Elements and Performance Criteria

The Range of Variables explains the range of contexts within which the performance and knowledge requirements of this unit may be assessed. The scope of variables chosen in training and assessment may depend on the work contexts.

What is the animal control and regulation industry?
A community service provided by local government which deals with education, regulation, consultation, provision of facilities and the sourcing of information for the responsible ownership of animals.

Who might internal and external stakeholders include?
Key internal stakeholders might include colleagues, junior officers, supervisors, advisers, senior managers and executives within the organisation and elected members.
Key external stakeholders may include state, federal and military police; court administration (e.g. prosecutors, legal and court staff); investigators; local government law enforcement officers; emergency services such as fire and ambulance; animal owners; non-animal owners; the general public; private enterprise; and other public sector organisations.

What sources of assistance may be relevant?
Union representatives, OHS representatives, human resources representatives and outside agencies.

What policies and procedures may be relevant to this unit?
Organisational policies and procedures; standard operating procedures; quality system policies and procedures; environmental policies; OHS policies and procedures, including accident reports, responsibilities and duties; and standard work practices.

What legislative requirements may be relevant to those working in the industry?
Federal and state or territory legislation and regulations, standards, codes of practice, local laws for animal control and regulation services and other associated legislative constraints.

What does legislation refer to or include in the context of this unit?
Legislation may refer to federal and state or territory legislation, codes of practice, regulations, standards and local laws.

What key principles may be contained in legislation?
Honesty and integrity, confidentiality and non-disclosure of official information, due care and diligence, avoiding conflicts of interest, obeying lawful and reasonable direction and compliance with the law.

What kind of records may be kept?
Records to be kept will include those required by legislation and organisational policies and procedures including pound documentation, animal identification documentation, animal registrations, licensing, penalty infringement notices, infringement notices, enforcement notices and service requests.

What are the critical aspects of evidence required for this unit of competency as a whole?
The critical requirements that are valuable for this unit of competency as a whole are listed below.

Assessment must confirm one's ability to:

obtain and use information about the industry
source, read and interpret state or territory legislation relevant to work undertaken within animal control and regulation
apply state or territory legislation within day-to-day work activities
identify key principles and statutory powers contained in relevant legislation
access and use management systems to keep and maintain accurate records
identify communication channels for internal and external stakeholders.

What specific knowledge is needed to achieve the performance criteria?

Knowledge and understanding are essential to apply this unit in the workplace, to transfer the skills to other contexts and to deal with unplanned events. The knowledge requirements for this unit of competency are listed below and include:

working knowledge of legislation, regulations, standards and codes of practice relevant to work undertaken in an animal control and regulation environment
principles of organisational protocols, policies and procedures and codes of conduct
methods for record-keeping including an operational knowledge of organisational record-keeping systems and programs
organisational structure.

What specific skills are needed to achieve the performance criteria?

To achieve the performance criteria, some complementary skills are required. These skills include:

ability to research and source information
ability to take notes
ability to use scanning techniques to locate main ideas and key principles of legislation
ability to understand and apply written materials such as codes of practice, legislation and regulations
ability to use basic information technology
ability to analyse
interpersonal skills to communicate, relate, negotiate and mediate with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders from a range of social and cultural backgrounds
literacy skills to read, interpret and apply relevant legislation and regulations.

What are the specific resource implications for this unit of competency?
For valid assessment, one
an appropriate workplace or an environment that reproduces normal work conditions
equipment and / or resources normally used in the workplace
relevant organisational policies and procedures
state or territory legislation relevant to work undertaken in animal control and regulation
organisational management and / or record-keeping systems.

What considerations should there be for consistency in performance?
To ensure consistency in one's performance, competency should be demonstrated on more than one occasion over a period of time in order to cover a variety of circumstances, cases and responsibilities, and where possible, over a number of assessment activities.
The skills and knowledge required to

What considerations should there be for context of assessment?
Assessment for this unit of competency is to be largely practical in nature and will be most appropriately assessed in an animal control and regulation workplace or in a situation that reproduces normal work conditions.
There must be access in either situation to the appropriate equipment and / or resources to enable one to demonstrate competency.

Are there other units of competency that could be assessed with this one?
This unit of competency

There are a number of processes that are learnt throughout work and life which are required in all jobs. They are fundamental processes and generally transferable to other work functions. Some of these are covered by the key competencies, although others may be added. The questions below highlight how these processes are applied in this unit of competency. Following each question a number in brackets indicates the level to which the key competency needs to be demonstrated where 0 = not required, 1 = perform the process, 2 = perform and administer the process and 3 = perform, administer and design the process.
Communicating ideas and information
Through discussion with supervisors and peers about daily routines. (2)

Collecting analysing and organising information
By maintaining personal notes on legislation and its key points and uses, relevant to daily work activities. (2)

Planning and organising activities
By planning day-to-day activities and prioritising own work activities. (2)

Working with others and in teams
By working with others on agreed tasks. (2)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
By analysing and interpreting data for record-keeping purposes. (1)

Solving problems
By using available resources to achieve work tasks. (1)

Using technology
By using electronic equipment, including databases and the Internet, to locate relevant legislation. (1)