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 may zoological plantation requirements include?
Plantation requirements may include considerations of location and size, animal needs, environmental considerations, plant types, equipment and materials, use of plant simulators and planting a mix of evergreen and deciduous for year-round supply.

How may plantation requirements be sourced?
Sources may include own plant stock, local councils, donations, roadside verges, other plantations within the captive animal facility and outside contractors for plants and equipment.

Who may be considered relevant personnel?
Relevant personnel may include horticulturists, landscapers, project managers, consultants and keepers in charge.

What are examples of plantation management strategies?
Plantation management strategies may include water conservation techniques, environmentally friendly waste management, and environmentally friendly and non-poisonous pest management.

What type of OHS issues would be relevant in this context?
Animal care for captive animals has a range of associated risks from bites, envenomation, kicks or scratches. All duties should reflect an awareness of and a respect for these risks.
The handling of chemicals requires extra care to ensure safe work practices are maintained.
The use of power tools and equipment, including their use in difficult areas and above ground, requires extra care to ensure safe work practices are maintained.
Safe work practices are used in packaging and handling loads, including animals. Appropriate safe handling techniques are used to reduce muscle load on exertion.
Some captive animal facilities may expose personnel to risks such as zoonoses, release of infective agents (both animal and human) and chemical spillage. Procedures to reduce the spread of disease may include incident reporting, cleaning, the removal of waste and spillage, the containment or elimination of risk, the use of personal protective equipment and clothing and seeking advice from supervisors.

What are examples of daily plantation activities?
Plantation activities may include watering, pruning, controlling pests, weeding, mulching, thinning, canopy reduction, replanting, fertilising and removing waste.

What may sustainable horticultural practices include?
Sustainable horticultural practices may include safe and effective pest control and waste management strategies; and plantation practices that include consideration of the needs of the animal, environment, plant types, equipment and material, use of plant stimulators and planting a mix of evergreen and deciduous plants for year-round supply.

What type of advice may be provided?
Advice may relate to animal preferences, plants known to be toxic to animals, plant variety and mixed age structure.

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:

work with others, including horticulturists, to establish and maintain a plantation
correctly calculate and harvest food requirements
maintain plantation records.

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:

institutional policies and procedures, including OHS requirements
relevant legislation
zoological horticulture principles and practices
objectives of a plantation program
basic physiology of required plant species
pest identification and management techniques
animal groups and their natural diets
basic animal anatomy and physiology
animal nutrition requirements
toxic plants and substances including control, factors affecting toxicity and protocols for suspected animal poisoning.

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 implement institutional policies and procedures
ability to research plantation requirements for specific animals
ability to provide advice on animal food requirements
ability to practise sustainable horticultural practices
literacy skills to read and implement institutional policies and procedures, including OHS and waste management; implement dietary instructions; record accurately and legibly information collected; and select and apply procedures to a range of defined tasks
oral communication skills / language competence to communicate effectively with team members, supervisors, contractors and consultants and to fulfil the job role as specified by the institution, including questioning techniques, active listening, asking for clarification from supervisors and consulting with supervisors
numeracy skills to complete arithmetic calculations and weigh and measure feed
interpersonal skills to work with and relate to people from a range of cultural, social and religious backgrounds
problem-solving skills to use available resources and prioritise daily tasks.

What are the specific resource implications for this unit of competency?
For valid assessment, one
an appropriate captive animal workplace
equipment and / or resources normally used in the workplace
institutional policies and procedures
relevant federal and state or territory legislation
a plantation
horticultural equipment for establishing, maintaining and harvesting the plantation
plantation records.

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 a captive animal workplace.
There must be access in this 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
RUV4404A Develop animal diets

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 about plantation requirements with supervisors and other relevant people. (3)

Collecting analysing and organising information
By analysing a range of information to assess the plantation food requirements of animals in the facility. (2)

Planning and organising activities
By implementing a plantation maintenance program. (2)

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

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
By calculating food requirements for specific animals. (2)

Solving problems
By calculating a continual supply of food from plantations. (2)

Using technology
By using electronic databases and the Internet to access information. (2)