
assessment of quality of product
comparison with benchmark data.

Stakeholders, key personnel and specialists may include:
individuals and groups, both inside and outside the organisation, that have some direct interest in the enterprise's conduct, actions, products and services, including:
employees at all levels of the organisation
customers
suppliers
community
regulators
industry associations
industry development boards
key personnel within the organisation, and specialists outside it, who may have particular technical expertise.

Techniques and tools may include:
examination of invoices from suppliers
measurements made under different conditions such as water quality and energy consumption (over a twelve month period there will be significant variation due to seasonal factors)
continuous improvement tools such as:
ecologically sustainable development frameworks and guidelines
cause and effect diagrams
process and capability mapping
benchmarking against substitute products and processes.

Environmental and resource efficiency improvement plans may include:
addressing environmental and resource sustainability initiatives such as environmental management systems, action plans, surveys and audits
referring to standards, guidelines and approaches such as:
ISO 14001 Environmental Management
life cycle analyses
global reporting initiatives
ecological footprinting
triple bottom line reporting
product stewardship
determining enterprise's most appropriate waste treatment, including waste to landfill, recycling, re-use and wastewater treatment
applying the waste management hierarchy in the workplace
initiating and/or maintaining appropriate enterprise procedures for operational energy consumption, including stationary energy and non-stationary (transport).

Suggestions may include ideas that help to:
improve efficiency in the use of public resources, such as water and fish stock, by increasing the value of the catch
prevent and minimise risks
maximise opportunities, such as the use of solar energy where appropriate
reduce emissions of greenhouse gases
reduce the use of non-renewable resources
make more efficient use of energy
maximise opportunities to re-use and recycle materials
identify strategies to offset or mitigate environmental impacts e.g. purchasing carbon credits
demonstrate purchasing power through the selection of suppliers with improved environmental performance e.g. purchasing renewable energy
eliminate the use of hazardous and toxic materials.

The evidence guide provides advice to inform and support appropriate assessment of this unit. It contains an overview of the assessment requirements followed by identification of specific aspects of evidence that will need to be addressed in determining competence. The evidence guide is an integral part of the unit and should be read and interpreted in conjunction with the other components of competency.

Assessment must reflect the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the Seafood Industry Training Package into which this unit is being imported.

Overview of assessment requirements
A person who demonstrates competence in this unit must be able to provide evidence of the ability to implement and monitor management policies and procedures within an organisation relating to integrated environmental and resource efficiency.

Products that could be used as evidence include:
reports of activities of work group in relation to measuring and developing strategies
work plans with documented benchmarks outlining approaches to improved practices.

Processes that could be used as evidence include:
the way in which advice is sought and suggestions for improvements are made.

Resource implications for assessment include access to:
workplace documentation and personnel
reports from other parties involved in the process of identifying and implementing improvements
relevant legislation, standards and guidelines.

Validity and sufficiency of evidence requires that:
the individual demonstrates an understanding of external benchmarks, can demonstrate why the choice of particular benchmarks has been made, applies improved resource use approaches to own work area, and can demonstrate appropriate outcomes.

Integrated competency assessment:
means that this unit could be assessed on its own or in combination with other units relevant to the job function.