Respect for Country Job Skills Project
Menu: Click across the green arrows to view active and completed project stages. Consultation takes place at every stage of the project.Case for change
The units of competency in the AHC Training Package related to Aboriginal Site Works (ASW) and Indigenous Land Management (ILM) have not been reviewed for content for some time. During this period, job roles have grown in importance and more opportunities exist for Aboriginal and Islander people to take up occupations related to the skills and knowledge covered by the unit sectors.
It is important to retain the integrity of the units and protect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rights to be able to utilise these knowledge and skills for their communities and for personal vocations. It is also important to ensure that these critical knowledge and skills can be recognised by employers for job opportunities, and that any skills gaps are identified and addressed.
The Australian Industry Skills Committee (AISC) approved this project, out of the 2021 Annual Update to the IRC Skills Forecast (see pages 63-68).
The Agriculture and Production Horticulture IRC and the Amenity Horticulture, Landscaping, Conservation and Land Management IRC will oversee this project as part of their responsibility to support engagement with the industry, and to ensure the project meets industry stakeholder needs.
Skills Impact will manage this project, consistent with the 2012 Standards for Training Package Development.
Subscribe to updates about the projectSubscribe to the Skills Impact newsletter to keep informed about project updates and opportunities to provide input and feedback. Make sure to select ‘Agriculture, Horticulture, Conservation & Land Management’ as your industry of interest on the subscription form. |
Project Plan
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures possess skills and knowledge for respecting Country that have been developed over thousands of years. Some of these skills and knowledge are used in jobs connected to managing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land and reporting on important sites. These are described in nationally endorsed qualifications, skill sets and units that are used by registered training organisations (RTOs) to equip leaners for jobs in ecosystem management, conservation, environmental and cultural analysis, and ranger occupations, as well as roles preparing government, legislative or regulatory reports.
Skills Impact is seeking to connect with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people about whether these qualifications and skills standards still describe the skills and knowledge required of this work, and to hear about any improvements that can be made.
The project team of Michelle Ingley-Smith and Cathy Beven are here to talk about the current qualifications, skill sets and units and are seeking guidance on whether they can better support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander learners and communities.
| Michelle Ingley-Smith, Industry Engagement Manager Michelle is a proud Maori woman descending from the Ngati Korokoro hapu (subtribe) of the Ngapuhi iwi (tribe). Her ancestors traditionally inhabited the area around Hokianga on the North-West coast of Northland, Aotearoa. She currently lives on Country of the Kaurna people in the Adelaide Plains of South Australia. 0438 632 439 |
| Cathy Beven, Industry Skills Standards Specialist Cathy has experience training and working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Far North Queensland, specifically in and around Cape York and Thursday Island. She has also worked with members of a not-for-profit organisation designing a holistic healthy living program for school students in Aboriginal communities in Northern Territory and Northern Western Australia. She currently lives on Boon Wurrung Country. 03 9321 3526 |
Feedback about this project is welcomed at any time by contacting Michelle or Cathy by email or phone.
If you would like to receive updates on the project, you can register your interest by following the newsletter subscription link below.
Subscribe to updates about the projectSubscribe to the Skills Impact newsletter to keep informed about project updates and opportunities to provide input and feedback. Make sure to select ‘Agriculture, Horticulture, Conservation and Land Management’ as your industry of interest. Register your interest |
Relevant Occupations
- Rangers Land & Sea
- Conservation Field Officers
- Cultural & Heritage Officers
- Land Council Site Officers
- ILM Assistants
- Mine Workers
- Surveyors
- Forestry Workers
- Tourism Operators / Guides
Project Scope
As part of this project, we are seeking feedback on two qualifications, 14 skill sets and 35 units of competency that relate to skills and knowledge for respecting Country.
Qualifications and Units
Development
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have been maintaining and caring for Country over thousands of years. Their skills and knowledge are critical to land and sea management activities including conservation and cultural heritage roles.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are leading and guiding the review and development work of national skills standards for Indigenous Land Management and Aboriginal Sites Work. A Project Working group of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and representatives have met to discuss the job roles and functions required for this work. They have looked at existing units of competency and qualifications and discussed skill requirements. Some key considerations have included:
- appropriate language and consistent terminology
- protection of cultural IP and the sharing of knowledge
- clarifying the target cohort and job outcomes
- qualification structures and pathways connected to conservation and ecosystems management
- foundational skills are considered and incorporated in the qualification
- awareness and understanding of the different legislation, regulations, local laws and community lores.
The collaboration of the Project Working Group will support the work of those who play an important role in protecting, maintaining the caring for Country, such as Indigenous Rangers, Conservation Field Officer, Cultural and Heritage Officers, Land Council Site Officers and Tourism Operators and Guides. The group is reviewing and developing units of competency and to co-designing two qualifications that support the unique skills requirements for Indigenous land and sea management, so that the skill standards are appropriate and reflective of the needs for Indigenous and Torres Strait people in these important roles.
Development outcomes and next steps
The Project Working Group is providing input into two qualifications and thirty-five units of competency. The draft skill standards will be made available on this webpage for broad stakeholder consultation and feedback in early January, under the ‘Drafts Available’ menu above. Your input is welcome, please feel free to register your interest to keep informed of project updates and when draft materials are available for feedback.
Subscribe to updates about the projectSubscribe to the Skills Impact newsletter to keep informed about project updates. Make sure to select ‘Agriculture, Horticulture, Conservation and Land Management’ as your industry of interest on the subscription form. |
Drafts Available
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures possess skills and knowledge that are crucial to land and sea management activities, including conservation and cultural heritage roles. Some of these skills are described in nationally endorsed qualifications, skill sets and units that are used by registered training organisations (RTOs) to equip leaners for jobs as Indigenous rangers, conservation field officers, cultural and heritage officers, land council site officers and tourism operators and guides. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are leading and guiding the review of national qualifications and skills standards, so that they reflect current skill needs and terminology.
Thank you to those who provided feedback on the draft qualifications, skill sets and units of competency that were made available for feedback from 21 February until 4 April 2022. The drafts and any comments made are still available to view below.
Feedback was sought on two qualifications and their units that were revised and renamed to incorporate inclusive language and current terminology. Changes were also made so that the qualifications are more focused and relevant and support career pathways. Packaging rules were restructured to support flexible and appropriate training delivery. Feedback was also sought on revised skill sets.
Thirty five existing units of competency were revised to improve their relevance and clarity, cover foundation skills and remove barriers to assessment. A number of units were updated to incorporate Indigenous Culture and Intellectual Property (ICIP), so that learners working with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities have the skills to support cultural safety through shared respect, meaning and knowledge.
Skills Impact acknowledges the traditional custodians and owners of this land and all who have a connection to Country and their role in caring for and maintaining Country over thousands of years. We pay our respects to Elders, leaders past, present and emerging and to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. We acknowledge and thank the many project partners including Traditional Owners, Land Councils and organisations, registered training organisations, Government and non-government organisation representatives who have collaborated with us so far in this project.
Feedback was also collected from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and representatives regarding how they want their sector referred to. While the titles of the qualifications were updated, the coding of the units still reflects previous language of Aboriginal Site Works (ASW) and Indigenous Land Management (ILM). Feedback was sought on whether the unit codes should be updated, for example: Aboriginal Sites Work (ASW) could become Cultural Sites Work (CSW) and Indigenous Land Management (ILM) could become On County Management (OCM) or other names that appropriately represent the sectors.
Feedback collected will inform the work on the final drafts which will be available for industry validation later in the year.
| Unit code and name | Proposed changes or rational | Link |
| AHC3X522 Certificate III in On Country Management | Updated qualification title and code Revised number of core units Revised and updated elective units | View draft qualification |
| AHC3X522 Certificate III in Cultural Sites Work | Updated qualification title and code Revised qualification description and number of core units Revised and updated elective units | View draft qualification |
The draft documents can be downloaded in Microsoft Word format by clicking here
Skill sets have been updated to reflect changes in the units and their codes have been revised.
| Unit code and name | Link |
| AHCSS0XX32 Identify Plants for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Land Management Skill Set | View draft skill set |
| AHCSS0XX47 Report on Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander Cultural Sites Skill Set | View draft skill set |
| AHCSS0XX69 Recognise Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Cultural Sites Skill Set | View draft skill set |
| AHCSS0XX71 Recognise Native Fauna on Country Skill Set | View draft skill set |
| AHCSS0XX81 Introduction to Carbon Farming Savanna Burning Skill Set | View draft skill set |
| AHCSS0XX82 Carbon Farming Aerial Savanna Burning Skill Set | View draft skill set |
| AHCSS0XX83 Carbon Farming Savanna Burning Operations Leader Skill Set | View draft skill set |
The draft documents can be downloaded in Microsoft Word format by clicking here
| Unit code and name | Proposed changes or rational | Link |
| AHCASW3X01 Safeguard places of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural significance | Updated unit code and title Reviewed Elements and Performance Criteria Added Foundation Skills Revised Application, Performance Evidence, Knowledge Evidence and Assessment Conditions | View draft unit |
| AHCASW3X02 Relate Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander culture to sites work | Revised unit code and title Reviewed Elements and Performance Criteria Added Foundation Skills Revised Application, Performance Evidence and Knowledge Evidence Revised Assessment Conditions | View draft unit |
| AHCASW3X03 Identify and record sites, objects and cultural landscapes on Country | Updated unit code and name Revised Application Reviewed and revised Elements and Performance Criteria Added Foundation Skills Revised Performance Evidence and Knowledge Evidence Revised Assessment Conditions | View draft unit |
| AHCASW3X04 Identify Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander culturally significant plants | Revised code and unit name Reviewed and revised Application Reviewed Elements and Performance Criteria Added Foundation Skills Revised Performance Evidence, Knowledge Evidence and Assessment Conditions | View draft unit |
| AHCASW3X05 Work with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander ceremonial and sacred materials | Changed unit code and name Updated Application Revised Elements, Performance Criteria, Performance Evidence, Knowledge Evidence and Assessment Conditions Added Foundation Skills | View draft unit |
| AHCASW3X06 Use technology in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander sites work | Revised unit code and name Reviewed and revised Elements and Performance Criteria Added Foundation Skills Revised Application, Performance Evidence, Knowledge Evidence and Assessment Conditions | View draft unit |
| AHCASW3X07 Support the documentation of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural landscapes | Updated unit code and title Revised Application Reviewed and revised Elements and Performance Criteria Added Foundation Skills Revised Performance Evidence, Knowledge Evidence and Assessment Conditions | View draft unit |
| AHCASW3X08 Apply cultural significance to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander sites and landscapes | Revised unit code and name Reviewed and revised Elements and Performance Criteria Added Foundation Skills Revised Application, Performance Evidence, Knowledge Evidence and Assessment Conditions | View draft unit |
| AHCASW3X09 Interpret Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural landscape | Revised unit code and name Reviewed and revised Elements and Performance Criteria Added Foundation Skills Revised Application, Performance Evidence, Knowledge Evidence, and Assessment Conditions | View draft unit |
| AHCASW3X10 Move and store Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural material | Revised unit code and name Reviewed and revised Elements and Performance Criteria Added Foundation Skills Revised Application, Performance Evidence, Knowledge Evidence and Assessment Conditions | View draft unit |
| AHCASW3X12 Maintain an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural site | Revised unit code and name Reviewed and revised Elements and Performance Criteria Added Foundation Skills Revised Application, Performance Evidence, Knowledge Evidence and Assessment Conditions | View draft unit |
| AHCASW3X13 Apply knowledge of relevant legislation to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander sites work | Changed unit code and name to include cultural safety Updated Application Revised Elements and Performance Criteria to include cultural safety Revised Performance Evidence and Knowledge Evidence to include cultural safety Added Foundation Skills Revised Assessment Conditions | View draft unit |
| AHCASW5X01 Survey and report on Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural sites | Changed unit code and name Updated Application Revised Elements and Performance Criteria Revised Performance Evidence and Knowledge Evidence Added Foundation Skills Revised Assessment Conditions | View draft unit |
The draft documents can be downloaded in Microsoft Word format by clicking here
| Unit code and name | Proposed changes or rational | Link |
| AHCILM2X01 Maintain cultural places | Revised Performance Criteria Added in Foundation Skills Revised Performance Evidence and Knowledge Evidence | View draft unit |
| AHCILM2X02 Observe and report plants or animals | Revised Application Added Foundation Skills Revised Performance Evidence and Knowledge Evidence Updated Assessment Conditions | View draft unit |
| AHCILM2X03 Record information about Country | Foundation skills added Performance Evidence and Knowledge Evidence revised Assessment Conditions revised | View draft unit |
| AHCILM3X02 Provide appropriate information on cultural knowledge | Revised Application Updated Performance Criteria Added Foundation Skills Revised Performance Evidence and Knowledge Evidence Updated Assessment Conditions | View draft unit |
| AHCILM3X05 Work with an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Community or organisation | Updated Performance Criteria Added Foundation Skills Revised Application, Performance Evidence, and Knowledge Evidence Updated Assessment Conditions | View draft unit |
| AHCILM3X06 Develop awareness of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety and protocols | Changed unit code and name to include cultural safety Updated Application Revised Elements and Performance Criteria to include cultural safety Revised Performance Evidence and Knowledge Evidence to include cultural safety Added Foundation Skills Revised Assessment Conditions | View draft unit |
| AHCILM3X07 Implement cultural burning practices | Updated Performance Criteria Added Foundation Skills Revised Application, Performance Evidence and Knowledge Evidence Updated Assessment Conditions | View draft unit |
| AHCILM3X08 Identify traditional customs and land rights for an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Community | Updated unit code and title Updated Performance Criteria Added Foundation Skills Revised Application, Performance Evidence and Knowledge Evidence Updated Assessment Conditions | View draft unit |
| AHCILM4X01 Safeguard places of cultural significance | Changed unit Title Reviewed and revised Elements and Performance Criteria Added Foundation Skills Revised Application, Performance Evidence, Knowledge Evidence and Assessment Conditions | View draft unit |
| AHCILM4X02 Report on place of potential cultural significance | Updated Performance Criteria and Assessment Conditions Added Foundation Skills Revised Application, Performance Evidence and Knowledge Evidence | View draft unit |
| AHCILM4X03 Contribute to a proposal for a negotiated outcome for a given area of Country | Changed unit code Revised Application Updated Elements and Performance Criteria Added Foundation Skills Revised Performance Evidence and Knowledge Evidence | View draft unit |
| AHCILM4X04 Record and document Community history | Revised Application, Performance Criteria, Performance Evidence, Knowledge Evidence and Assessment Conditions Added Foundation Skills | View draft unit |
| AHCILM4X05 Develop work practices to accommodate cultural identity | Revised Application, Elements, Performance Criteria, Performance Evidence, Knowledge Evidence and Assessment Conditions Added Foundation Skills | View draft unit |
| AHCILM5X01 Conduct field research into natural and cultural resources | Revised Application, Elements, Performance Criteria, Performance Evidence and Knowledge Evidence Updated Assessment Conditions | View draft unit |
| AHCILM5X02 Develop conservation strategies for cultural resources | Reviewed Elements and Performance Criteria Added Foundation Skills Updated Performance Evidence and Knowledge Evidence Revised Assessment Conditions | View draft unit |
| AHCILM5X03 Manage restoration of cultural places | Reviewed Elements and Performance Criteria Added Foundation Skills Revised Performance Evidence, Knowledge Evidence and Assessment Conditions | View draft unit |
| AHCILM5X04 Develop strategies for on Country management | Updated unit name and code Revised Application and Assessment Conditions Reviewed Elements and Performance Criteria Added Foundation Skills Reviewed and revised Performance Evidence and Knowledge Evidence | View draft unit |
| AHCILM5X05 Map relationship of business enterprise to culture and Country | Revised Elements, Performance Criteria, Performance Evidence and Knowledge Evidence Added Foundation Skills Updated Assessment Conditions | View draft unit |
| AHCILM5X06 Operate within Community cultures and goals | Revised Application Updated Elements and Performance Criteria Added Foundation Skills Revised Performance Evidence and Knowledge Evidence Revised Assessment Conditions | View draft unit |
| AHCILM5X08 Propose a negotiated outcome for a given area of Country | Minor changes to Application Minor changes to Elements and Performance Criteria Added Foundation Skills Revised Performance Evidence to express assessment in terms of frequency Revised Knowledge Evidence Revised Assessment Conditions to include Assessor requirements | View draft unit |
| AHCILM5X10 Plan for successful cultural practice at work | Minor changes to Application Minor changes to Elements and Performance Criteria Added Foundation Skills Revised Performance Evidence to express assessment in terms of frequency Revised Knowledge Evidence Revised Assessment Conditions to include Assessor requirements | View draft unit |
| AHCILM6X01 Manage cultural processes in an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander organisation | Updated unit code and title to include Torres Strait Islander people Minor changes to Application Minor changes to Elements and Performance Criteria Added Foundation Skills Revised Performance Evidence to express assessment in terms of frequency Revised Knowledge Evidence Revised Assessment Conditions to include Assessor requirements | View draft unit |
| AHCILM3X07 Implement cultural burning practices on Country | Updated unit code and title to remove ‘Aboriginal’ and add ‘on Country’ Minor changes to Application Minor changes to Elements and Performance Criteria Added Foundation Skills Revised Performance Evidence to express assessment in terms of frequency Revised Knowledge Evidence Revised Assessment Conditions to include Assessor requirements | View draft unit |
| AHCILM5X05 Map relationship of business enterprise to culture and Country | Minor changes to Application Minor changes to Elements and Performance Criteria Added Foundation Skills Revised Performance Evidence to express assessment in terms of frequency Revised Knowledge Evidence Revised Assessment Conditions to include Assessor requirements | View draft unit |
| AHCILM5X06 Operate within Community cultures and goals | Minor changes to Application Minor changes to Elements and Performance Criteria Added Foundation Skills Revised Performance Evidence to express assessment in terms of frequency Revised Knowledge Evidence Revised Assessment Conditions to include Assessor requirements | View draft unit |
The draft documents can be downloaded in Microsoft Word format by clicking here
It is a priority for Skills Ministers to ensure employers’ and learners’ needs can be met through the VET system by reducing the complexity of the training system and improving accessibility of training. One of the key considerations is whether there is a need for formal training of skills through the VET system to achieve competency in the job role.
Enrolment numbers are a key piece of evidence to indicate the need for formal VET training. There may be a number of explanations for low enrolment numbers in a unit of competency, skill set or qualification, and the AISC are asking industry to confirm whether low enrolment numbers are an indication of lack of industry need, or whether there may be reasons for keeping the relevant skill in the formal training system in spite of low enrolment numbers.
Initially, a cut-off point for specific review of units has been set at fewer than 42 enrolments in each of the last three years.
Several of the units being reviewed as part of this project have been identified as meeting this criteria.
The AISC will consider industry viewpoints for maintaining these, backed up by evidence of future enrolments as reasons for them to be retained.
To help guide the AISC decision, the Industry Reference Committee needs to provide information around the following factors:
- Whether units proposed for retention are core to qualifications being retained?
- Are there linkages with industrial and legislative arrangements?
- Are enrolments expected to increase in the near future? And if so, why?
- Is there employment growth in the skills outlined in the unit/qualifications? And if so, why?
- Is there another specialist requirement to keep the unit/qualification?
Feedback was collected around these questions for the below units. Your feedback will be considered by the project working group and the Industry Reference Committee and will assist these groups with the advice they provide to the AISC.
If these products are updated to a ‘deleted’ status, they will still be accessible on training.gov.au as a reference point for industry to use for non-enrolment purposes. However, registered training organisations will be unable to enrol students in deleted units. They will no longer be considered part of the VET delivery system and will not be funded for delivery, while they are in “deleted” status.
Below are the units that the AISC are considering for deletion and details of the past six years of enrolments for each.
| Qualification code and name | Proposed changes or rational | Link |
| Advanced Diploma of Conservation and Land Management | Based on industry feedback collected as part of the Conservation and Land Management Project in 2020, qualifications and units in conservation and land management (CLM) were re-named and re-coded to conservation and ecosystem management (CEM). In order to bring the Advanced Diploma of Conservation and Land Management in line with these changes, it will be renamed the Advanced Diploma of Conservation and Ecosystem Management as part of this project. It will also be recoded. This update has been considered and approved by the Amenity Horticulture, Landscaping, Conservation & Land Management Industry Reference Committee. | View qualification on national register |
Consultation to date
The qualifications, skill sets and units have been drafted in consultation with project partners, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and representatives. They have provided feedback on information received during working group and workforce functional analysis meetings in November and December 2021. People working directly in the Cultural Sites or On Country Management participated in the meetings and provided information on the skills and knowledge required for job roles and tasks. Thank you to those who provided feedback during these activities.
Subscribe to updates about the projectSubscribe to the Skills Impact newsletter to keep informed about project updates. Make sure to select ‘Agriculture, Horticulture, Conservation and Land Management’ as your industry of interest on the subscription form. |