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.
Animal data profiles may include:
information on:
behavioural characteristics
feeding and socialisation patterns
interaction with humans
sexual and reproductive activities.
Behavioural management strategies may include:
animal husbandry practices
appropriate exhibit design
enrichment activities
social grouping.
Animal welfare and OHS requirements may include:
animal welfare requirements:
compliance to appropriate state or territory legislation and regulations
keeping health and behaviour records
providing adequate housing and stock levels
providing appropriate enrichment opportunities
the absence of pests and vermin
the compatibility of species and breeds
OHS requirements:
use of relevant personal protective equipment:
animal handling gauntlets
eye wear
hazard identification, risk minimisation and workplace procedures for:
animal bites, kicks, scratches and crush injuries
biological hazardous waste and sharps disposal
gas leakage
handling, use, storage, transport and disposal of chemicals and medicines
inhalation of aerosol particles
manual handling, including carrying, lifting and shifting
needle pricks and cuts from other sharps
to control the release of infective agents (animal and human)
transmission of zoonotic diseases.
Internal and external personnel may include:
internal:
curators
management
operations managers
records managers
staff within the section
staff in other sections
team leaders
veterinarians
external:
contractors
government bodies
members of the public
other captive animal facilities
professional associations
suppliers.
Reports may include:
verbal and written information on:
daily animal behaviour
strategies used to manage behaviour and the animal's response
suggestions on modification of current strategies.
Animal husbandry manuals may include:
information related to:
captive animal profile:
common behavioural issues
common health and nutrition issues
current thinking on adaptability to captive animal facilities
diets
enrichment strategies
exercise and housing needs
socialising needs
wild animal profile:
general daily activity
habitat, climatic region and common food sources
sexual behaviours and breeding cycle
social structure and classification as prey or predator
instructions on:
behaviour enrichment
health and nutrition
housing, socialising and exercise
individual animal needs
records of:
activity budget
animal health care and treatment
behaviour issues and management strategies
breeding records
diet
references to further reading, research and known specialists in behaviour relevant to particular species.

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:
create and analyse animal profiles
develop behavioural management strategies in accordance with OHS and animal welfare requirements
communicate and work effectively over a period of time with a wide range of people in respect to the strategies
provide support and advice to others on behavioural management issues
maintain records and prepare reports as required.

The skills and knowledge required to develop, monitor and review behavioural management strategies 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 a captive animal workplace. Workplaces may include small or large captive animal facilities, traditional or open-range type facilities, mobile or theme park environments, wildlife parks, zoos or rescue facilities.

There must be access to a range of animals suitable for behavioural management programs as well as the appropriate 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).