Environmental Management
Systems
Student Assessment Guide (SAG)
This subject is assessed holistically from the following unit(s);
Unit Code
Unit Title
MSS024001A
Work & communicate effectively as an environmental technician
MSS024002A
Implement environmental management plans & procedures
Successful completion of the above units requires the following pre-requisite unit(s);
Nil
Nil
www.cffet.net/env
Environmental Management Systems
SAG
Subject purpose
This unit of competency covers the ability to apply environmental management plans and
procedures to minimise the environmental impact of work activities and ensure legislative
compliance. Personnel are required to identify environmental requirements in everyday
work activities, issues and risks for projects and/or sites, recognise environmental incidents
and apply the specified procedures or actions to control and minimise their impacts.
The induction of an employee into an enterprise to undertake environmental technical work
is also examined. It includes working within Australia’s framework for environmental
management and the culture of the enterprise, and the need to interact effectively with a
large range of people in many industry and community settings.
Assessment
Assessment for this subject will consist of theory study modules based on key aspects of
implementing Environmental management Plans and assignments including;
•
A summary of environmental law and management in NSW
•
An EMP analysis assignment
•
A review of potential environmental issues and incidents
•
Discussion on the communication roles of environmental technicians
There is substantial assignment and practical work required for this unit.
Assessment Task
Weighting
Study modules (5)
50%
EMP analysis
30%
Environmental issues review
10%
Environmental communication review
10%
TOTAL
100%
Subject content
This subject deals with a wide variety of topics including the following aspects;

Environmental legislation and regulations including;
o National
o State
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o Local

Division of intergovernmental powers in relation to environmental management

Environmental quality indicator and guidelines for;
o Waters
o Air
o Soils / land
o Ecological systems

Planning laws at national, state and local levels of government

Environmental protection laws at national, state and local levels of government

Environmental management plans covering;
o Government project management
o Industrial project management
o Planning versus operational management plans
o Data storage

Administrative and managerial aspects of environmental management

Management of data
Grading
The assessment for MSS024001A component is recorded as either Achieved Competency
(AC) or Not Yet Competent (NC).
The assessment for the MSS024002A component is recorded as a Class Mark. All assessment
events used to determine your result will be locally set and locally marked. Your results will
be reported as DISTINCTION, CREDIT, PASS (AC) or FAIL (NYC). To receive a particular grade
you must get at least the mark shown below:
Grade
Class mark
DISTINCTION
>=83
CREDIT
>=70
PASS (ACHIEVED COMPETENCY)
>=50
FAIL (NOT YET COMPETENT)
<50
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Delivery strategy
This subject is assessed directly against the unit’s performance criteria.
Elements
Performance
Criteria
Subject
Weighting
Unit
Weighting
MSS024001A
E 1, 2 & 3
1.1, 1.2 2.1, 2.2,
3.1 & 3.2
20%
50%
MSS024002A
ALL
ALL
80%
100%
Unit
NOTE: The subject weighting MUST add up to 100 for the subject, but the Unit Weighting MAY NOT add up to
100 as each unit is weighted differently in each subject it is used in. Refer to cffet.net/env/assessment for
further explanation.
What you will need
To complete this subject successfully you will need;
•
The course notes
•
A USB flash or thumb drive.
•
Access to a computer with internet, email and general office programs
•
General computer skills
Where to get help
Contact your teacher [www.cffet.net/env/contacts] if you run into any trouble this unit. You
would be surprised how flexible we are at accommodating your needs, but communication
is key. If you don’t let us know you are having trouble, we may have trouble trying to help
you.
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Resources and references
References
Note that you are not required to purchase, download or read these references (unless
specifically directed to by your teacher). Some of these resources might be available from
your teacher or library for free.
Bates, G. (2010). Environmental Law in Australia. Australia: LexisNexis-Butterworths.
DSEWPC. (2010, October 27). Australia's Biodiversity Conservation Strategy. Retrieved May
27, 2013, from environment.gov.au:
http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/strategy/states-territories.html
Farrier, D. (. (2011). The Environmental Law Handbook. Sydney: Thomson Reuters.
Jorgensen, S. E. (2005). Handbook of Ecological Indicators for Assessment of Ecosystem
Health. Boca Raton: CRC Press.
StandardsAustralia. (2004). AS/NZS ISO 14001:2004 Environmental Management Systems:
Requirements with guidance for use. Australia: Standards Australia.
Workplace Health and Safety Regulation 2011. (n.d.).
ANAO. (2012). Public Sector Environmental Management: Reducing the environmental
impacts of public sector operations. Better practice guide. Canberra: Commonwealth of
Australia.
Burden, F. E. (2002). Environmental Monitoring Handbook. McGraw-Hill Professional.
DEWHA. (2009). Independant review of Environmental Protection and Biodiversity
Conservation Act 1999: Chapter 2, Commonwealth role and EPBC Act objectives. . Canberra:
Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and Arts.
DIPNR. (2004). Guideline for the preapration of Environmental Management Plans. Sydney:
DIPNR.
DSEWPC. (2013, February 14). Intergovernmental Agreement on the Environment.
Retrieved
from
Ecologically
Sustainable
Development:
http://www.environment.gov.au/about/esd/publications/igae/index.html
Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. (n.d.).
EPA, N. (1996). Environmental Guidelines: Solid Waste Lanfills. Chatswood: Environmental
Protection Authority.
ESDSC. (1992). National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development. Canberra:
Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Populations and Communities.
UNCED. (1992). Agenda 21. United Nations Conference on Environment & Development. Rio
de Janeiro: UNSD.
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Resources

Information on environmental law can be found at the EDO here.

Current Commonwealth legislation can be found here.

Current State legislation can be found here.

NSW environmental planning materials can be found here.

NSW environmental protection information (EPA) can be found here.

Commonwealth EPBC Act website is here.

Local Government information can be found here.
Assessment Submission
Students are to submit all assessments by the due date to the subject teacher by email using
the following filename format;
yourname-assessmentname-duedate
Visit www.cffet.net/env/assessment for more information on submitting assessments, file
names and available file extensions that you can use.
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