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 meant by enclosures and exhibits?
An enclosure is a defined space where animals are kept and includes both exhibit (public viewing areas) and off-exhibit holding spaces. Enclosures and exhibits may be for new single species, existing species or multi-species.

What may be involved in maintaining enclosure and exhibit security?
Security may involve implementing security procedures such as locks, maintaining structures in good order and identifying any enclosure faults that may result in escape.

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.
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 animal care strategies?
Animal care strategies may include enrichment, nutrition, breeding, artificial rearing, handling, restraining and transporting.

What may be included in husbandry and technical advice?
Husbandry and technical advice may include technical papers, zoological journals, scientific papers and expert advice from others experienced with a particular animal.

What may be considered in the planning and design of enclosures and exhibits?
Institution's conservation policy and collection plan, availability of animals, space allocation between public and non-public areas, solitary and social animals, cover requirements, visitor intrusion, safety, enjoyment and education, keeper access and safety, sound and touch, immersion techniques and environmental and social enrichment.

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:

implement effective husbandry techniques
supervise and communicate effectively with staff on a daily basis
manage the daily operations of enclosures and exhibits
review and implement action plans for new or renovated enclosures and exhibits
provide technical advice as required.

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
relevant legislation
institutional master plan and collection policy
principles of exhibit design
animal care and management strategies
exhibit maintenance and security requirements
biology and husbandry requirements of animals
animal husbandry manuals and other record-keeping requirements.

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 operate effectively as a keeper
ability to maintain an enclosure or exhibit
ability to implement animal care strategies, including pest control
ability to manage staff effectively
time management skills
literacy skills to read and implement institutional policies and procedures, including OHS; develop sequenced written instructions; record accurately and legibly information collected; and select and apply procedures to a range of defined tasks
oral communication skills / language competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the institution, including questioning techniques, active listening, training others and consulting with management
numeracy skills to complete mathematical calculations relating to maintaining exhibits and enclosures
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 to schedule maintenance activities.

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
institutional master plan and collection policy
range of enclosures and exhibits
animal husbandry manuals
section 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
For example, this could include work within small or large facilities in city, regional or rural areas, traditional or open-range zoos and mobile or theme park environments.

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

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 team members about managing exhibits on a daily basis. (2)

Collecting analysing and organising information
By researching exhibit design for a particular animal species. (3)

Planning and organising activities
By organising information into work schedules and daily reports. (3)

Working with others and in teams
By working with team members on agreed tasks. (3)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
By calculating resource requirements to maintain exhibits and determining space requirements for animals and people. (2)

Solving problems
By solving security issues relevant to enclosures or exhibits. (2)

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