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.
Environmental and resource efficiency issues may include:
minimisation of environmental risks and maximisation of opportunities to:
improve business environmental performance
promote more efficient production and consumption of natural resources
this may be achieved by:
minimising waste by implementing the waste management hierarchy
efficient energy and water use
seeking alternate sources of energy
efficient animal feeding practices.
Appropriate techniques may include:
examination of invoices from suppliers to compare per unit cost of product or service
examination of relevant information and data:
labelling of contents
place of origin and manufacture
efficiency rating tables
measurement of resource consumption under a range of conditions.
Environmental hazards may include:
inappropriate use and disposal of animal treatment products, cleaning agents and chemicals
inappropriate disposal of animal, feed or organic waste or deceased animals
poorly maintained machinery and equipment
poor infection control practices
poor workplace vector management processes.
Compliance may include meeting the requirements of:
federal, state and territory environmental legislation such as:
Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2000
state and territory environmental protection authorities and agencies
local government by-laws and regulations, including regional land and water management plans and animal control regulations.
Organisationplans may include:
documented policies and procedures including infection control and biosecurity plans
environmental management system
work plans, including those relating to minimising waste and increasing the efficiency of water use.
Suggestions may include ideas that help to:
increase use of renewable, recyclable, reusable and recoverable resources
maximise opportunities, such as the use of solar or other alternative forms of energy, where appropriate
prevent and minimise risks
reduce emissions of greenhouse gases
reduce use of non-renewable resources.

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 competence 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:
access, interpret and comply with a range of environment/sustainability legislation and procedural requirements relevant to daily responsibilities
identify and report on current resource usage measurements and inefficiencies identified and suggest opportunities for improvements
follow organisation information to participate in and support an improved resource efficiency process and report as required
identify and report environmental hazards/risks in the workplace and suggest opportunities for improvements.

The skills and knowledge required to participate in environmentally sustainable work practices 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 largely practical in nature and will most appropriately be assessed against the types of processes required in the industry sector in which candidates are working or in a situation that reproduces normal work conditions. Industry sectors can include pet shops, breeding or boarding kennels and catteries; aviaries, companion animal training, grooming establishments; zoos, wildlife parks, mobile animal facilities, animal technology facilities, veterinary practices or similar workplacesor similar workplaces.

There must be access to the relevant information, equipment and/or resources 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 and where possible, over a number of assessment activities.

The assessment strategy 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
third-party evidence
workplace documentation
portfolio.

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).