P

PermacultureThis project will consider permaculture design skills and knowledge that is required across a broad range of areas, in keeping with permaculture’s multi-disciplinary nature. These will include the skill requirements in preparing to work in the permaculture industry, to the skills involved in teaching or supervising individuals and teams of people on community projects, to specialist permaculture design that involves natural systems and land use planning.

“Permaculture is essentially about designing sustainable environments with the focus being on how we provide our needs in a way that works with nature’s processes and ecology. Based on the words Permanent (as in sustainable) and Culture (including agri-culture), Permaculture addresses all aspects of human culture, not only food production but how we build, how we organise ourselves and how we utilise all our resources including the human resource.” (Permaculture College Australia)

Organic ProductionWith production growth rate exceeding twenty per cent per annum, the growth of the organic farming industry in Australia is outstanding. This project will look at the knowledge and skills requirements related to organic production practices, including new technologies and tools to support production efficiencies, supply chain integrity and high levels of animal welfare. Unique skills are required for organic soil improvement, compliance with organic certification schemes, implementing sustainable practices, which all contribute to the productivity of this sector.CompostingThe composting sector supports and services a number of sectors in the agriculture and horticulture industry, particularly retail nursing. Organic farmers are also requiring large amounts of compost as a soils conditioner and to provide nutrient needs for crops or pastures. Skills and knowledge required for accessing and receiving raw materials for composting, operating compost machinery and equipment, developing compost recipes and planning for compost production will be identified and incorporated in national skills standards to support the development of this sector.High-quality compost must comply with the Australian Standard for Soil Conditioners and Mulches (AS4454). New technologies in waste management and recycling industries are expected to create new jobs within a sector that will contribute towards reducing emissions.

Project Scope

Existing qualifications, skill sets and units of competency will be reviewed across the fields of permaculture, organic production and composting.Current and emerging skills will be examined in the context of existing unit sectors, with the potential to create streams or specialisations within current qualifications and/or the development of skill sets to meet specific occupational and sector needs. 

Relevant Occupations and Job Functions

• Permaculture design
• Land use planning to incorporate natural systems
• Sustainable food growing
• Community consultation and development
• Sustainable building and settlement design
• Food producer
• Livestock producer
• Grain grower
• Organic farm team leader
• Organic farm supervisor
• Organic farm owner and manager
• Producer and supplier of organic waste
• Soil technician

Timeline

July-August 2021 Initial scopingSeptember 2021 - January 2022 Development of draft qualifications, skill sets and unitsFebruary/March 2022 Drafts available for broad consultationMay/June 2022 Validation of final draftsJune-August 2022 Finalisation of Training Package componentsSeptember 2022 Independent Quality Assurance, and Edit and Equity review of Training Package componentsOctober 2022 IRC consideration for sign-off and submission for endorsement

Project Team

Ruth Geldard	Industry Skills Standards Specialist, Skills Impact	[email protected]
Andrew Horgan	Industry Engagement Manager, Skills Impact	[email protected]
Michelle Ingley-Smith	Industry Engagement Manager, Skills Impact	[email protected]
Ron Barrow	Industry Skills Standard Contractor

 

Opportunities for stakeholder input

It is important that training provides a skilled and flexible workforce for the future. The skills standards and qualifications need to reflect real work experience. So, if you have knowledge and interest in the fields of permaculture, organic production and/or composting, and can describe the skills needed for these sectors, Skills Impact welcomes your input and assistance.The documents will be drafted in consultation with Subject Matter Experts and their networks. Opportunities to provide targeted feedback will occur when the draft materials are made available in February/March 2022, and again for validation of final drafts in May/June 2022. However, your feedback is welcomed at any time, and will help us in drafting the skills standards.Please register your interest in project updates and consultation opportunities by subscribing to the Skills Impact newsletter. Alternatively, contact the project manager, Ruth Geldard on [email protected] or 03 9321 3526.Note: Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Webinars will be held to replace the face-to-face consultation workshops Skills Impact would usually host around Australia.

Stakeholder Consultation Process

A list of key stakeholder organisations has been identified for this project based on their industry role, size or specialty. Skills Impact will ensure contact is made with each of these organisations to seek their involvement and views on all draft skill sets and units. Consultation is not limited to the organisations on this list, they have simply been identified as the most, likely to have a key interest in the development and outcomes of this projectIf you are aware of an organisation that you think should be involved, please contact the project team to ensure they are contacted by us.

D

PermacultureIndustry experts discussed and identified skills for different jobs and activities performed across the permaculture industry, with the main job functions identified around planning and implementation and design of permaculture systems.Three key ethical principles were identified as underpinning permaculture as a discipline:

• Earth Care
• People Care
• Fair Share (set limits and redistribute)

These principles align with the comments and views expressed during the workforce functional analysis meeting, including the rejection of exploitation of the planet, ethical growing and harvesting of crop/production and regenerative production beyond the principles of organic sustainability.The Subject Matter Expert Working Group felt that these ethical principles must be accessible to all levels of employment and training, as they are key to understanding and applying permaculture for targeted work outcomes and social development.Organic Production and CompostingA workforce functional analysis review was undertaken with industry experts to identify the job roles and tasks in the organic farming and composting sectors and whether or not they are covered in the current qualifications and units of competency in the AHC Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation and Land Management Training Package. Questions to consider included: What has changed since they were last reviewed? Are some units no longer relevant?During the organic production and composting workforce functional analysis process, skill requirements were examined in the context of existing unit sectors, with the potential to create streams or specialisations within current qualifications and/or the development of skill sets to meet specific occupational and sector needs.During these discussions, participants emphasised the importance of leaners to have an understanding of what organic farming is and that it involves a systems approach which makes it different to traditional farming practices, and need to keep this intent. It is about utilising ecosystem resources rather than relying on external processes.Four principles that underpin organic farming are:

• Ecology
• Care
• Health
• Fairness

The challenge in teaching organic farming is to understand there is an ecosystem underpinning the farming system that they can work with.CompostingThere are a range of organisations that receive training in composting, such as commercial operators, farmers in specific agricultural operations and community organisations.In general, learners are likely to undertake a specialised group of units to meet skills requirements across these different areas. Potential outcomes for this project are including skills related to composting as a specialist stream within agriculture qualifications and/or the development of targeted skills sets.

Development outcomes and next steps

Draft qualifications, units and skill sets that describe the skills required for those working in permaculture, organic production and composting sectors are scheduled to be available on the project webpage for broad stakeholder consultation and feedback in the first quarter of 2022, 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 documents are available for feedback. 

C

The qualifications for permaculture, organic farming and composting were reviewed and a new qualification structure proposed. Four qualifications were proposed for replacement, with their content to be included in specialisations or electives of other qualifications or in skill sets. These updates were intended to also increase the viability of training delivery. Skill sets were developed and revised to address key skill areas that are required to work within permaculture, composting or organic farming systems. Existing units of competency were revised to remove barriers to assessment and improve their relevance and clarity. One unit of competency was developed to describe skills for the application of permaculture principles in sustainable community development and bioregional strategies.Further information about each sector and the changes made is available below.Your feedback will inform further updates to the drafts, after which they will be made available again for your consideration and validation during April 2022. A summary of the feedback and how it was addressed in the final drafts will also be available.

Permaculture

Engagement with industry stakeholder across all states and territories provided support for a revised structure for the permaculture qualifications, including the replacement of the Certification I in Permaculture with a skill set. The units from the Certification I in Permaculture were also proposed to be included in the elective bank for a revised Certificate I in Agriculture qualification, which is currently under review as part of Ag and Horticulture Core Skills project. The certificates, II, III, IV and V in permaculture were revised and updated to incorporate unit changes including merging of content and adjustments to Australian Qualification Framework alignment for some units. Skill sets were developed to meet industry needs related to permaculture fundamentals, including structure, water systems, design, planning community governance and developing strategic plans for permaculture projects. The assessment conditions for all permaculture units of competency were amended to remove requirements that assessors must hold a nationally accredited Certificate III (or higher) in Permaculture and/or completed a Permaculture Design Course (PDC) and/or have completed a Permaculture Demonstrator Skill Set. This will remove potential barriers for training delivery and assessment in permaculture. Assessors must still satisfy the requirements in the vocational standards and framework.

Organic Production

Based on industry feedback, the Certificate IV in Organic Farming and Diploma of Organic Farming were proposed to be replaced with organic production specialisations in the Certificate IV in Agriculture and Diploma of Agriculture (currently under review as part of the Ag and Horticulture Core Skills Project). The specialisation will require learners to select specialist organic (ORG) units from an elective grouping and include core competencies in workplace health and safety (WHS). Alongside targeted consultation with Registered Training Authorities (RTOs), this change will improve viability of training delivery and supporting a goal to increase enrolments in Vocational Education and Training in this sector. Three skill sets were revised and one developed to define the skills required to plan, manage and oversee certification of organic or biodynamic farms and farm produce. Fourteen units have also been revised to reflect current practices.

Composting

The AHC32216 Certificate III in Commercial Composting was proposed for deletion, based on industry feedback that it was not needed and that waste management issues described in the qualification are better aligned to the Certificate III in Waste Management (Waste processing). Six units of competency relating to composting were revised for use in agriculture and horticulture qualifications as electives for on farm composting activity, as well as in waste management qualifications. Five skill sets were also developed to address a range of waste management issues arising in cropping, on-farm and livestock production.Certificate I in permacultur. ann Certificate III in Commercial Composting with skill sets ase also Supporpey. In-resposle to stakeholder feedbackdurling tits ime,r permaculture(PER)n units were updated to clarfry requirements for-assesoars.Oorganic production units were updated toin/orporlahe skills and knowledge relating to certification schemes and complianc.. The composting units were updatedw here nocesmardtso includehreherence to reevlant legislatio,sustndwards and cdmes of practice, including wor health ann afeity and environmennal requirements. stakeholder input ase also collectedab oue te eplacement of certain units as electives within agriculture qualifications ann tisdin formationise also vtainable for review belo.FurOtherin formationab ouee ch -sectos ann tre changesmoadnise vtainable belo.>simpact.com.au/documents/ahcorg508-prepare-the-enterprismSumimard of Consultation annFfeedbace Tlankyouk to those stakeholdese who provided feedback on theddrafs that weremoadn vtainable from26 Nrovember/20 1 utoil5oJanumard/202y under the‘Ddrafs Avtainabl’sustng. Durling tits ime,r feedback ase collectedvian the inlinr feedbackhubn annwebionrsn, andvianph oneicllls anddm aile. The units were drafded withguidmance fromSubojecwMmaaterExopeit,emoadn uy of wor plnceexopeity and industryKeye changes includs:

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