Course Title: Implement and monitor environmentally sustainable work practices

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2012

Course Code: EASC5040C

Course Title: Implement and monitor environmentally sustainable work practices

School: 650T TAFE Business

Campus: City Campus

Program: C6106 - Advanced Diploma of Legal Practice

Course Contact : Doug Gourlay

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 5944

Course Contact Email:doug.gourlay@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Robyn Lang (Coordinator)
Telephone 9925 1565
Email: robyn.lang@rmit.edu.au
 

Doug Cole
Telephone 9925 5424
Email: doug.cole@rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 40

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

None

Course Description

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to effectively analyse the workplace in relation to environmentally sustainable work practices and to implement improvements and monitor their effectiveness.  It addresses the knowledge, processes and techniques necessary to implement and monitor environmentally sustainable work practices, including the development of processes and tools, such as:
•  identifying areas for improvement
• developing plans to make improvements
•  implementing and monitoring improvements in environmental performance.

This unit requires the ability to access industry information, applicable legislative and occupational health and safety (OHS) guidelines.

While no licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply holistically to this unit at the time of publication, relevant national, state and territory legislation, regulations and codes of practice impact upon this unit.
 


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

BSBSUS301A Implement and monitor environmentally sustainable work practices

Element:

1. Investigate current practices in relation to resource usage

2. Set targets for improvements

3. Implement performance improvement strategies

4. Monitor performance

 

Performance Criteria:

1.1. Identify environmental regulations applying to the enterprise
1.2. Analyse procedures for assessing compliance with environmental/sustainability regulations
1.3. Collect information on environmental and resource efficiency systems and procedures, and provide to the work group where appropriate
1.4. Collect, analyse and organise information from a range of sources to provide information/advice and tools/resources for improvement opportunities
1.5. Measure and document current resource usage of members of the work group
1.6. Analyse and document current purchasing strategies
1.7. Analyse current work processes to access information and data to assist in identifying areas for improvement
 

2.1. Seek input from stakeholders, key personnel and specialists
2.2. Access external sources of information and data as required
2.3. Evaluate alternative solutions to workplace environmental issues
2.4. Set efficiency targets
 

3.1. Source and use appropriate techniques and tools to assist in achieving efficiency targets
3.2. Apply continuous improvement strategies to own work area of responsibility, including ideas and possible solutions to communicate to the work group and management
3.3. Implement and integrate environmental and resource efficiency improvement plans for own work group with other operational activities
3.4. Supervise and support team members to identify possible areas for improved practices and resource efficiency in work area
3.5. Seek suggestions and ideas about environmental and resource efficiency management from stakeholders and act upon where appropriate
3.6. Implement costing strategies to fully value

4.1. Use and/or develop evaluation and monitoring, tools and technology
4.2. Document and communicate outcomes to report on efficiency targets to key personnel and stakeholders
4.3. Evaluate strategies and improvement plans
4.4. Set new efficiency targets, and investigate and apply new tools and strategies
4.5. Promote successful strategies and reward participants where possible
 


Learning Outcomes



Details of Learning Activities

Students will study Implement and monitor sustainable work practices theory in class sessions and through prescribed exercises and assessment work. These concepts will also be explored through the investigation of appropriate real world and simulated environments. This course is being co-delivered with LAW5189 Practise in a Legal Environment.


Teaching Schedule

Week    Lecture  Tutorial
Week 0 - 25 June   Introduction- Aims of the Course  No lab class

Week 1 - 3July

  Managing your day in a Legal Office / File Management

 Cost Disclosure Statements
 Legal Ethics- Presentation Groups
 

Week 2 - 10 July   Communicating with the Client and Third Parties(Specialist letter and Disclosure Statements)  Commence Civil Litigation File
Week 3 - 17 July   Preparing a Civil File
-Preparing a Complaint
-Statement of Claim
-Costs on a Complaint
 
 Commence Drink Driving File 
 File Management to be assessed. 
 
Week 4 - 24 July  

Preparing Conveyancing Documentation

 Commence Conveyancing File
Civil Litigation- Magistrate Complaint Due
Week 5 - 31 July EASC5040C
1.Investigate current practices in relation to resource usage
 
Independent Student Learning-
Sustainable Work Practices-Investigate current practises in relation to resource usage

 Independent Student Learning-
Investigate current practises in relation to resource Usage

Week 6 - 7 Aug   Entering default judgment and calculating penalty interest.
Guest speakers
 
 File work
Week 7- 14 Aug   Taking and Preparing Affidavits, Statutory Declarations  File Work
Week 8 - 21 Aug EASC5040C
2.Set targets for improvements
3.Implement performance improvement strategies
4. Monitor performance
 
Sustainable Work Practices-Setting target for improvements, implementing and monitoring workplace strategies- Guest speaker  Conveyancing File- Contract of Sale due
27 Aug -  31 Aug   Mid Semester Break (student vacation)  Mid Semester Break (student vacation)
Week 9 - 4 Sept   Practical Placement  Practical Placement
Week 10 - 11 Sept EASC5040C
3.Implement performance improvement strategies
4. Monitor performance
 
 Brief to Counsel-Guest Speaker
Sustainable Work Practices- implementing and monitoring workplace strategies
 File work
Week 11 - 18 Sept   Preparing Bill of Costs  Drink Driving File- Brief to Counsel due
Week 12 - 25 Sept   Statement of Adjustments  Conveyancing File- Statement of  Adjustments due
Week 13- 2 Oct   Attending Settlements/Guest speaker  File Work
Sustainable Work Practices Report Due
Week 14 - 9 Oct    Conveyanicng File- Settlement  Conveyanicng File-Settlement
Week 15- 16 Oct   Guest Speakers  Drink Driving File -Letter to Client enclosing costs due
Week 16 -23 Oct   File Work

 File Work
Files to be handed in
File Managment to be assessed

Week 17 - 30 OCt   Feedback Interviews  Feedback Interviews

* This outline is subject to variation please check the learning hub regularly for changes.

The nominal hours associated with this are a guide only and represent the total teaching time and student effort required to successfully complete the course. This may include not only scheduled classes but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

There are no prescribed texts.

There are no text book requirements. This unit will require you to conduct your own research and additional reading material will be placed on blackboard.


References

Software Publications Pty Ltd. Implement and Monitor Environmentally Sustainable Work Practices (Software Publication Pty Ltd, 2009)

1-74123-950-8


Other Resources


Overview of Assessment

Assessment methods have been designed to measure achievement of the requirements in a flexible manner over a range of assessment tasks, for example: 

• direct questioning combined with review of portfolios of evidence
• response to case studies
• review of reports of activities of work group in relation to measuring resource use and developing improvement strategies
•  review of work plans outlining approaches to improved practices with documented benchmarks
•  analysis of the way in which advice is sought and suggestions are made about improvements
•  observation over time and in a range of situations in relation to review of overall work area and staff, to assess and measure resource use, hazards and compliance
•   reports on meetings around procedures and improvement processes and monitoring within the workplace; lists of environmental hazards/risks or inefficiencies or opportunities for improvements identified in the workplace
•  analysis of implementation of programs such as a green office program, supply chain program for purchasing sustainable products, or an environmental management framework
•  oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of environmental and energy efficiency issues, systems and procedures specific to industry practice.

Students are advised that they are likely to be asked to personally demonstrate their assessment work to their teacher to ensure that the relevant competency standards are being met.
 


Assessment Tasks

Students must demonstrate an understanding of all elements of competency to be deemed competent.

A range of assessment methods are used to assess practical skills and knowledge, for example:
• direct questioning combined with review of portfolios of evidence and third party workplace reports of on-the-job performance by the candidate
• review of authenticated documents from the workplace or training environment
• demonstration of techniques 
 

Critical aspects of assessment 
Evidence of the following is essential:
• knowledge of relevant compliance requirements within work area
• developing plans to make improvements
• planning and organising work group activities in relation to measuring current use and devising strategies to improve usage
• monitoring resource use and improvements for environmental performance relative to work area and supervision
• ensuring appropriate action is taken within work area in relation to environmental/sustainability compliance and potential hazards
implementing new approaches to work area in an effort to resolve and improve environmental and resource efficiency issues and reporting as required.
 

Assessment Task 1.
On-line reading, research and quizzes.

Assessment Task 2
 You are required to carry out a small research project in order to ascertain the environmentally sustainable work practices of  a legal organisation and make recommendations on improvements to such work practices. (Please refer to the Assignment Sheet on the RMIT Learning Hub/Blackboard.)

Submission Requirements
In accordance with RMIT policy all written assessment must be submitted on-line through Turnitin on blackboard. In order for timely feedback on your report on Sustainable Work Practices in a Legal Office a hardcopy needs to be submitted in addition.
You should:
• Ensure that you submit assessments on or before the due date. If your performance in the assessment is affected by unexpected circumstances, you should consider applying for Special Consideration. Information on the process and application forms is available at http://rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=ls0ydfokry9rz website.
• Always retain a copy of your assessment tasks. (hard copy and soft copy)
• When you submit work for assessment at RMIT University you need to use a cover sheet that includes a declaration and statement of authorship. You must complete, sign and submit a cover sheet with all work you submit for assessment, whether individual or group work. On the cover sheet you declare that the work you are presenting for assessment is your own work. An assignment cover sheet for submission of work for assessment is available on blackboard.
• Each page of your assessment should include footer with your name, student number, the title of the assessment, unit code and title and page numbers. For example, Julie Macpherson, 324567, Task 2, EASC5040C Sustainable Work Practices, Page 1 of 10.
 

Marking Guide (Competency):
Vocational Education and Training (VET) is based on current industry needs and the focus on preparing you for the workplace. Because VET courses are informed by practical application of knowledge and skills, they are based on a system known as ‘competency based training’ (CBT). So when you are assessed in VET it is about whether you are competent to do the job, as well as having a firm grasp on the knowledge and skills required to do that job, as opposed to traditional curriculum based education settings that are often based on knowledge retention.
After achieving competency we then grade your performance in the unit; this gives you the opportunity to have the level of your performance formally recognized against industry standards and employability skills.
You need to demonstrate you are competent in each element of the unit of competency you are studying. You will receive feedback on each assessment task that will inform you whether you are competent or not and how well you are performing. Once competent in all elements of the unit you receive a competency grading. Please refer to the Final Grades table below.

Marking Guide (Grading)
After achieving competency we then grade your performance in the unit; this gives you the opportunity to have the level of your performance formally recognized against industry standards and employability skills.

The grading is according to the following criteria:
1. LEVEL OF INDEPENDENCE, INITIATIVE, ENTERPRISE AND PERFORMANCE OF WORK TASK
We are looking for a high level of ability to complete all tasks independently as per the specifications as well as demonstrating a high level of initiative in your approach necessary to identify areas for improvement, developing plans to make improvements and to implement and monitor environmentally sustainable work practices.

2. DEMONSTRATED BREADTH OF UNDERPINNING KNOWLEDGE AND A WILLINGNESS TO CONTINUE LEARNING
We are looking for depth of understanding of the key concepts and knowledge required in environmentally sustainable work practices.. You should be able to demonstrate detailed knowledge of compliance requirements, ability to implement and monitor integrated environmental and resource efficiency management policies and improvements for environmental performance and implementing new approaches for sustainable work practices within a legal organisation.

3. TECHNIQUES & PROCESSES, TECHNOLOGY SKILLS AND PROBLEM SOLVING
We are looking for appropriate use of technology to assist in presenting all tasks clearly and suitable for the intended audience. We are also looking for demonstrated skills for researching appropriate data, analysis and applying the information to identify areas for improvement and to implement and monitor environmentally sustainable work practices in a legal organisation.

4. WORK ORGANISATION, PLANNING AND SELF MANAGEMENT
We expect to see timely submission of all required assessment tasks. Students must also ensure that they evaluate their own performance and identify areas for improvement and this is demonstrated throughout the semester.

5. COMMUNICATION, PEOPLE NETWORKING, LANGUAGE AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS AND TEAMWORK
We expect to see contributions to relevant discussions during class sessions. In addition your tasks should demonstrate a very good understanding of strategies for effective written communication skills.

Final Grades table:
CHD
Competent with High Distinction
CDI Competent with Distinction
CC Competent with Credit
CAG Competency Achieved – Graded
NYC Not Yet Competent
DNS Did Not Submit for assessment
 


Assessment Matrix

Learning outcome Assessment
Task 1

Assessment
Task 2

1. Investigate current practices in relation to resource usage  X  X
2. Set targets for improvements  X  X
3. Implement performance improvement strategies  X  X
4. Monitor performance  X  X

Course Overview: Access Course Overview