Elements and Performance Criteria

RANGE STATEMENT
The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.
Standard operating procedures for monitoring research animal health may be developed:
in conjunction with other staff, in particular veterinarians and staff involved in research programs
in some institutions the responsibly to develop safe operating procedures lies with the veterinarian with other staff assisting
as a team task with all involved being consulted.
Subject to facility requirements animals may include:
on most occasions the animal species will be common laboratory animals:
guinea pigs
mice
rabbits
rats
on some occasions animal species may include:
amphibians, fish and reptiles
dogs and cats
fish
invertebrates
livestock (e.g. sheep, cattle and pigs)
native wildlife (e.g. marsupials and birds)
primates
poultry.
OHS risks associated with animal technician procedures include:
animal bites, kicks, scratches and crush injuries
biological hazardous waste and sharps disposal
handling of chemicals and medicines
gas leakage
inhalation of aerosol particles
intraocular contamination
manual handling, including carrying, lifting and shifting
needle pricks and cuts from other sharps
release of infective agents (animal and human)
zoonoses.
Diseases that may occur in research animals include:
common infectious diseases:
bacterial
fungal
parasitic
prions
protozoa
viral
common non-infectious diseases:
congenital
degenerative
dietary
genetic
neoplastic
toxic
traumatic.
Signs that may indicate that an animal is unwell may include:
clinical signs:
aggression
change in normal appearance
changes in temperature
changes to skin, fur or hair
decreased fertility
depression
increased or decreased mobility
isolation from others
lack of grooming
loss of appetite
signs of injury:
blood
diarrhoea
pus
vomitus.
Classifying organisms found in biological samples may require:
investigation using:
clinical advice
the internet
reference texts.
Requirements for treating animals may include:
relevant medication:
parasite treatment
prescription drugs
vaccinations
seeking veterinary assistance when developing a health-monitoring program.
Strategies might be developed:
in consultation with other staff, including veterinarians and researchers
to include minimising the adverse effects that interactions of host and pathogenic agents and the environment may have on animal health
using scientific literature.
Experimental techniques may include:
carcinogenic agents
radiation
radioisotopes
surgical procedures.

EVIDENCE GUIDE
The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy all of the requirements of the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge and the range statement of this unit. Assessors should ensure that candidates can:
develop and implement standard operating procedures to manage and maintain the health of research animals
work independently and as part of a team to observe animals, monitor their health, sickness behaviours and pain and to report abnormalities
assist in the investigation of disease processes and act to treat, prevent, control and monitor disease
identify and document the impact of disease processes on a research program.

The skills and knowledge required to manage and maintain the health of research animals must be transferable to a range of work environments and contexts and include the ability to deal with unplanned events.

Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment of this unit is to be practical in nature and will be most appropriately assessed in an animal technology research facility or an environment that reproduces normal work conditions and has a scientific establishment licence and access to an approved AEC.

There must be access to a range of research animals and the relevant information, materials and documentation to enable one to demonstrate competence.

Method of assessment
To ensure consistency in one's performance, competency should be demonstrated, to industry defined standards, on more than one occasion over a period of time in order to cover a variety of circumstances, cases and responsibilities, and over a number of assessment activities.

The assessment strategies must include practical skills assessment. Suggested strategies for this unit are:
written and/or oral assessment of candidate's required knowledge
observed, documented and first-hand testimonial evidence of candidate's application of practical tasks
simulation exercises that reproduce normal work conditions
case study analysis
third-party evidence
workplace documentation.

This unit may be assessed in a holistic way with other units of competency relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role.

Guidance information for assessment
Assessment methods should reflect workplace demands (e.g. literacy and numeracy demands) and the needs of particular target groups (e.g. people with disabilities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, people with a language background other than English, youth and people from low socioeconomic backgrounds).