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.
Workplace routines may include:
assisting others in completion of tasks within limits of current level of competence
catching and handling animals under supervision
checking animals for signs of distress, illness and injury
checking security and repair of animal housing, equipment and general facility
cleaning and grooming animals under supervision
cleaning and preparation of animal cages, enclosures, exhibits, displays, general work areas, office, reception and customer service areas
confirming all animals are in their cages or enclosures
documenting work tasks in accordance with workplace procedures
operating general equipment used to complete workplace cleaning routines
picking up rubbish, removing branches or other unsightly items not part of exhibit or animal housing
reporting animal health concerns to supervisor
stocktaking and re-supply of items
timeframes for completing tasks.
Animals may include:
animals commonly encountered within the industry workplace and may cover both native and introduced species
animals from the six major animal groups (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates).
Animal status may include:
counting animals
observing and reporting unusual behaviour for nominated animal:
aggression or docility (depending on animal)
disinterest in surroundings, other animals, people or usual stimuli
excessive licking, scratching and rubbing
lethargy
nest building
self mutilation
trembling
vocalising
observing and reporting indicators of illness or injury:
bleeding
changes in drinking or eating patterns
lameness or reluctance to move and vocalising when attempting to move
swelling
unusual amounts, colour or texture of faeces.
Maintaining a clean workplace may include:
animal housing:
adjusting animal housing features according to weather and climatic conditions
collection and removal of faeces
completing cleaning routines for sick or quarantined animals to avoid cross-contamination
emptying and cleaning water and feeding receptacles using approved cleaning products and methods
refilling water containers
removing rubbish from housing and surrounding areas
removing soiled bedding and disposing in approved area
replacement of housing furniture items, such as vegetation and behaviour stimulation items under direction of supervisor
resetting of clean bedding materials
washing down of toilet areas to remove urine and faeces using approved cleaning products and methods
general work area cleaning:
emptying rubbish bins, picking up general litter within the workplace
vacuuming, sweeping, floor cleaning
using non-disrupting cleaning methods to control potential biohazards, when required
washing and wiping down work areas, benches and equipment
storing equipment to avoid slip and trip hazards
reporting damaged equipment.
Hygiene control practices may include:
aseptic technique
checking animals skin, coat, shell, carapace or other external features for:
foreign objects such as grass seeds, sticks or other vegetation and hardware, such as nails
general condition
signs of coat, skin, shell and carapace shedding
signs of damage, including cracks, breaks, splits, exudates and, tenderness
signs of dirt, faeces, food or other items
signs of parasites, including presence of eggs, blisters or other lesions, rubbed areas of coat, skin texture changes and colour changes
completing infection control procedures as required
grooming animals to remove shedding coat or skin, if required, or for general health and wellbeing
isolating potentially contagious or ill animals under supervision
personal hygiene practices especially washing and drying hands (e.g. before and after animal contact)
providing housing furnishings to assist animal to complete own shedding process
referring to supervisor animals that may require:
wound and injury management treatment
examination in relation to potential contagious conditions
repairs to shell
use of personal protective equipment
washing animal to remove dirt, foreign objects, parasites and other undesirable items.
Workplace documents may include:
animal health records
chemical register
diary, rosters and task completion and timeframe records
equipment use, damage and repair register
facility damage and repair register
incident reports
message recording systems
stock control records
safe operating procedures.

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:
confirm animal care routines required, clean and maintain animal housing and related facilities
maintain animal comfort and health through cleaning and grooming of animals
report and document personal animal care duties
monitor animals and report issues as required according to workplace protocols and procedures.

The skills and knowledge required to complete animal care hygiene routines 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 ananimal care workplace or in a situation that reproduces normal work conditions. Workplaces can include pet shops, breeding or boarding kennels and catteries, aviaries, companion animal training, grooming establishments, animal shelters, zoos, mobile animal facilities and veterinary practices.

There must be access to a range of animals as well as relevant information, equipment and/or resources to enable one to demonstrate competence.Assessment must cover a minimum of one species from at least two of the six major animal groups (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates).

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).