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.
Research may include:
exhibit theme and relationship to institutional master plan
other requirements:
animal behaviour
animal husbandry
current best practice examples
display and interpretative
habitat
horticultural and maintenance
OHS and other legislative requirements.
Enclosures and exhibits may include:
defined spaces where animals are kept and includes both:
exhibit public viewing areas
off-exhibit holding spaces
enclosures and exhibits may be for:
existing species
new single species
multi-species and multi-taxa.
Staff and animal security considerations may include:
animal housing faults that may result in escape
compatibility of species and breeds within housing
keeper access and safety
locks and slides are in good working order
restriction of access to authorised personnel
structures are maintained in good order.
Exhibit performance measures may include:
animal husbandry and behaviour
environmental constraints
feedback from the public and staff
hazard identification and risk management
interaction of animals with the public and their habitat
problems associated with a simulated environment
the durability and appropriateness of enclosure furniture.
OHS hazard considerations related to exhibit performance may include:
animal bites, envenomation, kicks, scratches and crush injuries
biological hazardous waste and sharps disposal
electrical when using water in close proximity to electrical outlets
handling of chemicals and medicines
inhalation of aerosol particles
intraocular contamination
manual handling, including carrying, lifting and shifting
moving parts of machinery or equipment
needle pricks and cuts from other sharps
noise, including machinery and some animals
release of infective agents (animal and human)
repetitive strain injury (e.g. raking and scrubbing)
slippery or uneven work surfaces
zoonoses.
Animal welfare requirements include:
adequate housing, nutrition and stock levels
compliance to appropriate state or territory legislation and regulations and international conventions
enrichment opportunities
the absence of pests and vermin
the compatibility of species and breeds.
Other staff and experts may include:
exhibit design advisory groups
keepers within the section, in other sections or keepers in charge
management
other institutions' staff
species experts
technical or architectural advisers/consultants.
Concept briefs may include:
graphical representation to illustrate overall concept supported by:
short introduction of the idea
background research and benchmarking
design and interpretive features, layout and materials
animal species habitat, husbandry and environmental enrichment suitability
resources required:
estimated funding
skills and technical 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:
research and review enclosure and/or exhibit needs
work with others to prepare proposals and concept briefs for the design and development or renovation of exhibits and enclosures
contribute to project planning
monitor and advise on issues that arise during the implementation stages.

The skills and knowledge required to contribute to enclosure and exhibit design or renovation projects 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 and mobile or theme park environments.

There must be access to 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 (e.g. reports and concept briefs)
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).